FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG Program

This grant program is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (the 'Recovery Act') and by 42 U.S.C. 3751(a). The stated purposes of the Recovery Act are: to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery; to assist those most impacted by the recession; to provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health; to invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; and to stabilize state and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. The Recovery Act places great emphasis on accountability and transparency in the use of taxpayer dollars.

Among other things, it creates a new Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board and a new website ' Recovery.gov ' to provide information to the public, including access to detailed information on grants and contracts made with Recovery Act funds.

The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funded under the Recovery Act is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Recovery JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. Recovery JAG funded projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures.

The City of Wichita Falls and Wichita County are listed as disparate jurisdictions for the Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG grant. The city will serve as the fiscal agent for both jurisdictions. Each entity will utilize grant funds for technology upgrades and for officer safety equipment. The city of Wichita Falls Police Department will utilize its portion of JAG funds to purchase equipment for community services, training, statistical analysis, patrol, and a SWAT vehicle to be used for high-risk and warrant service incidents. In addition, the department will retain 10 percent of the award to administer the project.

The Wichita County Sheriff's Office will upgrade its police vehicles with mobile data terminals and radios and purchase various upgraded items for its criminal investigation unit, identification unit, and SWAT team including traffic enforcement equipment, less-than-lethal devices, and night vision equipment.

NCA/NCF