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 Chaska will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $13,295 to purchase updated cell phones with data capability and laptops to improve the communications in the Chaska Police Department. Recovery Act JAG funds will also be used to purchase items for the Community Partnership programs and events such as Crime Free Multi-Housing, Safety Camp, National Night Out, Operation Identification, and other community events. The objective of the Technology and Community Partnership Project is to improve the communication capability of the officers in the field and to enhance the department's contact with the community. Laptop computers are needed for the Community Partnership Specialist who is responsible for visiting multiple sites and implementing new programs. Those programs include Crime Free Multi-Housing, Neighborhood Watch groups, Safety Camp for Kids, National Night Out, Operation Identification, and other programs. One laptop is needed for a detective sergeant to use in the field on search warrants and other calls while remaining on patrol. The addition of this equipment will improve the communication ability of the Chaska Police Department.

NCA/NCF