FY 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant 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.

Essex County, the cities of East Orange and Newark, and the townships of Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange Village, Montclair, West Orange, Nutley, Belleville, Bloomfield, Irvington, and Orange City will apply Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG funding towards multiple criminal justice initiatives aimed at increasing public safety. Specifically, the city of East Orange will purchase fully-equipped police cruisers, interoperable radios, and support officer overtime. The city of Newark, serving as the fiscal agent, will purchase marked police cruisers and support personnel costs for community and youth court personnel and officer overtime. A portion of funds will also be used for administrative purposes associated with managing the award. The township of Livingston will use funds to purchase mobile data terminals for patrol vehicles. The township of Maplewood will support a police officer salary. The township of Millburn will purchase video recorder systems for its police department's interview rooms. South Orange Village will purchase a digital license plate reader, a property and evidence tracking system, and upgrades for its police department's server. The Montclair Police Department will use funds for overtime patrols. The West Orange Police Department will purchase license plate readers for traffic enforcement. The township of Nutley will apply funds towards software upgrades for its police department's reporting system. The Belleville Police Department will purchase a marked command vehicle, body armor, radios, and equipment needed to outfit an emergency response team vehicle. The township of Bloomfield will purchase digital cameras for patrol vehicles and speed displays for traffic enforcement. The Irvington Police Department will purchase marked and unmarked cruisers, a prisoner transport vehicle, and equipment for forensic investigations. Orange City will use remaining funds for officer salaries and patrol cruisers. Though eligible for an award, the county has declined its share of funding. Because of the state of each jurisdictions' budget, many of the proposed initiatives would not have materialized if not for the assistance of the Recovery Act.

NCA/NCF