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 cities of Brownsville, Harlingen, Port Isabel, and San Benito; county of Brownsville; and the town of South Padre are in a disparate arrangement and will share the Recovery Act JAG award. The Brownsville Police Department will serve as the fiscal agent to administer Recovery Act JAG grant funds for all six jurisdictions. Each entity will utilize JAG Recovery funds to equip its law enforcement and/or criminal justice entities with necessary equipment to carry out crime prevention and law enforcement functions. The Brownsville Police Department will procure a networking server, mobile data computers, and cameras. The Harligen Police Department will obtain portable and mobile radios with accompanying accessories, and desktop computers with accessories. The Port Isabel Police Department will procure portable radios. The South Padre Police Department will acquire radars, equipment for its crime scene van, and rifles. The Cameron County Sheriff's Office will allocate funds to various county entities for communication devices, computer equipment, audio-visual equipment, and emergency lights. The San Benito Police Department will purchase police camera systems (safety vision and unit systems).

NCA/NCF