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.

City of Chattanooga, serving as the fiscal agent for this award, will share the Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award with four other disparate jurisdictions within Hamilton County, Tennessee. The city of East Ridge is purchasing 14 in-car digital video systems with their funds for better documentation of arrests in their area. The city of Red Bank is purchasing tactical equipment to improve tactical operations in the field. The city of Soddy-Daisy is using their funds to equip four more officers with AR-15 rifles, service pistols, and a road safety Duro Flash system. They will also purchase an in-house video recording system and a dispatch recording system to better serve the people of Soddy-Daisy. Hamilton County will purchase 11 Panasonic laptops for their patrol cars as well as seven new patrol cars. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office will purchase a portable and a stationary palm scanner for the jailing of prisoners and 15 correction monitors. The District Attorney General's office will install a recording system for preliminary hearing information. The city of Chattanooga will use a portion of their grant funds to improve its SWAT Team capabilities with enhanced training at the FBI HRT facility and follow-up testing of the improved training. They will also add a LENCO Armored Vehicle "BEARCAT" to be used in 'severe' operations requiring either extraction or protected entrance of SWAT team members. This unit serves the needs of a 10 county surrounding area for these types of intense, serious situations. Grant funds will also be used to fund the following programs: Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), National Night Out, Citizens Police Academy, and Grandparents recognition programs. The city will also upgrade its computers with new laptop computers, peripherals software, and web-based audio and video equipment. This equipment will assist in documenting incriminating evidence and conversations with suspects during interrogations and information surveillances to better apprehend violators.

NCA/NCF