FY 2009 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.

The disparate jurisdictions consisting of the city of Lebanon and Laclede County will share their Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $49,580 to purchase law enforcement equipment and increase communications. The city of Lebanon, acting as the fiscal agent, will use $33,735 to install a digital encrypted base transmitter, which will add an additional 16 channels for communications. In addition, the city will install one digital uplink with coax and antenna, install 15 shotgun mounts for patrol vehicles, purchase 34 traffic vests, purchase 15 tire deflations devices, and purchase training supplies for the Junior and Senior Academies. Laclede County will use $15,845 to purchase and install 6 vehicular radio repeaters. These purchases will increase communications, officer safety, traffic enforcement, and both jurisdictions' crime prevention efforts.

NCA/NCF