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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Cumberland County and the cities of Vineland, Millville, and Bridgeton will use their Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $735,395 to support the needs of the local law enforcement agencies in the areas of training, personnel, equipment, supplies, and information systems. Funds will be used to assist in the prevention and control of crime and improve the criminal justice system. The city of Vineland, serving as the fiscal agent, will utilize its share of funds ($323,574) for the salaries and related expenses of five entry level patrol officers as well as the purchase of five new police cruisers. The city of Millville will utilize their funds ($139,725) for the acquisition of equipment, technology, and other material to upgrade, improve, and replace the current radio communications system for their police department. The city of Bridgeton will use its Recovery JAG funds ($222,096) to supplement the police department's operating expense budget to protect the police force from any future budgetary cuts that would translate into loss of police officer positions or civilian support positions. The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office will use their funding ($50,000) to purchase a GIS software component that would be integrated with their intelligence module.

NCA/NCF