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.

Manatee County will use Recovery Act JAG funding to support three separate initiatives aimed at enhancing criminal justice services provided to the community. Specifically, funds will be directed towards the Manatee County Drug Court, that incorporates strategies to reduce recidivism and drug abuse through treatment and judicial supervision. Educational and vocational opportunities are also provided resulting in improved social functioning, decreased recidivism, and a safer community. Funds will also be used to hire two full-time staff assigned to the county probation division in an effort to support its pre-trial services program. The program provides a cost-effective alternative to incarceration prior to trial. Grant funded staff positions will be tasked with increasing screening services provided at the county jail. Remaining funds will be directed towards the sheriff's office information technology program which aims to integrate and automate data systems through the creation of system interfaces, electronically routed forms, and automated workflows. The enhancements will increase accuracy and eliminate duplication. The program also includes the purchase of portable Bluetooth fingerprint scanners for public safety officers in the field and in remote locations. The scanners utilize small fingerprint capture devices that allow officers to validate a person's identity by using a single fingerprint image.

NCA/NCF