El Dorado County Recovery Act JAG project

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 El Dorado County will utilize the 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to hire one Probation Officer who will assist with Supervision, DUI support, and Behavioral Health Court services. The funds will help support the county's efforts to enhance community safety, reduce DUI recidivism, and foster a healthier and safer life for the participants and their families. They will collaborate their efforts with the Courts, Mental Health and Probation Deaprtments to increase treatment opportunities, supervision and accountability of the high risk defendants. They will also provide weekly probation supervision services for participants, including drug and alcohol testing, home and community contacts, treatment monitoring and collaborative case planning and case management. The Probation Department is involved in several Collaborative Justice Court programs and is experienced in collaboration, communication and coordination with other agencies and Courts to provide services and accountability.

NCA/NCF