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.

The disparate jurisdictions of Jackson County, and the cities of Kansas City, Blue Springs, Grandview, Independence, Raytown, Lee's Summit, and Sugar Creek will use Recovery Act JAG funding in the amount of $4,345,677 to hire staff, improve officer and public safety, and fund local law enforcement initiatives. Through the grant, Jackson County will use its share to retain prosecutors and law enforcement officers. Funds will also be used to contract detention space to alleviate overcrowding of existing county facilities, fund a reentry program, and purchase K-9s for road patrols and drug interdiction. The city of Blue Springs will apply funding towards a youth drug awareness project, surveillance cameras for its parks, refrigerated evidence storage, a security system lock for its police department, and a truth/deception verification unit. The city of Grandview will use its share to enhance video and audio surveillance for its jail and rear parking lot area. Funds will also be applied towards non-lethal weapons, an air purification system for the police department's property room, and a marked vehicle for a patrol supervisor. The city of Independence will hire a police technology assistant and an administrative aide to assist patrol supervisors. Office equipment will also be purchased. Kansas City will support the salary of 31 entrant officers in the police academy, eight sworn officers, and 30 civilian staff. The city of Raytown will purchase law enforcement gear and upgrade key locks to a card reader and door lock system. The city of Lee's Summit will use funds for salary recovery and maintain community oriented policing projects. The city of Sugar Creek will apply remaining funds towards the purchase and installation of a base station radio and in-car cameras in all police department patrol vehicles. For administrative purposes, the city of Kansas City will serve as the fiscal agent for this award.

NCA/NCF