FY 2009 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 city of Beaumont is listed as disparate with the city of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Nederland, Groves, and Port Neches. The city of Beaumont will serve as the fiscal agent to administer the Fiscal Year 2009 JAG Recovery Act award for all six jurisdictions. JAG Recovery funds will be utilized for technology enhancement and community policing initiatives.

The city of Beaumont Police Department will use their portion of the grant to procure computer hardware and in-car mobile video systems. The city of Port Arthur Police Department will use its portion to purchase computer hardware, video cameras, and license plate readers. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office will use its share to procure a prisoner transport bus to facilitate inmate movement for law enforcement and emergency evacuation purposes and a video security system. The city of Nederland Police Department will acquire mobile radios and a police vehicle. The city of Groves Police Department will purchase computer hardware/software with accessories and cameras. The city of Port Neches will procure computer hardware/software, printers, and community policing supplies (signs, pamphlets, handouts, and banners).

The purpose of the equipment projects is to replace broken, incompatible, and obsolete equipment, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of each department through the use of new technologies currently available.

NCA/NCF