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 consisting of Forrest County and the cities of Hattiesburg and Petal will use Recovery Act JAG funding in the amount of $235,271 to support the needs of their local law enforcement agencies in the areas of training, equipment, and supplies to assist in the prevention and control of crime and improve the criminal justice system. The city of Hattiesburg, serving as the fiscal agent, will use its funds ($134,390.40) to replace aging patrol vehicles in an effort to improve performance and safety of its officers. The city of Petal will use its funds ($11,287) to purchase firearms and supplies to fill gaps in its training and equipment inventory. The purchases will ensure each officer is adequately outfitted to perform community policing duties. Forrest County will use its funds ($89,593.60) to improve tactical response capabilities by upgrading its current weapons system and patrol vehicles.

NCA/NCF