Maryland's ARRA Public Safety Improvement Initiative

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 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 Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP) will use their FY 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Justice Assistance Grant award in the amount of $26,501,301 to boost its comprehensive three-year statewide crime control and prevention strategy. The funds will be used to implement 'quick start' criminal justice programs and to develop other more complex projects that require coordination and lead time. The GOCCP will use the grant to help state, county, and local law enforcement agencies create and retain public safety-related jobs. The funds will also be used by GOCCP to help Maryland law enforcement agencies locate and remove warranted fugitives from the streets, upgrade communications and forensic equipment, purchase computer and software technology, and to improve prison and jail security. The funds will support long-term investments in public safety such as data-driven policing strategies, intelligence-based parole and probation supervision, police/parole and probation partnerships, cross-border collaborations with neighboring States, gang enforcement and gun trafficking initiatives, and other multi-agency initiatives to protect Maryland's citizens. The GOCCP will issue thorough, comprehensive written progress and fiscal reports on a quarterly schedule to keep all interested parties apprised of its efforts of moving forward toward the goal of reducing crime and violence in the State of Maryland.

NCA/NCF