2009 Pennsylvania State JAG Stimulus

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 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) will use Recovery Act JAG funding to support the creation and restoration of jobs, while looking to create lasting improvements throughout the state's criminal justice system. Initiatives will focus on the improvement of criminal record databases, resulting in more accurate identification of criminal suspects, and the development or adaptation of new technologies for law enforcement, corrections, and the courts; the support of comprehensive, proactive law enforcement programs aimed at reducing crime; the development of victim services leadership training to promote organizational stability; the support of alternatives to incarceration programs and problem solving courts for non-violent offenders and reentry services, that includes resources for juvenile day/evening reporting centers, mental health initiatives aimed at reducing the number of justice involved individuals with co-occurring disorders, and reentry programs that provide jail-based and community supervision and treatment; the sustainment of probation officer positions that would otherwise be eliminated due to agency budget cuts; prevention and intervention programs aimed at truancy abatement, services for at-risk youth, and victim services; and the removal of vacant and blighted properties in an effort to reduce crime and revitalize communities. In managing the award, PCCD will ensure funding is utilized to its fullest advantage. Sub-recipients will be determined based upon abilities to implement programs targeting the specified program areas.

NCA/NCF