Recovery Act Byrne Justice Assistance Grant

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.

As directed by the Virginia State Legislature, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) will provide $23.3 million of JAG Recovery Act funds to the Compensation Board for distribution to Sheriffs' Offices statewide to address a reduction in state funding due to declining revenues. The Compensation Board staff estimates the JAG Recovery Act funds will enable Sheriffs' Offices to retain as many as 685 sworn deputy positions, 611 fulltime and 74 part-time. The grant funds will be expended during state fiscal year 2010 (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010).

Sheriffs are elected locally, but funding for Sheriffs' Offices comes primarily from the Compensation Board, a state government agency. Sheriffs' Offices provide law enforcement, operate jails, and provide court security in the localities they serve.

NCA/NCF