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 State of South Dakota, Office of the Governor, Attorney General's Office, will utilize its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant Program award in the amount of $3,193,114 to assist state and local efforts to prevent and reduce crime and violence. The Attorney General's Office will continue collaboration and coordinating resource efforts to develop, implement, monitor, and enhance criminal justice program strategies to address drugs, violent crimes, and sex offenders. This approach requires coordination of federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies, including education and treatment agencies to provide an overall structure of what is needed to address the drug and violent crime problem. Significant enhancements of the state, county, and municipal criminal justice programs will allow law enforcement agencies to purchase much needed equipment such as mobile data terminals, police cruisers, communication equipment, tactical gear, education and training. Additional manpower and resources will assist the state with various programs. These strategies will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the South Dakota criminal justice system, protect the lives of citizens and help retain jobs.

NCA/NCF