Recovery Act 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 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 Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MN DPS) will use its FY 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Justice Assistance Grant (ARRA JAG) award in the amount of $18,099,917 to address system-wide improvements in Minnesota's criminal justice system. MN DPS is committed to continuing its multi-faceted JAG strategy to prevent and reduce drug abuse and violent crime in Minnesota. The MN DPS will issue a competitive request for proposals across all JAG purpose areas for ARRA JAG by June 15, 2009 to address the criminal justice needs it has identified. MN DPS has identified needs in the areas of Law Enforcement, Courts/Prosecution/Public Defense, Corrections, Treatment, Prevention, and Crime Victim Services. The ARRA JAG funds will support such initiatives as multi-jurisdictional task forces, court and public defense improvements, prisoner reentry, drug and alcohol treatment, youth crime prevention, and services to crime victims. Ten percent of the ARRA JAG grant will be used to administer the ARRA JAG grant-funded programs.

NCA/NCF