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 Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is the State of Illinois' Administering Agency for the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). ICJIA engages in on-going planning activities for the administration of all grants funds administered in the state. In March 2009, ICJIA held a series of planning meetings for the development of a multi-year strategic plan for the use of the Recovery Act JAG funds. These meetings solicited input from a broad spectrum of both the public and criminal justice experts from all areas of the criminal justice, law enforcement, victim services, and the practitioner and research communities. In addition, ICJIA used the results from a recent needs-assessment study that surveyed approximately 1,700 criminal justice system practitioners throughout the state. Using this information, funding priorities were developed. These priorities will serve as the basis for which proposals will be requested from local units of government and state agencies. These priorities reflect preference for both proven and innovative programs which are based on evidence-based practices to address the most critical needs. Several core areas for Recovery Act JAG funding were also chosen. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to: create or preserve jobs; address a defined priority area; identify need through use of validated statistics; present realistic and measurable goals and objectives, as well as, the methods for measuring; present a justifiable budget; demonstrate a history of reliability and responsibility; and persuasively present a need for funding. The ICJIA Board, composed of the major stakeholders in the criminal justice system, will continue to review, analyze, and discuss general priorities and specific initiatives, and the Federal and State Grants Unit will oversee the administration of Recovery Act JAG funds. Coordination and oversight efforts will be reported to the Governor's Office.

NCA/NCF