Fiscal Year 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 territory of the Virgin Islands will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG funds to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery by addressing the causes and consequences of crime in the Virgin Islands, including improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures. Specific initiatives to be funded include: homicide and guns prosecution teams in the St. Thomas/St. John and the St. Croix Districts; a Re-entry Approach Program (RAP) at the Bureau of Corrections; a Virgin Islands Police Department cadet program; augmentation of the Crime Prevention Bureau's community activities; technological upgrades for the Insular Investigations Bureau; enhancement of School Security Units by expanding intervention programs and certifying school resource officers; installation of closed circuit television camera systems in townships throughout the Territory; forensics training and equipment; surveillance training and equipment; Special Response Team training and equipment; direct services for victims of violence against women; direct services for crime victims; and victim advocates.

NCA/NCF