Recovery Act JAG Project

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 disparate jurisdictions Hardy County and the town of Moorefield will use this Recovery Act JAG award ($15,718) to address the community's problems with illegal drugs. Moorefield has recently experienced an industrial expansion and an increase in employment. As a result, the town has experienced a growth in population and a subsequent increase in illegal narcotics trafficking. This increase has resulted in an increase in property crimes and crimes against persons. The narcotics traffickers have been more aggressive in their desire to continue their illegal trafficking activities to the point that officer safety is at stake. Drug enforcement activities have resulted in many successful prosecutions and convictions. However, essential equipment and confidential funds are needed in order permit the Moorefield Police Department to provide more efficient and effective law enforcement protection in regard to narcotics offenses and to protect the safety of its officers. The town of Moorefield, serving as fiscal agent, will use their share of the grant (10,718) to purchase critical equipment and resources, in addition to overtime for undercover officers. The county of Hardy will use their share of the grant (5,000) in support of this project, as well.

NCA/CF