FY 2010 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.

Barbour County and the city of Philippi will use Recovery Act JAG funds to secure essential equipment aimed at enhancing criminal justice services provided to the community. Specific grant funded activities will include the purchase of a computer and printer for the town's municipal court; computer software and associated training to enable the court clerk to maintain accurate records and account for court activities; and a digital copying device to duplicate and store records. Funds will also be directed towards costs associated with managing the award. Because the city and county have been identified as a disparate jurisdiction, the two municipalities remain partners in the implementation of grant funded work. For administration purposes, the city will serve as the fiscal agent. In this capacity, the city will be responsible for the management and oversight of the grant.

NCA/NCF