Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jan 2008
Source: Birmingham News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2008 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://al.com/birminghamnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45
Author: Jim Henderson

NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR WAR ON DRUGS:

Alabama has 31 law-enforcement, multijurisdictional, drug task forces 
that are primarily funded through federal funds.

The task forces are the front line on the war on drugs, in which 
about 26,000 Americans die each year. The vast majority of these task 
forces operate in rural areas where law enforcement does not have the 
resources to protect the citizens.

Congress recently passed the 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. This 
bill included a cut of about 67 percent of the funding to local 
law-enforcement drug task forces. The Byrne-JAG (Justice Assistance 
Grant) has been authorized at a level of $1.1 billion by the U.S. 
Senate. However, continuous budget cuts have resulted in the 
reduction of funding to the level of $170 million for the 2008 
budget. This figure also includes funding for drug courts, treatment 
and prevention.

In comparison, the 2007 budget had a somewhat acceptable level of 
funding at $520 million. The citizens of Alabama need to be aware of 
this drastic cut in funding. These drug task forces will not be able 
to be effective, or exist, at this funding level.

Jim Henderson

Vice president

Alabama Narcotic Officers Association

Birmingham
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom