Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jan 2008
Source: Times-Journal, The (Fort Payne, AL)
Copyright: 2008 Times-Journal
Contact:  http://www.times-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1883
Author: Greg Purvis, The Times-Journal

FEDERAL FUNDS TO FIGHT DRUGS CUT

Federal dollars used to fund the war on drugs and the treatment of 
its casualties have been cut drastically for 2008, according to 
DeKalb County District Attorney Mike O'Dell.

"Right now we're not sure where the funding is going to come from," 
O'Dell said. "But Sheriff [Jimmy] Harris, Fort Payne Police Chief 
[David] Walker and myself are committed to keeping it going, somehow, 
some way. We're going to do [our] best to make it work. We've just 
come too far to throw in the towel."

In 2002, funding for Justice Assistance Grant programs nationwide was 
about $2.2 billion, according to O'Dell.  That has been downsized to 
just under $800 million a cut of about 67 percent.

Last year, the $100,000 budget for the DeKalb County Drug Task Force 
and other initiatives was funded on a 75/25 split, meaning the 
federal government paid 75 percent of the necessary funding and the 
remainder was paid with local funds. This year, it's a 50/50 split.

"And next year will likely be even less favorable," O'Dell said.

The majority of cuts in program budgets have occurred in money for 
local task forces throughout Alabama.  Currently, there are about 31 
drug task forces throughout Alabama.

"I've talked with DAs and task force personnel throughout the state, 
and what I'm hearing is pretty dire," he said. "About 15 task forces 
may die from lack of sufficient funding. Another 10 or more may 
survive this year because they have assets that can help them 
struggle through. But next year, things are just looking bleak."

DeKalb County Drug Task Force Director Darrell Collins said the task 
force has made a lot of accomplishments in curbing drug trafficking in DeKalb.

"We've been very effective, and I believe we've done a lot for our 
communities," Collins said. "Since 2002, we've made [about] 4,000 
arrests. Right now, with the way things are, we can probably survive 
this year. Our biggest expenses are fuel, phone service and 
equipment.  But if this ends up shutting us down, it's not going to 
be good for anybody. This problem is not going to just go away."

O'Dell said he did not have any immediate answers as how to finance 
the necessary programs.

"Our representatives in Montgomery and Washington are very aware of 
how bad the meth problem is here at home," O'Dell said. "It's bad in 
rural areas across the nation. Congressmen [Robert] Aderholt and 
[Bud] Kramer and senators [Jeff] Sessions and [Richard] Shelby are 
acutely aware of the problem. We're hoping that they can help 
convince some people what this cut will do to our efforts in fighting 
the war on meth. We've made too many gains to go back to square one."

The Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which includes the JAG funding, has 
made some harsh cuts, O'Dell said. In the 2007 fiscal year, the 
portion of federal money funding local task forces, drug court and 
treatment initiatives for drug abusers was about $520 million. This 
year those funds are $170 million.

"It's a loss that is going to make a significant difference for us in 
north Alabama where meth is at epidemic levels already," O'Dell said. 
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