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September 08, 2008
Journal-Sentinel: Police lobby for more Byrne Justice Assistance Grants
Posted by Gary Storck
September 7, 2008
The Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance is lobbying Congress to restore cuts in Byrne Grant funding, which had been cut by the Bush Administration, claiming that if lawmakers don’t act, some of the state’s multijurisdictional drug units might have to shut down.
An April article in Reason magazine details some of the problems of these units, "Burn the Byrne -- Pork-addicted Democrats are reviving a flawed anti-crime program", click here.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel click here
Pubdate: Sept. 7, 2008
Author: Diana Marrero
POLICE LOBBY FOR MORE BYRNE JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANTSThe program, known as Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, helps fund 18 drug task forces across Wisconsin and a community prosecutor program in Milwaukee, according to Dave Steingraber, executive director of the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance.
Steingraber worries that those initiatives could be at risk after recent cuts to the federal grant program. Congress last year slashed the program’s funding from $520 million to $170 million for fiscal year 2008.
The impact is being felt nationwide, Steingraber said. In Wisconsin, if lawmakers don’t act, some of the state’s multijurisdictional drug units might have to shut down, he said.
“Will people be less safe? I think they will be,” said Steingraber, who also serves as president of the National Criminal Justice Association.
Congressional leaders are considering a so-called domestic supplemental spending bill before they adjourn in late September, and Steingraber hopes that lawmakers will include additional money for the grants in the legislation.
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Posted by Gary at September 8, 2008 10:18 AM
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