California Governor Schwarzenegger Urges Congress to Restore Critical Public Safety Funding

01/28/2008 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today sent the following letter to the leadership of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees urging them to restore critical Justice Assistance Grant funding which supports efforts of local police and sheriffs' departments, mainly centered on fighting violence and drugs and supporting crime victims.

January 28, 2008

Dear Senator Byrd, Senator Cochran, Mr. Obey and Mr. Lewis,

I am writing to express my concern about the drastic reduction in Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding in the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act. I urge you to restore this critical funding, which supports a variety of efforts by local police and sheriffs' departments, mainly centered on fighting violence and drugs and supporting crime victims. JAG-funded efforts in California have led directly to the arrests of thousands of offenders and the seizures of thousands of weapons and millions of dollars in assets.

JAG funding is a crucial part of California's drug enforcement efforts and the success of its anti-drug abuse multi-jurisdictional task forces throughout the state. Such a severe reduction could jeopardize these task forces, or at best, greatly hinder their progress. The national reduction of $350 million represents a 67 percent decrease from the $525 million appropriated to the program in FY 2007, resulting in an appropriation of approximately $170 million in FY 2008. Last year, the State of California received nearly $33 million, but we estimate the state will only receive between $10 million and $11 million this year.

During FY 2006-07 in California, JAG-funded anti-drug abuse multi-jurisdictional task forces arrested 14,860 drug offenders statewide, 8,900 of whom were convicted of drug and violent crimes. In addition, 2,130 weapons were seized, along with more than $18 million in currency and assets. JAG funding also supports the Marijuana Suppression (MS) program in 15 counties. During the same fiscal year, MS task forces arrested 533 offenders, 354 of whom were convicted of marijuana-related charges. Nearly 400 weapons were seized, along with more than $4.5 million in currency and assets.

Most notably, the presence of children at narcotic scenes is a growing problem and concern in California. Through JAG-funded multi-jurisdictional task force's efforts, we were able to rescue and ultimately remove 1,482 children from these very dangerous situations during FY 2006-07.

Drugs and their trafficking organizations play a major role in many illegal activities throughout California, including terrorism and gangs. Proceeds from illicit drug sales fund drug-related activities and violent crimes. Methamphetamine remains one of the top four drugs seized in the United States; and according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, 76 percent of methamphetamine seizures are now occurring at California ports of entry. In addition, San Diego and Imperial counties remain a principal transshipment zone for a variety of drugs smuggled in from Mexico, which is then transported and distributed throughout the United States.

Given the horrendous nature of many drug-related crimes and the good work underway in the battle against those crimes, our nation's law enforcement members need and deserve all the support we can give them. JAG funding has been a significant - and effective - part of that support, and I would ask that you work to see that funding restored as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Source: California Governor

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