GREEN BAY – Governor Jim Doyle today announced a $30 million investment of Recovery Act funds to protect public safety, avoid cuts to police service and reduce future corrections costs. Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds will be used to target youthful offenders, fight drug abuse and trafficking, and reduce the number of offenders entering the corrections system. Governor Doyle also announced that the city of Green Bay will use $443,939 of Recovery Act funding to purchase equipment critical to officer and community safety.
“Public safety is a top priority and an essential element of economic recovery,” said Governor Doyle. “Through my budget and investments of Recovery Act funds, Wisconsin will continue to be one of the safest places to raise a family and do business.”
Cities and counties throughout Wisconsin are receiving $11.2 million in direct law enforcement assistance through the Recovery Act. The Green Bay Police Department is planning to invest $443,939 in technology improvements, including radio communications, and the development of a training center for city and county law enforcement officers.
The Police Department will use funding for a system that allows officers patrolling the community to remotely access the Department’s computer network to view and transfer suspect photos and videos.
Governor Doyle announced that $18.8 million in state-directed Recovery Act funds will be used to fight methamphetamine and pharmaceutical drug abuse, improve law enforcement technology and reduce future corrections costs. The investments include:
- $3.85 million for programs targeting youthful offenders, including truancy, drug and alcohol abuse and violence and gang reduction programs.
- $3.43 million for treatment and diversion programs for non-violent offenders, in support of the state’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative.
- $3 million awarded competitively to multi-jurisdictional drug task forces to protect at-risk investigator and prosecutor positions, increase information sharing and target pharmaceutical abuse.
- $2.7 million for the Department of Corrections to increase offender community supervision and re-entry programs.
- $2.2 million in technology investments to improve communications and information sharing among emergency responders and finger-print and Crime Lab technology at the Department of Justice.
- $800,000 for local law enforcement agencies to purchase equipment and fund innovative community safety programs.
- $850,000 to fund a minority student internship program and other racial disparity reduction programs.
- $800,000 for data collection and program evaluation to achieve accountability and measure the impact of Recovery Act funded programs.
- $300,000 (annually) to monitor and administer programs to meet Recovery Act guidelines
Through the Governor’s budget and with the Recovery Act investments, the most serious offenders will remain incarcerated while non-violent and lower-risk offenders receive increased community supervision. Additional reentry, treatment and diversion programs will help to reduce the number of offenders entering the corrections system and curb the state’s rising corrections costs.
Local investments in law enforcement technology will have a long-term public safety impact and will help to boost local, state and the national economy.
For more information on the Byrne/JAG program, visit the Office of Justice Assistance website, www.OJA.wi.gov.
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