The Executive Board and 7,000 members of the California Narcotic
Officers’ Association strongly oppose any reduction in the current funding level for
the highly successful Edward Byrne Anti-Drug Abuse Program. As law enforcement
professionals, we recognize that drug abuse and drug related crime threatens the security
of California and the Nation. The most vulnerable victims of this plague are our
nation’s most valuable asset, it’s young people. The California Narcotic
Officers’ Association strongly supports a comprehensive drug policy, including drug
treatment, drug resistance education and the vigorous enforcement of state and Federal
drug laws.
The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program of the United
States Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
It was named in memory of a brave young New York City police officer who was cut down in
his prime by members of a violent drug gang. The Byrne Formula Grant Program is a
partnership among Federal, State and local governments to create safe communities and
improve criminal justice systems. Since the Byrne Program was founded, it has successfully
funded drug education and enforcement programs through discretionary funds issued to
public and private agencies and formula funds disbursed to state and local units of
government. The State of California currently receives $53 million, a significant portion
of the $552 million that was budgeted for the Edward Byrne Program in 1999. These funds
are currently allocated through California’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning to
fund multi-jurisdictional task forces, drug education programs, such as DARE and other
vital anti-drug efforts. 63 percent of the funds allocated to California are passed
through by the state to assist local jurisdiction.
The Administration’s FY2000 budget proposal contains a $93 million reduction of
funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program.
The program is currently funded at $552 million for this year and the proposed reduction
would seriously impair the effectiveness of the program nation wide. In addition to the
damage it would cause to California’s
programs, there are many states who rely almost entirely on Byrne funding for their local
and regional drug enforcement and drug resistance education programs. Reduction to their
budgets might prove fatal to anti-drug efforts in some jurisdictions.In 1992, we began reducing assets and
resources available to our anti-drug efforts. With the reduction of those assets, drug
abuse, especially among our young people, began to climb. Now is not the time to further
reduce our efforts in the area of drug education and enforcement. Rather, it is the time
to strengthen our resolve to provide the funding and resources necessary to allow state
and local governments the opportunity to make their communities safer places in which to
work, live and raise their families. |
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Americans, when polled, continue to list drugs, violent crime, and gangs
among their major concerns. We as Americans have a right to live in drug free, safe
environments. From 1979 to 1992, through a policy of drug education, drug treatment and
strong drug law enforcement, we reduced illicit drug abuse in America by 50 percent. The California Narcotic Officers’
Association strongly opposes the Administration’s FY2000 proposal to destroy the
Byrne Program by removing $93 million in much needed funding. We join with the California
Police Chiefs Association, the National Narcotic Officers Association Coalition, the
International Association of Chiefs of Police, and many other professional law enforcement
groups in asking the Congress to fully restore or increase funding to this vitally
important program.
The Administration’s FY2000
budget proposal contains a $93 million reduction of funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial
State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program. The program is currently funded at
$552 million for this year and the proposed reduction would seriously impair the
effectiveness of the program nation wide. In addition to the damage it would cause to
California’s
programs, there are many states who rely almost entirely on Byrne funding for their local
and regional drug enforcement and drug resistance education programs. Reduction to their
budgets might prove fatal to anti-drug efforts in some jurisdictions.
Americans, when polled, continue to list drugs, violent crime, and gangs among their major
concerns. We as Americans have a right to live in drug free, safe environments. From 1979
to 1992, through a policy of drug education, drug treatment and strong drug law
enforcement, we reduced illicit drug abuse in America by 50 percent. In 1992, we began
reducing assets and resources available to our anti-drug efforts. With the reduction of
those assets, drug abuse, especially among our young people, began to climb. Now is not
the time to further reduce our efforts in the area of drug education and enforcement.
Rather, it is the time to strengthen our resolve to provide the funding and resources
necessary to allow state and local governments the opportunity to make their communities
safer places in which to work, live and raise their families.
The California Narcotic Officers’ Association strongly opposes the
Administration’s FY2000 proposal to destroy the Byrne Program by removing $93 million
in much needed funding. We join with the California Police Chiefs Association, the
National Narcotic Officers Association Coalition, the International Association of Chiefs
of Police, and many other professional law enforcement groups in asking the Congress to
fully restore or increase funding to this vitally important program. |
