Governor Martin O'Malley, Senator Barbara Mikulski Announce Recovery Act Funding to Improve Public Safety
WASHINGTON, DC (April 28, 2009) –Governor Martin O’Malley and U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski jointly praised the announcement today of more than $26.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (BJAG) at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This formula program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system.
“The most solemn obligation we have as public servants is to protect the families of our State,” said Governor O’Malley. “Senator Mikulski and our federal delegation fight everyday for resources that will help and expand our ability to improve public safety in every neighborhood of our state. In Maryland, we will put these recovery dollars to use immediately to support the hiring of new police officers, monitor juvenile offenders and track and analyze gang activity.”
“Our state and local law enforcement work around the clock to keep violent crime in check and our children and communities safe. Congress has a responsibility to make sure they’re not walking a thin blue line when it comes to funding and resources,” Senator Mikulski said. “That’s why I fought to include this funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This funding means more cops on the beat to protect the public. As Chairwoman of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee, I am committed to giving law enforcement the tools they need to clean up the streets and protect our families.”
The funds announced today were allocated as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed just 27 days into President Obama’s term. As Chairwoman of the Senate Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski was responsible for securing this portion of federal funding in the final American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. BJAG funding is fast, flexible and effective in helping states address emerging crime problems.
In Maryland, the funds will be used for critical public safety projects, including:
- Live Scan Fingerprint Machines: Over 12,400 inked fingerprint cards were manually scanned into the state fingerprint database, due to lack of available technology in many local agencies. Live Scan fingerprint machines will make it possible to electronically transmit arrestees’ fingerprints to the Central Repository to quickly establish identity, often within 20 minutes.
- Kiosks for the Division of Parole & Probation: Kiosks are stand-alone structures strategically placed in our communities where they are easily accessible to non-violent low risk offenders.
- Gang Intelligence Analyst: Gathering, analyzing and sharing intelligence information is crucial to combating prison gangs and the impact they have in our communities.
- MEMEX Gang Program: To help combat the narcotics trafficking, witness intimidation and other criminal activity engaged in by gangs, the Maryland State Police will use funding to establish a gang database at the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center. This information sharing tool will enable law enforcement agencies throughout Maryland more effectively manage and coordinate cases and facilitate data integration among agencies.
- E-TIX: Electronic Ticket Information Exchange (E-TIX) allows police officers to issue traffic citations and warnings electronically. It enhances efficiency and improves officer safety.
- GPS Monitoring: Funding will be used to enable the Department of Juvenile Services to place additional youth under GPS monitoring for their own safety and for the safety of our citizens and communities.
- Warrant Service: Funds will be used to help law enforcement agencies in Maryland pursue wanted offenders to remove potentially violent criminals from the streets.
- Law Enforcement Technology: Law enforcement agencies will have the ability to purchase things such as License Plate Recognition systems; mobile fingerprint readers (Fast ID); closed circuit television systems; laboratory equipment and enhancements, including improvements in crime scene evidence collection and DNA improvements.
- Law enforcement overtime: Since protecting the public safety never stops, even during difficult economic times, these grants are designed to support local government and local law enforcement agencies. This overtime grant supports local budgets, gets violent offenders off the street and puts money in the pockets of our first responders.
- Police hiring: State and local law enforcement agencies are eligible to apply directly to DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for funding to support the hiring of full time sworn police officers. In Maryland, BJAG funding will supplement costs of new hires not covered by the COPS program, and will help train and equip officers hired with COPS grants.
