Could be used for a more comprehensive set of services and programs
On January 15th, the House Appropriations Committee released the draft of the AmericanRecovery and Reinvestment Act. In this draft, $3 billion in funding was earmarked for State andLocal Law Enforcement Assistance through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice AssistanceGrant Program, and an additional $1 billion is set aside for hiring law enforcement officers underthe Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The undersigned organizationsapplaud the Appropriations Committee for recognizing that economic stimulus can be achievedthrough improving public safety and justice systems. However, we believe that focusing solelyon law enforcement is misguided and could be counterproductive in terms of improving the stateand national economy; we urge the reallocation of this $4 billion to a broader, morecomprehensive set of services and programs that not only will improve economies, but improvepublic safety and decrease spending on jails, prisons and law enforcement. Below are some keypoints for you to consider when making your spending decisions: