Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn. -3) announced that the State of Connecticut will receive $12 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to maintain or increase public safety. These Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds are part of more than $4 billion in Justice Department Recovery Act funds available to assist state, local and tribal law enforcement and for other criminal justice activities that help to prevent crime and improve the criminal justice system, as well as supporting the creation of jobs and much needed resources for states and local communities.

“As the state of Connecticut and its towns and municipalities struggle with how to maintain services in these tough economic times, like those aimed at preventing and controlling crime, this funding will assist them with ensuring the safety of residents while creating or retaining jobs within the law enforcement community,” said DeLauro.

The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) will receive $12 million to support activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system, including: expand the Department of Corrections case management system; upgrade automated fingerprinting systems; support drug task force activities; increase the number of DNA samples obtained from inmates and expedite sample processing; increase the visibility of state police vehicles to reduce collisions; expand domestic violence shelter staffs; establish a sexual assault forensic examiner program; provide more effective facility and community based corrections programs; and translate community outreach, education and media materials.

The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics, in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of funding. Sixty percent of the allocation is awarded directly to a state and 40 percent is set aside for units of local government. States are required to sub-grant a portion of the funds to local units of government, such as a city, county, township or town.

Local Recovery Act JAG awards will be announced at a later date. The deadline for local units of government to submit their Recovery Act applications to the Department of Justice is May 18, 2009.

For more details on the JAG Program or to track the use of Recovery Act funds, visit www.ojp.gov/recovery. For more details on how to apply for the state managed, pass-through funding, visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/index.htm.