Vermont Drug Task Force Project

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Vermont Department of Public Safety will use their FY 2009 Congressionally Selected award in the amount of $1,000,000 to support the Vermont Drug Task Force (VDTF), a multi-jurisdictional statewide task force that operates under the command of the Vermont State Police Special Investigations Unit. The primary goal of the VDTF is to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into Vermont through collaboration among all effected law enforcement entities to identify the problem in a specific area. Specific activities to be performed under this grant will be to: identify officers from the local jurisdictions to work closely with the VDTF; work with Vermont FUSION Center in establishing crime data for the problem area; initiate intelligence gathering and analysis of crime in the problem areas; utilize a multi-agency approach to execute data-driven uniform saturation patrols in the problem areas; conduct covert arrests of drug defendants in an attempt to further infiltrate drug distribution networks; and conclude with an arrest sweep of multiple defendants. This operation involves coordination with multiple law enforcement agencies at the state, local, county and federal levels, as well as involvement by the Vermont FUSION Center and local prosecutors and corrections officials.

NCA/CF