Recovery Act: State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program: Combating Criminal Narcotics Activity Stemming from the Southern Border of the United States - Arizona DPS Crime Lab Support

The State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program: Combating Criminal Narcotics Activity Stemming from the Southern border of the United States under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is designed to provide resources for hiring, retention, assistance, and equipment to local law enforcement along the Southern border and in High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas in order to combat criminal narcotics activity stemming from the Southern border of the United States. For the purpose of this solicitation, the term 'criminal narcotics activity' includes all drugs controlled by the Controlled Substance Act 21 USC Section 801.

Under Category I: Combating Criminal Narcotics Activity, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS) will use its grant funds to support the AZ DPS Crime Laboratory System. The Crime Lab will assist the AZ DPS in controlling, reducing, and/or preventing criminal narcotics activity, including drug-related crime and violence, along the Southern Border Region of the United States. In addition, the award funds will preserve and create jobs while minimizing and avoiding reductions in essential services. The grant will fund and retain 15 scientific positions, eight which are vacant (due to the FY 2009 hiring freeze) and seven which are subject to elimination in Fiscal Year 2010 budget cuts due to the State's worsening economic condition. These 15 Criminalist positions will process 8,100 or more drug cases per year and identify an estimated 1,500 suspects per year, through latent prints, DNA and firearms analysis, linking them to drug crimes/smuggling and drug-related violence. In addition, the AZ DPS will coordinate with High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task forces, as well as Sheriff's Offices, Police Departments, and State Narcotics Officers to assist in dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking organizations. Grant funds will also purchase necessary supplies for the Criminalists' duties.

CA/NCF