FY 2010 Vermont Congressionally Selected Awards Program

The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), 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 recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, 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 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.

The Vermont Department of Public Safety will use FY 10 Congressionally Recommended funds to combat drugs within the State of Vermont through continued support of the Vermont Drug Task Force (VDTF). VDTF is a multi-jurisdictional, statewide task force that operates under direct supervision of the Vermont Police Department Special Investigations and Narcotics Investigation Unit. The primary goal of the VDTF is to disrupt the flow of illegal drug trafficking into Vermont through collaboration among all affected 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 and rural jurisdictions to work closely with the VDTF; work with the 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