To help with President Bush's other war - the one on drugs and crime - the U.S. Justice Department has awarded Utah more than $3.53 million, Attorney General Dick Thornburgh announced Tuesday.
He said Utah will use the money to support its 12 multijurisdictional task forces, continue marijuana eradication, train law officers, investigate illegal drug labs, pursue gang-related crime and child abuse, and expand its Drug Abuse Resistance (DARE) program."These vital funds represent one of our most effective weapons in protecting neighborhoods from drug trafficking and the violence it spawns," Thornburgh said. The money comes from a Bureau of Justice Assistance's formula grant program. Congress increased such anti-drug funds by 218 percent the past two years.
Utah will receive $3.53 million, a $233,000 increase over last year. He said the grant allows state and local law enforcement agencies the opportunity to draw funds as needed, much like money is withdrawn from a checking account.