COUNTY RECEIVES FUNDS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS

Bowie County will receive $116,000 for substance abuse prevention and
treatment programs as part of the state's drug control plan funded through
the Byrne Formula Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Justice, Gov.
Rick Perry said.

The Criminal Justice Division of the Governor's Office has awarded a total
of $30 million in grants for regional drug control efforts through the
Byrne Fund for the program's next fiscal year, which runs from June 1,
2002, to May 31, 2003.

The Byrne Formula Grant Program is named in memory of Edward Byrne, a
police officer who was killed while sitting in his patrol car guarding the
home of a witness in a drug case during a dispute between rival gangs
selling crack cocaine.

The grant is a broad-based criminal justice block grant that provides
significant resources for a wide range of justice programs. Emphasis is
placed upon those programs that seek to reduce drug-related and violent
crime as well as improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.

"This funding will help us provide the children of Bowie County with safe
places, positive role models as well as the skills they need to avoid
drugs," Perry said.

Although it has not been determined as to what programs will receive funds,
Community Information Coordinator Stephanie Goodman said they want people
to know the funds are available.

"Eligible projects would include DARE and similar programs, gang prevention
programs, treatment for offenders, drug courts and a range of other
programs," said Goodman. "We will be working with county leaders to
determine the best use for this money and we're hoping to have a plan in
place by mid-April."

Goodman said the funds are available more than one year. CJD makes funding
decisions each year based on the amount of federal funding available and an
assessment of eligible projects.

"This is a new way of using funds in Texas," Goodman said.

In previous years, the city of Texarkana has received a Byrne grant to fund
a narcotics task force; however, a review of the city's application
determined it was not eligible for funding under new state guidelines
because the task force was not a multicounty project. CJD developed a plan
to keep the funding in the community by investing it in prevention and
treatment programs.

The bulk of the federal grant, $27.6 million, will go to support 45
narcotics task forces covering 213 Texas counties.

Since 1987, Texas has used federal Byrne funding to establish multicounty
narcotics task forces throughout the state to increase communication and
coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and
prosecutors.

To maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the program, the Governor's
Office began a review of last year's programs. As a result of the review,
new policies were implemented to ensure that programs fully comply with
state and federal rules, seized drug assets are used to reduce drug
problems in the community and coordination with the Texas Department of
Public Safety is improved.