Hogan Administration Provides Federal Funding for Nine New Programs to
Help Addicts, Seize Drugs, and Advance Investigations Statewide
Help Addicts, Seize Drugs, and Advance Investigations Statewide
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford today announced that Maryland has taken additional steps in its fight against the heroin and opioid epidemic by providing $608,832 in grant funding to projects designed to identify and apprehend drug dealers, especially those involved in gangs; help Maryland families battling substance abuse; and provide Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs and other re-entry programs to inmates at local detention centers.
Last February, to address Maryland’s growing heroin and opioid crisis, Governor Hogan formally created the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force—a group made up of law enforcement professionals, elected officials, and substance abuse experts—and appointed Lt. Governor Rutherford as its chair. The funds announced today will be administered by the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP), and support the broad mission and efforts of the Task Force.
“I am pleased to report that our administration is making real progress in strengthening programs that provide needed services to Marylanders struggling with substance abuse,” Lt. Governor Rutherford said. “The governor and I pledged that addressing the heroin and opioid crisis would be a major priority, and we will continue to advocate for treatment and prevention programs, as well as the most effective law enforcement response to this epidemic.”
“The programs we are funding illustrate the scale of Maryland’s commitment to ending the heroin and opioid epidemic,” said Christopher Shank, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention. “No community is immune from it. That’s why we are providing these grants to regions in every part of Maryland.”
This round of grant funding is from the federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (BJAG) program, which supports a broad range of state and local criminal justice initiatives critical to Maryland’s goal of safe communities. Earlier this summer, under the direction of Governor Hogan and Lt. Governor Rutherford, GOCCP awarded $281,011 in funding to the Ocean City Police Department, Dorchester County, and the Maryland State Police for criminal investigations into how heroin is brought over state lines, and to provide MAT re-entry programs for county detention center inmates.
| Jurisdiction | Agency | Project Description | Award Amount |
| Allegany | Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office | Prosecution Partnership Targeting Priority Offenders in Cumberland and Allegany County | $55,532 |
| Baltimore City | The Family Recovery Program, Inc. | Partners in Recovery Together (PIRT) provides Peer Recovery Advocates to work with clients in substance abuse programs. | $100,000 |
| Carroll | Hampstead Police Department | Mobile License Plate Reader Technology uses LPR to identify criminal activity including illegal drug activity. | $18,150 |
| Charles | The Center for Children, Inc. | The Adolescent Substance Use Integration Initiative funds a new DHMH-licensed treatment program in Southern Maryland. | $69,000 |
| Charles | Charles County Circuit Court | The Family Recovery Court program supports families that need services because of parental substance abuse. Funds support Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) as well as short- and long-term residential treatment. | $98,554 |
| Howard | Howard County Dept. of Corrections | Targeted Reentry Services funds programs that include MAT support services, mediation, and a Strengthening Families Program. | $49,706 |
| Montgomery | Montgomery County Police Department | Heroin Overdose Prevention Program funds heroin paraphernalia education and funds for criminal investigations & forensic analysis. | $35,000 |
| St. Mary's | St. Mary’s County Government | Project Kicking the Habit is a pilot MAT Re-entry program for county detention center inmates. | $52,000 |
| Somerset | Somerset County Local Management Board | The Collaborative Anti-Gang Enforcement & Strategies program will use funds to purchase equipment including cameras and a radar unit, and provide gang investigation training. | $130,890 |
| Total | $608,832 |
It is nice to see that the governor is remembering those that voted for him. NOT. Where is the money for Wicomico county. Never mind, we don't have a heroin problem. Cameras and a radar unit sure will stem the tide of heroin in Somerset too. What a joke.
ReplyDeleteRussia has a vodka problem us has a heroin problem. that's what happens to people when they have nothing better to do but live off the dole. no purpose in life, no job, no ambition, no family no desire. this is not about the money
ReplyDeleteBig deal. If they arrest somebody on drug charges Obama will set them free.
ReplyDeleteAmen 1:58.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing. Wicomico's problem is just as bad as other "big cities". Where is the money for the shore? Why not use some of this money to help those that are ready to get clean, provide a safe environment,wNt for them to detox. How are cameras going to help the user that will OD. Each dealer is soon replaced with 2 new dealers. Help the user and put the dealer out of customers.
The heroin problem in Wicomico is population control. Its cheaper to let you OD then to deal with rehab and all the crimes the addict commits.
ReplyDeleteSomerset got more than any other county listed.
ReplyDelete4:46 I can believe that,Somerset county has a ridiculous heroin problem and it is at a crisis level.
ReplyDelete@5:23 and you think that $130k for cameras, a radar unit and gang investigation training is going to solve the heroin problem in Somerset county?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how this has anything to do with Heroin? $18,000 for a Mobile tag reader to help with Heroin addiction? I may have been born at night, but not last night.
ReplyDeleteCommon #LarryHogan this is not what we elected you for!!! You to #BoydRutherford you are supposed to be better steward of our tax dollars. $18,000 is a lot of money!!
Carroll - Hampstead Police Department - Mobile License Plate Reader Technology uses LPR to identify criminal activity including illegal drug activity. $18,150