Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, U.S. Senators for Colorado, announced today that Jefferson County law enforcement officials and the Colorado Department of Human Services Child Protection Intake is on track to receive $100,000 to fight methamphetamine use and trade in Jefferson County.
The funding was approved as part of the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations Act of 2009.
Specifically, the funding will be used to help Jefferson County law enforcement agencies and the Department of Human Services Child Protection Intake respond to an increasing rate of investigations involving methamphetamines.
“This dangerous drug has established a destructive toehold on all parts of our state that is affecting thousands of lives, especially children,” Udall said. “This funding will help Jefferson County fight back against meth use while protecting kids and the community.”
“This funding will help local law enforcement officials tackle the growing meth scourge in their areas so that we can keep our kids drug-free and our communities safe,” said Bennet.
Jefferson County is currently developing a two-pronged approach that includes the enhancement of strategies and infrastructure for interdiction of methamphetamine production and distribution and the development of protocol for teamed responses between law enforcement and social services personnel. However, physical needs, as they relate to structural cleanup within the community, remain unaddressed.
Funding will be used to continue a collaborative response plan that both identifies and responds to residential structures containing methamphetamine labs.
Partners will work to continue a system to communicate with landlords, lenders, and community agencies, providing resources for and the facilitation of cleanup and safe return to community markets. These responses will focus on early identification of units to eradicate labs and toxins. The goal is to strengthen the communication and cleanup efforts of local agencies by providing identification tools and services to enhance cleanup and market return.
The Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Act of 2009 will now go to Conference Committee, where differences between the House and Senate-passed versions will be reconciled