Maricopa County Probation Department first in nation to receive stimulus dollars

Maricopa County Adult Probation Department is the first probation department in the nation to receive American Recovery Investment Act (ARRA) for 2009 funding, announced Dist. 5 Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors recently voted to accept the $685,993 in stimulus money. The funding is part of the $5.5 million in Recovery Act funding that has been awarded to Arizona to fight crime and drug trafficking as part of the Justice Department’s Southwest Border Strategy.

Five surveillance officer positions will be funded for two years under the grant. With the acceptance of the Department of Justice funding along with an increase in transportation funding, Maricopa County’s current stimulus dollar allotment is $45.7 million for various county programs and projects.  The funds will save 41 positions targeted for layoffs and create 394 new positions in both the public and private sectors.  The money also funds 800 training positions for dislocated workers and 600 training positions with the county Summer Youth Program.