NCJ Number
92017
Date Published
1983
Length
60 pages
Annotation
Criminal justice professionals from Pennsylvania's system testified on legislation reintroduced to Congress concerning the problem of violent crime, including the Justice Assistance Act (S. 53); the Career Criminal Act (S. 52); S. 901 regarding prisons; and S. 889, which proposed a $100 billion attack on violent crime over the next 10 years.
Abstract
Pennsylvania's Attorney General expressed his support for the legislation, citing the critical need for funding to replace the LEAA. He favored a block grant approach to funding and felt the current Career Criminal Act resolved concerns about the expansion of Federal jurisdiction. The district attorney for Dauphin County, Pa., also supported the bills, but questioned whether the funding would be adequate to reduce violent crime substantially and favored block grants. The commissioner of the State's Bureau of Corrections commented on burdens that tougher justice has placed on the correctional system and supported the block grant method. He believed that provisions in the Career Criminal Act allowing offenders to be committed to the Federal rather than the State prison system were very appealing. Finally, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency felt this agency should administer any block grants funds for criminal justice programs and commented on the need for improved educational and training programs in prisons to reduce recidivism. Witnesses' prepared statements are supplied.