NCJ Number
92726
Date Published
1983
Length
238 pages
Annotation
A Department of Justice (DOJ) official, legislators, and representatives from public officials' and law enforcement officers' associations testified on the 1983 Justice Assistance Act (S. 53), a revised version of the act vetoed by the President in 1982.
Abstract
The first witness, a DOJ associate attorney general, reviewed current activities of the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Institute of Justice and identified areas in the proposed bill that the DOJ wished to change. A panel of representatives for the National Association of Counties and the U.S. Conference of Mayors expressed support for the S.53 and its categorical grant approach. These witnesses suggested establishing thresholds for funding and streamlining application procedures. A second panel consisted of law enforcement officials representing the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriffs' Association. They also supported the categorical grant concept set forth in S.53 as opposed to block grants and discussed the critical need for Federal assistance to local law enforcement efforts. A national crime prevention specialist and a representative for the National Neighborhood Coalition expressed support for the bill's community crime prevention provisions, emphasizing the importance of putting money into neighborhoods for neighborhood crime prevention. The appendixes contain additional statements from the American Bar Association, National Association of Attorneys General, and other criminal justice groups, along with questions sent to the DOJ and its responses. The texts of the 1982 and 1983 Justice Assistance Acts are included.