NCJ Number
52058
Date Published
1979
Length
44 pages
Annotation
THE FUNCTION, ORGANIZATION, AND ACTIVITIES OF THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MCCJ), THE STATE'S AGENCY THAT PLANS FOR AND ADMINISTERS LEAA FUNDS, ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
ONE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT IS THAT EACH STATE ESTABLISH A PLANNING AGENCY. IN 1966, THE MCCJ WAS INITIATED IN RESPONSE TO THIS REQUIREMENT AND CHARGED WITH THESE RESPONSIBILITIES: ADVISING THE GOVERNOR ON ALL PHASES OF ADULT AND JUVENILE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE STATE, DEVELOPING AND REVISING A STATEWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLAN, STUDYING THE PROBLEMS OF CRIME AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND SETTING PRIORITIES FOR PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH, COLLECTING STATISTICS, AND MAKING GRANTS AND ADMINISTERING GRANT PROGRAMS. TO PROVIDE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION OF LEAA FUNDS AT A LOCAL LEVEL, MCCJ ESTABLISHED SEVEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING REGIONS AND REGIONAL PLANNING OFFICES KNOWN AS CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES. LEAA FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED THROUGH A FORMAL COMPETITIVE PROCESS BASED ON MCCJ GUIDELINES FOR REVIEWING AND DECIDING ON LOCAL AGENCY PROJECT PROPOSALS. THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PROJECT FUNDING ARE OUTLINED IN MCCJ'S ANNUALLY FORMULATED COMPREHENSIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLAN. EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THE MCCJ HAS FUNDED, AND A CHART PRESENTING THE MEMBERSHIP OF MCCJ, AND NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY STAFF ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)