NCJ Number
72610
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This act provides financial assistance administered by LEAA to local governments for career criminal programs, establishes the Office of Repeat Offenders Prosecution Projects within LEAA, and authorizes the construction fo five prison facilities.
Abstract
Federal grants and technical assistance may be given to local units having a population of 250,000 or more so that they may establish and operate programs designed to identify and expedite the prosecution and conviction of career criminals. Initially, the legislation details grant application procedures, which include stating the area's crime rate, determining criteria for the target career criminal population, providing for an information collection system on recidivists, estimating costs of the program, an establishing fiscal control and accounting procedures for Federal funds. The administrator of LEAA is authorized to provide technical assistance to eligible units when he considers it necessary. No grants may be less than $100,000 in a fiscal year or exceed 12.5 percent of the aggregate payments to all grantees under this legislation. The LEAA administrator may determine payment schedules. This act also creates the Office of Repeat Offenders Prosecution Projects to administer these programs whose director is appointed by the President and supervised by the LEAA administrator. The legislation delineates the functions of this office, the administrative powers of the LEAA administrator, criteria for withholding grant funds, and audit requirements. The final provisions authorize $60 million over a 3-year period beginning in 1978 for the construction and operation of 5 regional prisons for State and Federal prisoners to alleviate overcrowding in existing facilities. The authority of the Attorney General to assign prisoners is detailed, including contracts with State authorities and treatment of State prisoners.