NCJ Number
50259
Date Published
1977
Length
81 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF LEAA'S FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE AREA OF NARCOTICS ABUSE CONTROL ARE CONSIDERED IN THIS REPORT TO THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL.
Abstract
DRUG ABUSE IS BOTH A MEDICAL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEM; ACCORDINGLY, TREATMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS ARE NECESSARY TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM. LEAA SHARES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREVENTING, CONTROLLING, AND TREATING DRUG ABUSE WITH A NUMBER OF FEDERAL AGENCIES. MOST LEAA FUNDS ARE AWARDED TO STATES IN BLOCK GRANTS ACCORDING TO THEIR POPULATION. FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED TO PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS UPON APPROVAL BY LEAA OF A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE PLAN IN WHICH NEEDS AND PRIORITIES IN ALL AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND CONTROL ARE IDENTIFIED. THESE FUNDS ARE SUBSEQUENTLY DISTRIBUTED TO VARIOUS UNITS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT AGENCIES THROUGH STATE PLANNING AGENCIES. STATES HAVE USED BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO SUPPORT VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR CATEGORY OF DRUG PROGRAMS: ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, PREVENTION, COMMUNITY TREATMENT, INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT, TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND PLANNING AND COORDINATION. AN OVERVIEW OF LEAA ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE PREVENTION, CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF NARCOTIC ABUSE IS PRESENTED WHICH ENCOMPASSES TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES TO STREET CRIME, COOPERATION WITH THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF METROPOLITAN ENFORCEMENT GROUPS BY POLICE AGENCIES AS MULTIJURISDICTIONAL NARCOTICS UNITS, THE NARCOTICS COURT PROGRAM, TREATMENT FOR OFFENDERS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND RESEARCH AND EVALUATION. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LEAA'S EFFORTS AND THE EXTENT OF THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM ARE DISCUSSED. TABULAR DATA ON LEAA FUNDING AND DRUG OFFENSES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)