NCJ Number
69255
Date Published
1980
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THIS MONOGRAPH EXAMINES THE MOTIVATION AND INTENT BEHIND THE SAFE STREETS ACT OF 1968, THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE (WCCJ) AS A NATURAL OUTGROWTH OF THE ACT, AND WCCJ'S RELATION TO LEAA.
Abstract
THE STATISTICS THAT LED TO THE 1960'S ATTEMPT AT OBTAINING SOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRIME LEGISLATION ARE DISCUSSED, TOGETHER WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT LANDED BEFORE CONGRESS REGARDING THE PROGRAMS TO BE DESIGNED TO COMBAT CRIME. THE BILL THAT ESTABLISHED THE LEAA AND PROPOSED GRANTS FOR COMBATING CRIME IS DESCRIBED WITH RESPECT TO ITS RECEPTION BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, ATTORNEY GENERAL RAMSEY CLARK, REPRESENTATIVE EMANUEL CELLER, AND THE PRESIDENT'S CRIME COMMISSION. THE PASSING OF THE BILL WITH THE BLOCK-GRANT AMENDMENT IS TRACED, AND ITS PROGRESS INTO THE SENATE WHERE THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT HAD ITS FORMAL BEGINNINGS IS DOCUMENTED. THE DEBATE BETWEEN ATTORNEY GENERAL RAMSEY CLARK AND SENATOR JOHN L. MCCLELLAN (D. -ARKANSAS) REGARDING THE ACT IS PRESENTED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COUNTRY'S PREVAILING ATTITUDE FOR A HARD LINE TOWARD CRIME AND ITS CONTROL. THE EVOLUTION OF THE WCCJ AS WISCONSIN'S STATE PLANNING AGENCY (SPA) IS THEN EXAMINED AS A RESPONSE TO THE SAFE STREETS ACT IN 1968. STUDY OF WCCJ IS FOCUSED ON ITS DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES AND DIRECTIONS AND THE DEMONSTRATION THAT EARLY IN ITS HISTORY, THE WCCJ, ALONG WITH THE MAJORITY OF OTHER SPA'S, LAID HEAVY EMPHASIS ON A POLICE RESPONSE TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS. IN THIS RESPECT, TABLES ILLUSTRATE EXPENDITURES AND FUNDING FOR POLICE, FOR 'HARDWARE,' FOR BLOCK GRANTS, AND FOR 'HARDWARE' ITEMS. FINALLY, CHANGES IN THE LEAA PROGRAM AND THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE AS A REPLACEMENT FOR LEAA ARE CONSIDERED. THE WCCJ'S RELATION TO LEAA AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR CHANGE WITH REGARD TO THE UNCERTAINTIES OF LEAA'S FUTURE ARE EXPLORED, AS ARE WCCJ'S MORE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF APPROXIMATELY 32 CITATIONS IS PROVIDED.