NCJ Number
245762
Date Published
2014
Length
112 pages
Annotation
This annual report summarizes the fiscal year (FY) 2012 activities of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
Abstract
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) strengthens the nation's criminal justice system and helps America's local, state, and tribal governments reduce and prevent crime and violence. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, BJA focused its program and policy efforts on providing a wide range of resources to law enforcement, courts, corrections, treatment, justice information sharing, and community-based partners to address emerging and chronic crime challenges nationwide. BJA delivers resources to state, local, and tribal communities and justice agencies with an emphasis on creating and sustaining partnerships and promoting data-driven and evidence-based practices and policies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system. At the same time, BJA encourages innovation and testing of new strategies to meet the unique needs of the communities it serves. In FY 2012, BJA focused on several key justice priorities facing America's communities. These priorities addressed the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) strategic goals and objectives and included: improving state and local efforts to reduce and prevent violent crimeincluding gang, gun, and drug crimethrough data-driven and evidence-based strategies; addressing economic and financial crime, including mortgage fraud and intellectual property crime; supporting state and local law enforcement in identifying and preventing terrorist incidents; promoting interoperability and information sharing to improve the ability of state and local law enforcement and justice agencies to share criminal intelligence while ensuring respect for privacy rights and civil liberties; ensuring fairness and access to justice by improving the capacity of America's courts; supporting smart and effective approaches to offender reentry and justice reinvestment; and helping improve the functioning of criminal justice systems in tribal communities