STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY CONCERNING THE 1979 AUTHORIZATION FOR THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS FOR 'BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES'

• NCJ Number: 62557
• Author(s): M K HARRIS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS 1979 BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES AND THE NEED FOR THOROUGH CORRECTIONAL PLANNING ARE ADDRESSED IN THIS STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY.

Abstract

THE COUNCIL IS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT AGENCY WITH LONGSTANDING INTEREST IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES, PARTICULARLY POLICY ISSUES CONCERNING CRIMINAL SANCTIONS. IT FEELS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S AUTHORIZATION REQUEST FOR THE BUREAU OF PRISONS REPRESENTS A COURSE OF ACTION, I.E., THE CONSTRUCTION OF MORE PRISON AND JAIL FACILITIES, WITH STAGGERING FISCAL IMPLICATIONS. NEEDS TO BE SATISFIED BY PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION CAN BE SOLVED WITHOUT INCURRING SUCH A FISCAL BURDEN. A BETTER COURSE OF ACTION INVOLVES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES AND A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES THROUGH CRIMINAL CODE REFORM, SENTENCING AND PAROLE REVISIONS, AND OTHER POLICY CHANGES. IMPLICATIONS OF CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL BELL (ORGANIZED CRIME, WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, CORRUPTION OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND NARCOTICS TRAFFIC) SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED IN ANALYZING THE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST FOR THE BUREAU OF PRISONS. NO FUNDS FOR PLANNING OR CONSTRUCTING NEW INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED IN LIGHT OF AVAILABLE SENTENCING, DISPOSITIONAL, AND PLACEMENT OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES. (DEP)