NCJ Number
184550
Date Published
2000
Length
63 pages
Annotation
A conference held in July 2000 brought local and Federal officials together to develop stronger communication and help erase the effects of isolation and distance upon people who administer Federal grants in the island communities of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Abstract
Territorial representatives gave descriptions of their justice systems, their assets, and their needs in confronting criminal justice problems. They noted that the jurisdictional nature of the territories and the size of their populations and economic base are limiting factors when recruiting local resources to address global issues of immigration, drugs, and crime. Federal officials provided information about programs and how to take advantage of them, as well as strategic planning, program development, funding, technical assistance, and training available through the Bureau of Justice Assistance and other Federal agencies. A central recommendation of the conference was to create a special territorial desk within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to improve communications and OJP responsiveness to the territories. Session summaries, agenda, and list of participants