[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 91 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21238-21299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11485]
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Part III
Department of Justice
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Office of Justice Programs
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Program Plans for Fiscal Year 1996; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 91 / Thursday, May 9, 1996 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of Justice Programs
[OJP NO. 1079]
ZRIN 1121-ZA33
Program Plans for Fiscal Year 1996
AGENCY: Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.
ACTION: Notice of program plans.
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DATES: See specific Program Plan.
ADDRESSES: All questions concerning these Program Plans should be
addressed to the appropriate Bureau or Office at 633 Indiana Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20531.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preface: OJP Bureaus' Fiscal Year 1996 Program Plans
The Fiscal Year 1996 Program Plans for the United States Department
of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureaus--the National
Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and Office for Victims of Crime--
represent a continuation of our concerted effort to work in partnership
with law enforcement and criminal justice agencies across the nation to
break the cycle of drugs and violence and eliminate the consequences of
crime. This represents, as well, the second year that OJP will have
published all its discretionary Program Plans together in the Federal
Register.
Because of scarce resources at every level of government today, the
OJP Program Plans emphasize increasing the collaboration across
Federal, State, and local agencies; leveraging resources with other
Federal agencies, foundations, and the private sector; identifying
specific needs, priorities, and gaps in the system; and implementing
innovative strategies that demonstrate concrete results while at the
same time being cost-effective. Because many of today's crime problems
require solutions that extend beyond traditional criminal justice
boundaries, new systemwide responses are encouraged and comprehensive
community efforts are highlighted.
This is particularly important in strengthening our response to
escalating youth violence--especially gang activity--and juvenile
victimization. Building on the development of the OJJDP Comprehensive
Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders and the
National Juvenile Justice Action Plan released by the Attorney General
this Spring, the FY 1996 plan supports a balanced approach to
aggressively addressing juvenile delinquency and violence through
graduated sanctions, improving the juvenile justice system's ability to
respond, and preventing the onset of delinquency. Initiatives to
address violent, serious, and chronic juvenile offenders are
highlighted. Major new program areas focus on the development of one-
stop, community-based intake, assessment, referral, and program service
centers; supporting the linkages between community and law enforcement
responses to youth gun violence and gang activity; and improving the
dependency and criminal court systems and the community's response to
child abuse and neglect--factors studies show perpetuate violence in
future generations.
The OJP Program Plans also support community-based initiatives that
recognize the lead role that communities must play in violence
prevention and the strong coordinated, multidisciplinary approach
required to combat crime in our neighborhoods. For example, using a
planning grant approach which emphasizes the importance of first
developing community mobilization strategies in key segments of the
criminal justice system, BJA's Comprehensive Communities Program--which
is being continued in FY 1996--encourages a jurisdiction-wide approach
that includes community policing, the establishment of drug courts,
expedited prosecution and diversion, gang prevention and intervention,
dispute and conflict resolution, and alternatives to incarceration.
Building on the achievements of past efforts and guided by
extensive input from its constituent groups, the OVC programming looks
to communities to establish integrated, inclusive environments where
comprehensive services are provided for crime victims in a single
location. The plan offers communities the information, training, tools,
and technical assistance needed to create supportive, multidisciplinary
facilities especially designed for victims.
Underlying all the Program Plans is the importance of understanding
``what works'' and ``best practices'' so that jurisdictions can learn
from one another and not have to constantly ``reinvent the wheel.'' In
this regard, the NIJ plan continues its long-range emphasis on
developing knowledge and Federal leadership that will assist
jurisdictions in advancing six important goals: reduce violent crime,
reduce drug- and alcohol-related crime, reduce the consequences of
crime, improve crime prevention, improve law enforcement and justice
systems, and develop new technologies.
One opportunity we have to work together to make our communities
safer is through the training and technical assistance available from
OJP. As we endeavor to determine ``what works''--through research,
evaluation, and demonstration grants--communities are encouraged to
request technical assistance and training to replicate successful
demonstration programs and implement ``best practices.''
We will be issuing separate solicitations for Crime Act programs in
the areas of Violence Against Women, Drug Courts, Corrections
Facilities Construction, Residential Substance Abuse, and the National
Criminal History Improvement Program. For information about these
programs--as well as about the application process for the programs
described here--you can call the DOJ Response Center at 1-800-421-6770.
I hope that the OJP Program Plans that follow are responsive to the
most significant needs in the criminal justice field; they represent
our best thinking on how the Federal government can make a solid
contribution to the problems of crime and violence facing this country.
Laurie Robinson,
Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs.
Bureau of Justice Assistance
FY 1996 Discretionary Grant Program Plan
Dear Colleague:
I am pleased to present the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Discretionary Program Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996. Through the
Byrne Discretionary Grant Program, BJA provides leadership for the
prevention and control of crime and violence and for criminal
justice system improvement at the State and local levels. BJA also
develops and tests new approaches in criminal justice and crime
control, and encourages replication of effective programs and
practices by States and local agencies.
Our mission is to provide leadership and assistance in support
of local criminal justice strategies to achieve strong neighborhoods
and safe communities. Accordingly, this year we will intensify our
focus on the tasks of helping to make communities safe, building
strong crime-resistant neighborhoods, increasing citizen involvement
in their communities, and improving the effectiveness of the
criminal justice system. We are guided in the achievement of our
mission by a very specific set of programmatic goals. BJA's
programmatic goals are:
To promote effective innovative crime control and
prevention strategies.
To demonstrate and promote replication of effective
crime control programs that
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support public-private partnerships, planning, and criminal justice
system improvement.
To leverage and efficiently administer available
resources.
To provide a dynamic work environment that fosters and
encourages excellence, innovation, and responsiveness.
The resultant FY 1996 BJA Discretionary Grant Program Plan
addresses many of the most pressing challenges facing the Nation's
criminal justice system. For example, the Program Plan addresses the
issue of youth violence through programs that support drug
education, prevention, and treatment; build skills in conflict
resolution; intervene to reduce criminal use of guns and gang
involvement; and provide alternative correctional sanctions for
first-time nonviolent offenders. Additionally, the unique needs of
the elderly are recognized through programs that promote safety and
independence for the elderly, enhance resource availability through
productive public and private partnerships, and provide protection
against health care fraud.
Byrne discretionary grant awards support demonstration projects,
national-scope programs, training and technical assistance, and
other innovative programs that fill the gaps in the criminal justice
system to make it stronger and more comprehensive. Towards this end,
substantial BJA discretionary funds will be used to continue
strengthening community-based initiatives, such as the Comprehensive
Communities Program and, within Native American communities, the
Tribal Strategies Against Violence Program. Similarly, the BJA
Comprehensive Homicide Initiative emphasizes the importance of
multiagency coordination--at all levels of government--in addressing
prevention, intervention, enforcement, and prosecution.
In summary, the BJA FY 1996 Discretionary Program Plan will
target funds, training, and technical assistance in support of
effective and innovative programs that show the greatest potential
for addressing the Nation's criminal justice challenges. I welcome
your comments and your partnership.
Nancy E. Gist,
Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Introduction
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) of the U.S. Department of
Justice supports States and local communities in addressing problems of
crime and violence. During Fiscal Year (FY) 1996, BJA is placing
emphasis on implementing comprehensive approaches to crime,
neighborhood-based programs with active citizen involvement, violence
prevention and control initiatives, and programs that not only improve
the functioning of the criminal justice system, but also focus on
enhancing the system's ability to remove serious and violent offenders
from our communities.
This FY 1996 Discretionary Grant Program Plan provides summaries of
these programs, which are funded under the Edward Byrne Memorial State
and Local Law Enforcement Assistance (Byrne) Discretionary Grant
Program. In addition, it describes planned activities for the Regional
Information Sharing Systems Program and the National White-Collar Crime
Center, which also are administered by BJA, and joint efforts with
other Federal agencies.
Program Goals
The FY 1996 Discretionary Grant Program Plan addresses BJA's two
goals in assisting State and local units of government: (1) Reduce and
prevent crime and violence; and (2) Improve the functioning of the
criminal justice system. To facilitate achievement of these goals,
enhanced coordination and cooperation of Federal, State, and local
efforts will be emphasized. Objectives for each of the goals are
outlined below, followed by BJA's programmatic priorities and framework
and program summaries that describe how the goals will be achieved.
Goal 1--Reduce and Prevent Crime and Violence
Objectives:
Encourage the development and implementation of
comprehensive strategies to reduce and prevent crime and violence.
Encourage the active participation of community
organizations and citizens in efforts to prevent crime, drug use, and
violence.
Provide national-scope training and technical assistance
in support of efforts to prevent crime, drug use, and violence.
Provide young people with legitimate opportunities and
activities that serve as alternatives to crime and involvement with
gangs.
Reduce the availability of illegal weapons; and develop
programs to address violence in our communities, homes, schools, and
workplaces.
Goal 2--Improve the Functioning of the Criminal Justice System
Objectives:
Enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to reduce
crime--especially drug trafficking, drug sales, and violence.
Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all aspects of
the adjudication process.
Assist States in freeing prison space for serious and
violent offenders through the design, development, and implementation
of effective correctional options for nonviolent offenders.
Enhance the ability of State and local agencies, in
conjunction with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), to
apprehend and deport criminal aliens.
Evaluate the effectiveness of funded programs, disseminate
program results, and enhance the ability of criminal justice agencies
to use new information technologies.
How Program Priorities Are Established
Priorities for the FY 1996 Discretionary Grant Program reflect a
balance of congressional mandates, Administration priorities, and needs
expressed by State and local criminal justice practitioners. The two
overarching goals listed above are derived directly from the
authorizing legislation for the Byrne Discretionary Grant Program.
Priorities for a number of specific programs to address those goals are
mandated by Congress through the earmarking of the Byrne Discretionary
Grant Program appropriation.
During the recent Byrne Program planning process, BJA solicited
input on priorities from national organizations representing State and
local governments, criminal justice agencies, and community groups.
Input was also requested from the State agencies that administer the
Byrne Formula Grant Program. This year, BJA has instituted a continuing
practice of convening a number of focused program-planning workshops,
or focus groups. These focus groups, structured around a specific
criminal justice issue, are comprised of interdisciplinary policymakers
and practitioners from all levels of government. They serve as a forum
to discuss needs, identify emerging issues, and propose innovative
programmatic solutions.
Types of Programs To Be Funded
BJA is authorized by Congress to award grants to public and private
agencies and organizations for national-scope, demonstration, training,
and technical assistance programs in support of States and local
jurisdictions. National-scope programs provide a service or product of
benefit throughout the country or across multiple States, or address
issues of national concern. Demonstration programs develop, test,
evaluate, and document new programs and practices. Training for State
and local criminal justice practitioners and other professionals
provides state-of-the-art information on effective programs and
practices. Technical assistance is provided to sites participating in
demonstration programs or, depending on available resources, is
provided to help an individual
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jurisdiction implement a program or practice or address a specific
issue.
How Discretionary Grants Will Be Made
This year, the majority of the discretionary grant funding is being
awarded on a noncompetitive basis. The following factors limit the
number of competitive programs:
Congressional Earmarks--Each year Congress directs BJA to award a
portion of the appropriated Byrne Program funds to specified programs
and/or organizations. In FY 1996, the Conference Report of the
Appropriations Committee directed the funding for $45.6 million of the
$60 million likely to be appropriated for general discretionary
programs, such as the Weed and Seed Program, the National Citizens'
Crime Prevention Campaign, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(D.A.R.E.) Program, and the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area Drug
Enforcement Task Force.
Continuation and Implementation Grants--Many of BJA's programs
require several years of implementation to accomplish their goals.
Demonstration sites, which are generally identified through a
competitive selection process, may require 2 to 3 years of funding to
fully develop, implement, and evaluate a program. In addition, BJA has
funded several initial planning efforts, with implementation funding
provided in subsequent years.
Limited Competition--When specific program criteria or objectives
are applicable only to a narrowly defined group of potential
applicants, a limited competition may be held. Program criteria and
objectives typically are defined by specific jurisdictional demographic
variables or by a specific crime problem.
Sole Source Selection--In some cases, only one organization or
agency has the capability, expertise, or constituents to adequately
administer a program that BJA deems essential to implement. For
example, an association representing a constituency that BJA wants to
reach through technical assistance or training also may be the best
organization to implement that program. In other cases, BJA may make an
award on a noncompetitive basis to an agency that has developed an
innovative program and has the expertise to implement it.
Framework for Programming
Guiding Principles
Three principles underpin the design of BJA's FY 1996 Discretionary
Grant Program Plan--comprehensiveness, addressing unmet needs, and
leveraging resources. These principles are embodied in each of the four
programmatic themes, and reflect our intent to make the most effective
and efficient use of limited Federal criminal justice program
resources.
Comprehensiveness
Crime prevention and control initiatives are most effective when
they relate directly to a comprehensive strategy. Such a strategy
provides the context or anchor for addressing locally determined
priorities; describes in detail how programs implemented by government
agencies, other service providers, and residents mutually support one
another in focusing on these priorities; and serves as the means for
developing future partnerships among a wide variety of public and
private resources. For these reasons, we have looked at ways of
developing and, in some cases, reconfiguring programs to ensure that
they are comprehensive in nature and promote partnerships that support
local strategic planning and implementation.
Explicit in any successful State or local crime prevention and
control strategy is the engagement of the ultimate beneficiaries--the
community residents. Therefore, community-based strategies, and
resulting initiatives, must focus on neighborhood problems by involving
community leaders and residents in the planning and delivery of
services. Among the programs we are supporting, the Comprehensive
Communities Program, the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign,
and the Tribal Strategies Against Violence Program all support
partnerships with Federal, State, and local governments, private
organizations, and foundations that develop and achieve solutions
addressing a multitude of problems concerning crime and quality of
life.
Some comprehensive program approaches are problem specific. For
example, the Comprehensive Gang Initiative demonstrates a model
approach to gang issues that carefully balances consideration of
prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies. The model is
designed to bring together cooperative and coordinated efforts by the
police, other criminal justice agencies, human services providers,
community agencies, and residents.
Other programs, such as the Community-Based Prosecution Initiative,
are not problem specific, but bring together the community, the
prosecutor's office, and the local courts in problem solving, speedier
access to justice, and facilitation of offender reintegration back into
neighborhoods.
Addressing Unmet Needs
In carrying out its mission, BJA recognizes that the dollars
available for Byrne Program discretionary funding represent a very
small fraction of the overall resources available for criminal justice
programming (less than one percent). To ensure that taxpayers receive
the greatest return possible on the investment of these limited funds,
we have focused on programs that complement previous or ongoing
efforts, and we have made every attempt to avoid duplicating the
efforts of other Federal agencies.
BJA provides balance in its approach, and emphasizes the
involvement of key stakeholders in the development of new initiatives.
In FY 1996, an important priority will be to address unmet needs by
demonstrating or supporting programs designed to correct current
deficiencies in the delivery of criminal justice services--deficiencies
that threaten to compromise the effectiveness of the criminal justice
system. Examples of these initiatives include:
The Community Prosecution and Community Probation Program, which
will explore a range of innovations to improve access to criminal
justice services at the community level.
The Training in Anti-Drug Activities and Cultural Differences
Involving Illegal Aliens Initiative and the Criminal Alien
Identification and Intervention Program, which provide training and
technical support to State and local criminal justice agencies dealing
with issues of criminal and illegal aliens.
The Comprehensive Homicide Initiative, which focuses on a holistic
approach to homicide that integrates prevention, intervention, and
enforcement measures through public agencies, private organizations,
and the community.
The DNA Resource Unit, which will provide technical assistance to
prosecutors in the understanding and use of DNA typing technology in
the prosecution of cases.
The Assessment and Enhancement of Indigent Defense Initiative,
which will explore methods for improving the overall effectiveness of
the adjudication process.
The Correctional Options Program, which has provided a broad range
of programming for provision of treatment services and alternatives to
incarceration for nonviolent offenders. BJA's emphasis in FY 1996 will
be to support a national dissemination and technical assistance
initiative that will inform key decisionmakers at the State and local
levels of the lessons that BJA
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has learned about the planning, development, implementation, and
evaluation of successful Correctional Options projects.
Leveraging Resources
BJA has a responsibility to ensure that programs are cost
effective; that, where appropriate, costs are shared among entities
receiving benefits from BJA-supported programs; and that there is a
strong likelihood effective programs will be maintained beyond the
point where Federal funds are no longer provided. Thus, BJA strongly
encourages prospective applicants to consider all potential resources
when developing program proposals and applying for Byrne Program grant
funds.
Although Discretionary Grant Program funds may be used to pay up to
100 percent of total project costs under an initial grant award, BJA
has instituted a policy of giving favorable consideration to proposals
in which an applicant agency or jurisdiction has also committed its own
resources in furtherance of program objectives. The applicant's
resources could consist of funding derived from local appropriations or
from other sources, public or private. Contributed resources may also
be ``in kind,'' including dedicated personnel, facilities, supplies, or
equipment. Volunteer efforts are also taken into consideration.
Successful leveraging of resources is illustrated in the following
two examples. In BJA's Organized Crime Narcotics task force program,
the participating agencies support all regular personnel costs and most
infrastructure costs, and Byrne Discretionary Grant funds support
limited overtime costs, investigative support costs, and some
confidential expenditures. Alternatively, BJA has provided a grant to
the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education (FASE) to
produce a film addressing the issue of date and spousal violence. BJA
agreed to provide funding support on the condition that FASE match the
grant amount with funds from other sources. Faced with this challenge,
FASE was able to more than match the grant with funds from public and
private sources.
To further facilitate a strong partnership with its grantees, and
to increase the number of new initiatives, BJA has instituted a policy
of providing a declining share of total costs for many projects where
continuation funding is considered. In addition to making BJA funding
resources more widely available for additional program opportunities,
this policy requires a demonstration of commitment from applicants,
enhancing the likelihood of program institutionalization. Thus, in FY
1996 and beyond, second-year awards will be made for a maximum of 75
percent of total project costs, and third-year awards will be made for
up to 50 percent of total project costs.
Programmatic Themes
Program themes frame our guiding principles and provide the
operational context through which BJA implements its national-scope,
demonstration, training, and technical assistance programs. The themes
result from priorities articulated by the Attorney General; our program
experiences and lessons learned from demonstration and evaluation of
crime prevention and control efforts; and the information provided by
States in their Byrne Formula Grant Program strategies.
Public--Private Partnerships in Support of Local Strategies
Developing and sustaining partnerships is essential, especially
when addressing crime issues through comprehensive strategies.
Competing demands on resources, development of new skills and
approaches to problem solving, emergence of private foundations
focusing on public safety issues, and the direct participation of the
community itself are influencing the way in which government operates.
Partnerships among public agencies and between those agencies and
private organizations are becoming a vital theme in delivering
comprehensive services that address the quality of life in our
communities. Effective partnerships begin with all participants engaged
in strategy development, and carry through to the end goal of service
delivery and evaluation.
BJA continues to stress the importance of public-private
partnerships at the Federal, State, and local levels in its program
development efforts. State and local officials are encouraged to
collaborate to ensure that local, comprehensive crime prevention and
control strategies are integrated into State planning efforts. This
relationship helps to ensure that Byrne Formula Grant funds, other
Federal resources, and State-appropriated monies are channeled in a
coordinated manner in support of local comprehensive initiatives.
Evidence of these partnerships, through memoranda of understanding,
commitment of resources, and shared responsibility for developing and
implementing strategies to make our communities safe, will be a
determining factor in BJA's commitment of resources.
Many of the programs to be implemented in FY 1996 will build upon
partnerships developed in previous years. As some of these efforts
reach the final stages of demonstration, and as Federal financial
support is phased out, the strength of local partnership arrangements
will be even more critical to ensure institutionalization. For example,
BJA soon will be completing the Children-At-Risk Program, which is
supported by BJA and a national public-private partnership consisting
of the Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) and six private
foundations that focus on youth intervention. This effort, equally
supported by the U.S. Department of Justice and the private sector,
reflects the commitment of over $7.5 million since FY 1992.
Other programs, such as the Comprehensive Communities Program (CCP)
and Pulling America's Communities Together (PACT) have experienced
enormous success in building partnerships. In Denver, the Alliance for
the Prevention of Violence, a collaborative of charitable organizations
that serves Colorado, has integrated the PACT/CCP effort into its
philanthropic considerations. The East Bay Corridor CCP initiative, a
program that unites 18 cities in two counties in anticrime initiatives,
joins the public agencies from those jurisdictions with the East Bay
Community Foundation, a local funding collaborative, to focus on youth
crime in the Corridor.
Enhancement of Public Confidence in the Criminal Justice System
In recent years there has been a perception of growing erosion of
public confidence in the criminal justice system and the services it
provides. Many factors have contributed to this concern--including
public outrage resulting from isolated criminal incidents, such as
crimes that have been committed by ex-offenders on parole; use of
excessive force by law enforcement; urban disorders; and an emphasis in
newspaper and television news reports on sensationalizing incidents of
violent crime.
BJA supports programs that promote balance and fairness in law
enforcement and the criminal justice system. By supporting programs
that feature community participation as a cornerstone, BJA seeks to
educate and actively engage citizens, thereby improving public
confidence in the criminal justice system.
Through its law enforcement programs, BJA provides a solid
foundation for enabling jurisdictions to ensure public safety and
further
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promote public confidence. Such programs expand coordination with
antiviolence task forces, provide assistance to State and local
criminal justice agencies, and support communities in the control and
prevention of street crime.
A National Sentencing Symposium will be co-sponsored by BJA, the
National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the State Justice Institute
(SJI). This collaborative initiative will address the public's lack of
confidence in the system, examine the strengths and shortcomings of
current sentencing policies and address the importance of
accountability and the need to alleviate sentencing disparities.
Through the Community Prosecution Program, BJA will demonstrate
community engagement with prosecutors' offices and the local courts in
problem solving, providing speedier access to justice, and facilitating
the reintegration of offenders back into neighborhoods. This program
will promote a positive image of the criminal justice system, allay
public fear, and improve neighborhood and community involvement with
criminal justice professionals.
Alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders is another
important programmatic area. Often, nonviolent offenders who could be
punished more effectively through a less expensive alternative are
sentenced to incarceration. A recent analysis of the annual needs
assessments that are conducted through the Byrne Formula Grant Program
indicated that the two areas of greatest need at the State and local
levels are alternatives to incarceration and offender treatment
services.
In FY 1996, BJA will support a national dissemination and technical
assistance initiative to inform key decisionmakers at the State and
local levels about the lessons learned in the planning, development,
implementation, and evaluation of successful, cost-effective,
Correctional Options projects for nonviolent offenders. These programs
maintain public safety and, at the same time, hold offenders
accountable.
Criminal Justice System Response to Violence--Particularly Youth
Violence
Although 1994 Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data show that violent
crime dropped 4 percent and property crime dropped 3 percent, citizens
across the country believe otherwise. Whereas violent crime rates for
older adults have remained steady or declined, the public believes that
violence is on the increase. This belief is reflected in the 1993 U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ) National Crime Victimization Survey, which
marked a significant increase of 25 percent in the violent
victimizations of black males aged 12 to 24. The Bureau of Justice
Statistics (BJS) reported in its Selected Findings: Violent Crime that
young people aged 16 to 24 consistently have the highest violent crime
rates. When gang affiliation is considered, these youth-based crime
statistics increase at crisis proportions.
Other national-scope surveys indicate the following:
Elected officials in almost 400 cities believe that youth
crime and violence has escalated.
Throughout the year, 4 million women are physically abused
by their husbands or boyfriends.
The annual number of child abuse cases is growing.
Drug use, especially marijuana, is on the increase among
students.
A child dies from gunfire every 98 minutes.
To deter this violence, BJA is working with representatives of
Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and community leaders to
enhance their current criminal justice planning processes to better
implement comprehensive, systemwide strategic interventions at the
neighborhood level. When properly applied, this holistic approach,
which is supported with FY 1996 crime prevention funding, is cost
effective, provides focus for the delivery of services (e.g., law
enforcement, social, and education services), involves citizens as
partners, and assists youth in making responsible decisions to develop
healthier and safer lifestyles.
Evaluation and Assessment Efforts
Critical to gauging the success of the investment of taxpayer
dollars is the support of evaluation efforts that measure what works
and what doesn't work in crime control and prevention and in criminal
justice system improvement. This information can be disseminated to the
State and local levels, where decisions about replication of program
successes are made.
Because we believe that it also is critical to reinforce with the
States the role that evaluation must play in any grant program, and to
help States build the capacity to measure the impact of programs that
they fund, we are continuing our State and local capacity-building
initiative with the assistance of NIJ. If the States are to serve as
laboratories for evaluation and assessment, they must institutionalize
performance measurement, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms. BJA's
evaluation capacity-building initiative supports these efforts.
In partnership with NIJ, we are designing a challenge program
whereby States will be invited to partner with a local research/
evaluation institution such as a university, select a promising program
for rigorous evaluation that otherwise might not be evaluated, and
propose a research design.
The principles and programmatic themes are cross-cutting, and
together form the framework for the BJA program. This framework has
evolved from our programmatic experience and will help chart our
direction for future programming efforts. While the individual program
summaries are presented by ``discipline,'' each program also represents
one or more principle and theme.
Program Summaries
Comprehensive Programs
Comprehensive Communities Program
Grantee: 16 sites nationwide
The Comprehensive Communities Program (CCP) is demonstrating an
innovative, comprehensive, and integrated multiagency approach to
comprehensive violent crime control and community mobilization in 16
jurisdictions across the country.
There is perhaps no more urgent domestic problem facing our country
than violence. The only way to make progress against this epidemic is
to marshal the coordinated efforts of communities; the private sector;
and Federal, State, and local governments. CCP seeks to catalyze the
development of such partnerships.
Two key principles underlie this initiative. First, communities
must play the lead role in fostering violence prevention partnerships.
Second, State and local jurisdictions must establish strong coordinated
and multidisciplinary approaches. Under the Comprehensive Communities
Program, communities faced with high rates of drug abuse and violent
crime develop a comprehensive strategy for crime and drug control that
requires police and other city agencies to work in partnership with the
community to address crime- and violence-related problems and the
environment that fosters them.
CCP goals are:
To suppress violence and restore the sense of community
wellness necessary to effectively recapture the security of our
neighborhoods.
To focus on community problems and concerns by initiating
comprehensive planning and improved
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intergovernmental and community relationships.
CCP objectives are:
To develop a comprehensive, multiagency strategy within
each community to identify the causes and origins of violence and to
control and prevent violent crime and drug-related crime.
To include in each strategy a jurisdictionwide commitment
to community policing and other efforts that encourage citizens to take
an active role in problem solving.
To coordinate existing Federal, State, local, and private
agency resources and concentrate these resources to maximize their
impact on reducing violent crime and drug-related crime in the program
communities.
The Comprehensive Communities Program has been administered in two
phases. During Phase I, between April and September 1994, planning
grants enabled the 16 jurisdictions to develop their crime control and
community mobilization strategies. Phase II, from October 1, 1994, to
September 30, 1996, provided initial funds to the 16 jurisdictions to
begin implementing these strategies. The strategies require criminal
justice agencies, other governmental organizations, and the private
sector to work in partnership with the community. Each strategy
includes a jurisdictionwide commitment to community policing,
coordination among public and private agencies (e.g., social services
and public health agencies), and efforts that encourage citizens to
take an active role in problem solving. In addition to the community
policing and community mobilization components, most of the strategies
include application of drug courts, expedited prosecution and
diversion, gang prevention and intervention, dispute and conflict
resolution, and alternatives to incarceration.
Each of the sites is encouraged to coordinate with and complement
other comprehensive Federal, State, and local efforts. For example, the
CCP strategies for Atlanta, Denver, Omaha, and Washington, D.C., are
tailored specifically to support the Pulling America's Communities
Together (PACT) Initiative in those jurisdictions. Also, many of the
sites are participating in the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community
Initiative; the CCP strategy can represent a viable crime-control
component for that initiative. In addition, several of the sites have
included in their local strategies enhancements to or expansion of Weed
and Seed efforts in selected target neighborhoods.
Due to the broad nature of CCP and the decision to draw from
multiple and independent initiatives, technical assistance and training
in support of CCP is being provided through several sources, as
follows:
Criminal Justice Associates (CJA) coordinates overall technical
assistance and training delivery under the program and prepares program
documents (i.e., the implementation manual, fact sheets, and program
status reports). At the project level, CJA focuses on site needs
relating to project management and alternatives to incarceration.
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) provides program-level
assistance in preparing documents (i.e., coordination in developing the
implementation manual and distributing newsletters). NCPC focuses on
site needs relating to community mobilization and engagement, dispute
and conflict resolution, and resource development.
The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) focuses on comprehensive
gang initiatives in 11 of the 16 CCP sites.
The American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI) focuses on site
needs as they relate to community prosecution and prosecution and
diversion.
In FY 1996, funds will be made available to a number of the
demonstration sites to continue operations into FY 1997. Technical
assistance will be provided through existing and continuation grants
among the cadre of current providers.
Crime Prevention
National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign
Grantee: National Crime Prevention Council; Washington, DC
The National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign focuses on helping
individuals, community and civic organizations, and Federal, State, and
local government agencies build better, safer, and more caring
communities. FY 1996 activities will enable the Campaign to continue
its work on crime and violence prevention and drug demand reduction.
Work elements will address the production and dissemination of air and
print ads using McGruff the Crime Dog and nephew Scruff public service
announcements (in English and Spanish) that target both youth and their
caretakers; the development and reproduction of an array of crime and
drug abuse prevention support materials; and the provision of national,
State, and local technical assistance and training workshops in topical
areas ranging from planning and managing crime prevention to
comprehensive planning development.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Grantee: Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Atlanta, GA
BJA will continue to provide Federal resources to the Boys & Girls
Clubs of America for the establishment and enhancement of Boys & Girls
Clubs in public housing and other community settings where there is a
concentration of poverty, crime, and violence. FY 1996 activities will
emphasize the partnering of BJA and Boys & Girls Clubs of America staff
to identify local recipient sites in up to 30 communities across the
country; the continued support of jurisdictions participating in the
BJA-sponsored Comprehensive Communities Program; the incorporation of
conflict resolution, mentoring, and parental outreach and training into
the local programming of clubs receiving Federal enhancement awards;
and the establishment of a national Native American advisory board that
will meet regularly to assess and provide program recommendations for
clubs established on Indian reservations.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Grantee: D.A.R.E. America; Inglewood, CA
In FY 1996, BJA will continue its work with D.A.R.E. America to
support the provision of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)
technical assistance and training to local and State law enforcement
officers and the accreditation of State D.A.R.E. Training Centers.
These initiatives will be accomplished through provision of resources
for the five D.A.R.E. Regional Training Centers (RTCs) administered by
the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the City of Los Angeles Police
Department, the Illinois State Police, the North Carolina Bureau of
Investigation, and the Virginia State Police. Specifically, D.A.R.E.
America and the RTCs will provide D.A.R.E. Officer Training for new
D.A.R.E. officers; D.A.R.E. In-service Training for experienced
D.A.R.E. officers; Mentor Officer Training; D.A.R.E. Parent Program
Training for instructors who use the D.A.R.E. curriculum to work with
and train parents; D.A.R.E. junior and senior high school student
training; program development; assessments of State D.A.R.E. Training
Centers; accreditation of law enforcement agencies as D.A.R.E. Training
Centers; and technical assistance for local agencies replicating the
D.A.R.E. Program.
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National Night Out
Grantee: National Association of Town Watch; Wynnewood, PA
This year-long program involves the continuing participation of
more than 28 million people, including law enforcement personnel;
individuals from other units of government, business, education, and
community organizations; citizens; and youth in over 8,800 communities
in all 50 States, U.S. territories, and U.S. military bases around the
world. Administered by the National Association of Town Watch, Inc.
(NATW), FY 1996 support will enable NATW to continue providing
information, educational materials, and technical assistance for the
development of cost-effective police--community partnership efforts
that work toward reducing crime, violence, and substance abuse at the
national, State, local, and neighborhood levels.
Tribal Strategies Against Violence Program
Grantees: Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes; Poplar, MT and Rosebud Sioux
Tribe; Rosebud, SD
Tribal Strategies Against Violence is a Federal--tribal partnership
initiative designed to empower Native American communities through the
development and implementation of reservationwide strategies to reduce
crime, violence, and drug abuse. Primary program focus is on the
formation of a centralized planning team comprised of service
providers, whose goal it is to develop short-term and long-term
strategies that encompass community policing and prosecution, domestic
abuse, juvenile delinquency, and prevention education. FY 1996 program
activities will extend the program beyond the initial project sites on
the Fort Peck, Montana, and Rosebud, South Dakota, Reservations. BJA,
through a limited competitive process, will work with the Office of
Justice Programs (OJP) American Indian and Alaskan Native Desk and the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), U.S. Department of Interior, to
identify up to four regional sites across the country. Reservations
selected for program participation will be representative of the
Northwest, South-Southwest, Midwest-Great Lakes, and East regions.
Law Enforcement
Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area Drug Enforcement Task Force
Grantee: Arlington County Police Department; Arlington, VA
The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area Drug Enforcement Task Force
will continue to (1) provide a visible law enforcement presence; (2)
disrupt major links between drug suppliers, distributors, and users;
(3) initiate enforcement action against property owners who knowingly
allow their property to be used in the distribution of illicit drugs;
(4) develop comprehensive intelligence systems; and (5) coordinate with
appropriate agencies regarding illegal firearms used by drug
organizations.
Gang Organized Crime Narcotics Violence Enforcement Program
Grantees: Bernalillo County Prosecutor's Office; Bernalillo County, NM
and Multnomah County Prosecutor's Office; Multnomah County, OR
This program will continue to assist local law enforcement and
prosecution agencies in addressing the growing problem of gang-related
violence, with a special focus on drugs and firearms. Two sites will be
funded to continue gathering intelligence and to develop investigative
and prosecutorial strategies designed to weaken the structure and
activities of violent gangs.
Prison Gang Intelligence Program
Grantee: Midstates Organized Crime Information Center; Springfield, MO
The Prison Gang Intelligence Program will be continued in FY 1996
to implement a nationwide capability of collecting, analyzing, and
sharing information on prison gangs, gang members, and prison gang
activities. The program also will provide liaison and coordination
activities to corrections agencies and law enforcement agencies in data
collection and dissemination efforts.
The purpose of the Prison Gang Intelligence Program is to provide
for the establishment of a system to gather, store, and disseminate
intelligence information on prison gang members and prison gang
activities on a nationwide basis. This system will provide valuable
support and assistance in the investigation and prosecution of gang-
related criminal activity. It will create a central repository of
prison gang information, formalize data collection methods, and
standardize gang validation criteria. It will create a mechanism
whereby State and local corrections and law enforcement agencies can
share information and be provided analytical products that document
prison gang developments and trends. A prison gang technical assistance
capability will also be established.
The program goal is to facilitate, through BJA's Regional
Information Sharing System (RISS) projects, the collection, exchange,
and analysis of information related to prison gangs, gang members, and
prison gang activities; and to provide liaison and training activities
to law enforcement, prosecution, and corrections agencies nationwide.
Center for Task Force Training
Grantee: Institute for Intergovernmental Research; Tallahassee, FL
The Center for Task Force Training project will continue to help
State and local agencies address criminal justice management issues and
to provide dedicated training and technical assistance in support of
the two Gang Organized Crime Narcotics Violence Enforcement Program
sites, State and locally funded multiagency task forces, and other task
forces supported by Byrne Formula Grant Program funds. The project will
be expanded in FY 1996 to include a specialized training program that
addresses multiagency antiterrorism preparedness. The Domestic
Terrorism Training Program, which currently is under development with
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), will develop, test, and
evaluate the law enforcement antiterrorism training curriculum;
identify and document the technical assistance needs of law enforcement
agencies in the area of antiterrorism planning and prevention, and plan
the methods of delivery; and focus on the multiagency/
multijurisdictional aspects of the law enforcement response to acts of
domestic terrorism.
Firearms Trafficking Program
Grantee: Multiple sites nationwide
The Firearms Trafficking Program will continue to help State and
local governments reduce incidents of violence by reducing the
availability of and illegal trafficking in firearms. This program
contains several component programs that BJA has found to be effective
or promising:
The Firearms Licensee Compliance Program. This component enhances
the ability of State and local law enforcement agencies to conduct more
complete and comprehensive background investigations on applicants for
new or renewed Federal Firearms Licenses.
The Firearms Investigative Task Force Program. This component is
designed to identify, target, investigate, and prosecute individuals
and dismantle organizations involved in the unlawful use, sale, or
acquisition of firearms in violation of Federal and/or State firearms
laws.
The Innovative Firearms Program. This component assists State and
local
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jurisdictions in developing and implementing innovative or enhanced
projects designed to control illicit firearms trafficking.
Technical Assistance and Training to Rural Areas
Grantee: Rural Justice Center, University of Arkansas; Little Rock, AR
In FY 1996, BJA will continue to provide technical assistance and
training to rural areas through the Rural Justice Center of the
Criminal Justice Institute of the University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
This program assists rural areas in the development of approaches and
strategies that address the rising rates of crime, drug abuse, and
violence, through the provision of technical assistance and training
related to such issues as prevention, intervention, law enforcement,
prosecution, courts, corrections, and treatment.
Training in Anti-Drug Activities and Cultural Differences Involving
Illegal Aliens
Grantee: International Association of Chiefs of Police; Alexandria, VA
This program will be continued. Through a collaborative effort
between the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and
the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the project will
continue to present to local law enforcement officers a series of
training seminars that will enable them to more effectively investigate
crimes involving illegal aliens.
Criminal Alien Identification and Intervention Program
Grantees: Institute for Intergovernmental Research; Tallahassee, FL and
National Criminal Justice Association; Washington, DC
In FY 1996, BJA will continue to fund technical assistance and
support services to five demonstration sites funded in prior years. The
Criminal Alien Identification and Intervention Program is designed to
enable the earliest possible identification, through the Immigration
and Naturalization Service (INS) Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC),
of aliens arrested for felony offenses. Five States that have
documented the largest alien populations in their correctional systems
are continuing demonstration efforts in FY 1996 with projects funded in
prior years.
The Criminal Alien Identification and Intervention Program also is
designed to encourage States to modify statutes and policies and
implement innovative techniques that intervene in the criminal justice
process to expeditiously and fairly adjudicate illegal aliens arrested
or convicted of felonies; and facilitate appropriate detainment and
deportation of these aliens.
Supporting the demonstration sites and the program are two
technical assistance efforts. The Institute for Intergovernmental
Research provides onsite assistance to the States in preparing
operational assessments, identifying promising approaches, and
facilitating the testing of LESC. The National Criminal Justice
Association (NCJA) provides research and technical assistance for the
States, for enhancement of statutes and policies within the States.
In FY 1994 and FY 1995, participating States implemented Phases I
through III of the program by establishing statewide criminal alien
working groups represented by key State and local officials; conducting
an intensive assessment of the current processes by which the State
identifies and handles illegal aliens entering the criminal justice
system; and documenting promising approaches to enhance the
identification and intervention of these illegal aliens. Work will
continue in the demonstration States, using prior year grant awards to
implement and demonstrate promising approaches.
Comprehensive Homicide Initiative
Grantee: City of Richmond; Richmond, VA and City of Richmond; Richmond,
CA
The Comprehensive Homicide Initiative is designed to effectively
combat homicide and increase homicide clearance rates through the
development and demonstration of a multifaceted approach that can be
fully documented and ultimately replicated in other jurisdictions. This
initiative addresses the underlying causes of homicide, including gang
violence, domestic violence, violence associated with drug activity,
and gun availability.
The goals of the program are to reduce homicide rates and improve
homicide clearance rates, including ``cold case'' homicides; develop
innovative strategies and processes that have a high probability for
improving the prevention, intervention, enforcement, and prosecution of
homicide cases that are replicable in other jurisdictions; and document
local efforts to enhance replicability of successful components of the
program to other jurisdictions.
The Cities of Richmond, Virginia, and Richmond, California, each
have received funding to implement the recommendations of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Murder Summit
Report. These cities were selected due to their high or increasing
homicide rates, geographical diversity, and participation in other
comprehensive criminal justice initiatives that will provide a good
base from which to move forward.
This comprehensive program requires coordination at the Federal,
State, and local levels. Each city's plan must demonstrate coordination
and cooperation among public agencies; private organizations; and
municipal, county, State, and Federal agencies. The plan must
demonstrate that this initiative will be integrated with other U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ)-funded programs in the local jurisdiction,
such as the Comprehensive Communities Program; Weed and Seed; the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Program; and
programs funded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services,
the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention. In addition, the program must involve
coordination with the relevant U.S. Attorney's Office. Coordination
with Housing and Urban Development and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms should also be included if relevant to the jurisdiction's
program efforts. BJA has been working with each of the jurisdictions
since November 1995. In each city, BJA held an onsite meeting that
served as an initial opportunity to convene the representatives of the
State and local agencies and representatives from Federal agencies with
ongoing programs.
Clandestine Laboratory Strategy Training Program
Grantee: Circle Solutions, Inc.; Vienna, VA
In FY 1996, BJA will continue support to the Clandestine Laboratory
Strategy Training Program. The program is based on the collective
experiences and best practices of the BJA Model Clandestine Laboratory
Enforcement Program demonstration sites and the BJA/Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) Clandestine Laboratory Clean-Up Program. The
program represents a significant investment and effort on the part of
BJA to develop an effective method for combating clandestine drug
laboratories in the United States. The training delivery system and
followup technical support activities provided will ensure that the
training reaches the audience for which it is intended in an efficient
and cost effective manner.
The Clandestine Laboratory Strategy Training Program assists State
and local policymakers and practitioners responsible for law
enforcement resource allocation decisions in
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developing policies, procedures, and programs related to the hazardous
chemical problems associated with clandestine laboratories. The program
provides a foundation from which a comprehensive, multiagency response
can be developed at the State and regional levels. Beginning in FY
1994, Circle Solutions, Inc., building upon a successful developmental
and piloting effort, implemented a program to provide training and
followup technical assistance to State and local criminal justice
agencies and other public safety agencies nationwide.
Assistance to Local Law Enforcement Agencies Significantly Impacted by
the 1996 Olympic Games
Grantee: Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Office of the
Governor; Atlanta, GA
The purpose of this program is to assist local jurisdictions
significantly impacted by the public safety demands of the 1996 Olympic
Games in Georgia. The program was funded to satisfy a congressional
earmark. Current projections indicate that involved local jurisdictions
may incur in excess of 400,000 hours of unfunded overtime costs as a
result of the public safety requirements for Olympic venues throughout
the metropolitan Atlanta area and in sites outside Atlanta. This grant
will help defray the costs of approximately 155,000 hours of
anticipated overtime requirements of involved jurisdictions.
Regional Information Sharing System
Grantee: 6 sites nationwide
The Regional Information Sharing System (RISS) Program supports
Federal, State, and local law enforcement efforts to combat criminal
activity that extends across jurisdictional boundaries. Six regional
RISS projects provide a broad range of intelligence exchange and
related investigative support services to member criminal investigative
agencies nationwide. The projects focus primarily on narcotics
trafficking, violent crime, criminal gang activity, and organized
crime.
In FY 1996, the RISS Program will complete electronic connectivity
among all projects, as well as other systems, to better facilitate the
collection, dissemination and analysis of criminal intelligence. Also
in FY 1996, the RISS projects will work with the National Major Gang
Task Force to encourage the sharing and dissemination of gang
intelligence information between the law enforcement and corrections
communities.
National White-Collar Crime Center
Grantee: West Virginia Office of the State Auditor; Charleston, WV
The National White-Collar Crime Center provides a national support
system for the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of
multijurisdictional economic crimes. These white-collar crimes include
investment fraud, telemarketing fraud, boiler room operations,
securities fraud, commodities fraud, and advanced-fee loan schemes. The
Center's mission includes providing investigative support services to
assist in the fight against economic crime, operating a national
training and research institute focusing on economic crime issues, and
developing the Center as a national resource in combating economic
crime.
Adjudication
National Symposium on Sentencing
A national symposium on sentencing to be presented by BJA, the
State Justice Institute, and the National Institute of Justice, will
enable judges, legislators, prosecutors, defense counsel, corrections
officials, police, and community representatives to discuss and share
experiences and perspectives on current sentencing policy.
Trial Court Performance Standards and Measurement System: Coordination
Efforts
Grantee: National Center for State Courts; Williamsburg, VA
After 8 years of development and testing, the Trial Court
Performance Standards and Measurement System (TCPSM) has been completed
and is in the process of being adopted by numerous jurisdictions. For
example, the Judicial Council of California has adopted TCPSM as part
of a new Standard of Judicial Administration. One of the most
significant events in judicial administration in the last 10 years,
TCPSM comprises a set of 22 standards and 68 individual measures for
assessing trial court performance. States urgently need technical
assistance to enable them to implement the system. The National Center
for State Courts will provide that assistance to State and local
courts. BJA also will be working with State agencies to explore the
possibility of using block grants to assist State trial courts in fully
reviewing, adapting where appropriate, and implementing TCPSM
throughout the State.
Community Prosecution and Community Probation
Grantee: American Prosecutors Research Institute; Alexandria, VA
The Community Prosecution and Community Probation program consists
of the following four components:
Technical Assistance and Training
In FY 1993 and FY 1994, the American Prosecutors Research Institute
(APRI) convened two focus groups of experienced prosecutors who defined
community prosecution and identified its key components. This
information provided BJA and APRI with the framework to provide both
intensive and general technical assistance and to produce several
publications on the subject. In FY 1994 and FY 1995, APRI conducted two
extremely well-received technical assistance conferences attended by
over 75 prosecutors' offices.
In FY 1996, APRI will continue its technical assistance by matching
prosecutors with community prosecution expertise with jurisdictions now
planning or implementing community prosecution strategies. To further
inform prosecutors on issues involving the planning, implementation,
and operation of a community prosecution program, APRI will convene a
series of regional planning workshops, an invitational symposium, and a
national conference. In addition, APRI will provide intensive technical
assistance and conduct studies of three demonstration sites, at least
one of which will implement a community prosecution program in a
jurisdiction where a community policing program already exists. APRI
will compare, contrast, and analyze each demonstration site and
disseminate a report on the results. APRI will assist in the National
Institute of Justice (NIJ) evaluation of BJA's Community Prosecution
demonstration projects.
Demonstration Projects
BJA will provide limited funds to up to three prosecutors' offices
to implement the current strategies discussed in the APRI Community
Prosecution Implementation Manual and supporting documents. These
offices will be invited by BJA to submit an application for funding.
Preference will be given to offices capable of committing an equal
amount of resources to the project.
Community Probation
A significant segment of the Community Prosecution and Community
Probation Program will be devoted to community probation. BJA will
choose up to three demonstration sites where APRI, or a consultant
working with APRI, will develop model community probation programs.
These models will build upon recent BJA
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accomplishments in its Community Policing and Community-Focused Courts
programs and involve partnerships with the police, the judiciary,
probation officials, public defenders, and the community. Preference
will be given to applicants who commit local resources to the project.
Community-Focused Courts
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) in Williamsburg,
Virginia, will provide technical assistance to courts interested in
implementing recommendations from both the community-focused court's
agenda currently under development by NCSC and a consortium of court
and community organizations. This followup program will explore
innovative technologies, such as the Internet and videoconferencing, in
offering assistance; and it will provide onsite assistance as needed.
NCSC will develop an evaluation instrument for use by local
universities to evaluate the efforts of the community courts. The
program will complement ongoing BJA efforts in the community
prosecution area and support existing local and State partnership
programs.
Models of Court-Based Services to Children and Their Families
Grantee: National Center for State Courts; Williamsburg, VA
As an outcome to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) task force on
Childhood Victimization, BJA and the National Center for State Courts
(NCSC) will expand their current program ``Models of Court-Based
Services to Children and Their Families.'' Funded by BJA and the Office
of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the program's purposes
are to identify, document, evaluate, and further develop effective
court-based service delivery to children and their families. The major
goal is to improve collaboration among State trial, juvenile, and
family courts and public health, mental health, and social services.
NCSC will study and help two to three additional sites in the
identification and coordination of cases involving child abuse and
neglect and domestic violence. As part of the new effort, NCSC is
looking at current sites supported by private funding organizations
(i.e., the Kellogg Foundation, the Casey Foundation, and the Edna
McConnell Clark Foundation) to determine if the projects can be
augmented with a stronger court focus.
Assessment and Enhancement of Indigent Defense Services
Grantee: National Legal Aid and Defender Association; Washington, DC
In FY 1994, BJA awarded the National Legal Aid and Defender
Association a grant to reestablish a national scope program to improve
the defense component of the criminal justice system by providing State
and local organizations that represent indigent defenders with quality
training and technical assistance services.
This program expands on training events to enhance the quality of
indigent defense providers' representation of drug and violent crime
defendants both to obtain the best results for their clients and to
reduce recidivism. This program will also support the expansion of the
National Clearinghouse for Defense Services. The Clearinghouse is
designed to respond to inquiries from defenders, State officials, the
judiciary, and the general public about the delivery of defense
services and substantive criminal defense issues. The Clearinghouse
compiles, assesses, and disseminates information on proven programs and
on trends and innovative strategies employed by indigent defense
services throughout the country. A Clearinghouse Directory will be
available that includes a listing of the files maintained and a summary
of the services available through the Clearinghouse.
Statewide training programs that focus on defense issues, the
development and use of diversion programs, and sentencing alternatives
to incarceration will be expanded. In addition to covering traditional
legal defense of a drug case, a training manual presents a distinctive
approach to the defense of drug cases by integrating and emphasizing
concrete strategies for treatment, intervention, and prevention; the
manual will integrate guidelines for effective representation. This
program will document the training practices used in drug and violent
crime cases.
Prosecutor's Pre-Charging Diversion Program
Grantee: Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Sixth Judicial District
Pulaski County; Little Rock, AK
This program expands a citywide pilot project designed to reduce
the recidivism rate for youthful offenders. An alternative to formal
adjudication in juvenile court, this program serves as an opportunity
for youthful offenders to receive constructive restitution and interact
with community members. Youth violence is addressed through an
interagency partnership that suspends traditional barriers in the
community and creates a less threatening environment. By offering
programs, opportunities, and services to at-risk youth, this now
countywide strategy will document how neighborhood organizations and
community groups are working to halt the rising rate of juvenile crime.
Health Care Fraud Investigation and Prosecution Training and Technical
Assistance
Grantee: National Association of Attorneys General; Washington, DC
The continuation of this project will enable the National
Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) to continue providing national
scope training and technical assistance services to State attorneys
general and to other State and local agencies involved in detecting,
investigating, and prosecuting intrastate health care fraud. NAAG will
work with the three BJA-funded demonstration sites to develop prototype
strategies for State attorneys general conducting health care fraud
prosecutions--including health care consumer fraud, Medicaid fraud, and
fraud against traditional insurance companies and health maintenance
organizations (HMO's).
NAAG will continue working closely with State attorneys general and
district attorneys to provide cost-effective training programs for
prosecutors and investigators and to develop innovative prosecution
strategies. Special emphasis will be given to assisting the
demonstration site units in the Maryland, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Attorneys' General offices. In conjunction with an advisory group
comprised of Federal, State, and local prosecutors, the project will
identify demonstrably successful initiatives, and disseminate this
information via a bimonthly newsletter. The project also will develop
and publish a health care fraud practice manual for State prosecutors
and develop a clearinghouse of materials relating to the prevention,
detection, and prosecution of health care fraud.
DNA Legal Assistance Unit
Grantee: American Prosecutors Research Institute; Alexandria, VA
Beginning in FY 1995 with substantial support from BJA, the
American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI) DNA Legal Assistance
Unit has been providing direct support to America's prosecutors in the
understanding and use of DNA typing technology to
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investigate and prosecute serious cases such as capital murder,
homicide, sexual assault, and child abuse. APRI has accomplished this
task by providing technical assistance, publications, and training.
Technical assistance activities include formulation of a comprehensive
guide for direct and cross examination in DNA cases; development of a
curriculum for training DNA analysts and examiners on the proper
presentation of DNA evidence, emphasizing testimony and etiquette; and
publication on a semiannual basis of The Silent Witness, a newsletter
that bridges the gap between prosecutors and DNA laboratories.
Technical assistance activities will be provided on a limited basis and
will include responding to telephone requests, providing general and
specific case information packets, and updating the Unit's extensive
files of legal and scientific information.
Adjudication Focus Group
In March 1996, BJA conducted an adjudication focus group whose
primary purpose was to identify and deliberate issues and problems
within the adjudicative process of State and local criminal justice
systems. This focus group did generate and discuss innovative programs
and new approaches related to improving the adjudicative process.
Criminal justice researchers and writers, Byrne Formula Grant Program
State administrators, representatives from State and local prosecutor
and public defender offices, justices and judges, parole and probation
officers, and the funding community all contributed to increasing the
quality and quantity of future BJA adjudication training, technical
assistance, and demonstration programs.
Later this year, BJA expects to issue one or more Requests for
Proposal soliciting proposals from State and local adjudication
components and/or private nonprofit organizations to implement one or
more program ideas promulgated by this focus group.
Corrections
Correctional Options--National Dissemination
The 1990 Amendments to the Crime Control Act provided BJA with the
statutory authority to establish a comprehensive assistance program to
develop ``correctional options'' at the State and local levels. In
exercising this authority, BJA awards demonstration grants, provides
technical assistance, and evaluates the results of intervention
projects for youthful offenders likely to become career criminals.
BJA's correctional options projects assist offenders in pursuing a
lawful and productive transition to the community following release by
providing security, discipline, and comprehensive services, including
diagnosis, counseling, substance abuse treatment, education, job
training, and placement assistance while under correctional
supervision; and linkage to similar services in the community. These
projects also provide work opportunities to promote the development of
industrial and service skills.
The expected results of the correctional options projects include
reduced criminal recidivism of offenders who receive alternative
punishments and, in the longer term, reduced costs in correctional
services and facilities.
For the purposes of this program, the term ``correctional options''
includes community-based incarceration, weekend incarceration,
correctional boot camps, transitional programs, aftercare services, day
reporting, structured fines, electronic monitoring, intensive
probation, and other innovative sanctions designed to have maximum
impact on offenders capable of being managed in an environment other
than a traditional correctional facility.
During a 4-year period, from FY 1992 through FY 1995, BJA awarded
more than $40 million in Correctional Options Discretionary Program
grants to public agencies and private nonprofit organizations. These
grants were awarded to support the planning, development,
implementation, and evaluation of demonstration projects to test a
broad range of alternatives to traditional modes of incarceration. All
BJA correctional options demonstration projects have four basic goals:
reduced incarceration costs, relief of prison and jail crowding,
reduced recidivism rates for youthful offenders, and advancement in
correctional practices.
BJA has worked closely with State and local criminal justice
professionals in project planning, design, and operation; coordination
of technical assistance and evaluation services; monitoring of
operations and outcomes; and facilitation of project refinement and
improvements. A critical factor in measuring the outcomes of these
projects has been the degree to which demonstration sites have been
successful in selecting offenders who would have been incarcerated had
the correctional options projects not existed.
Preliminary findings from the evaluation of these projects indicate
that offenders admitted to these programs pose considerable challenges
to treatment efforts because of their young age, lack of education,
poor job skills, low rates of employment, lack of social stability,
history of drug abuse, and extensive record of prior arrests and
convictions.
However, these projects are successful in delivering badly needed
services to a high-risk offender population, offering far more services
and supervision than normally are provided for similarly situated
offenders who are in prison or who are assigned to probation or parole.
States like Florida, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Vermont have
succeeded in reaching their goal of cost effectiveness by targeting
offenders who otherwise would have spent a considerable amount of time
in custody.
Model Correctional Options Projects
The following projects have been selected as BJA correctional
options models and will serve as resource sites for a National
Correctional Options Dissemination, Training, and Technical Assistance
Program:
Washington State Reintegration of Youthful Offenders
Maricopa County (AZ) Youthful Offenders Project
Bradenton (FL) Correctional Treatment Facility Drug Punishment Program
Maryland Community Supervision and Transitional Services
New Hampshire Intensive Correctional Services
Vermont Restorative Justice Services
Connecticut Female Addictive Services--Fresh Start
California Youth Authority Project LEAD
Riverside County (CA) Twin Pines Academy
Focus Group: Linking Byrne Formula and Discretionary Grant Programs
A recent analysis of the annual needs assessments conducted through
the Byrne Formula Grant Program indicated that the two areas of
greatest need at the State and local levels are alternatives to
incarceration and offender treatment services.
In December 1995, BJA convened a focus group meeting with
representatives from a number of successful State and local
correctional options projects and from the State Administrative Agency
for the Byrne Formula Grant Program in these same jurisdictions. The
purpose was to obtain ideas and insights regarding the development of a
Correctional Options Dissemination Program for the FY 1996 Byrne
Discretionary Program Plan; as well as potential funding through the
Byrne Formula Grant Program and other
[[Page 21249]]
public and private funding sources to support State and local
correctional options.
The FY 1996 National Technical Assistance and Dissemination
Initiative for Correctional Options will build on the input from the
planning meeting and will encourage States to support new correctional
options projects with Byrne formula grants and to use these Byrne
formula funds to leverage additional funding sources.
FY 1996 Awards
Technical Assistance, Dissemination, and Training To Promote
Correctional Options
Grantee: Criminal Justice Associates; Philadelphia, PA
This continuation of the current award will support the technical
assistance needs of the ongoing correctional options projects: the 9
demonstration projects that were awarded on September 30, 1995; the 10
projects that BJA considers models; and the FY 1994 awards to
Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.
The continuation award will also support a national dissemination
and technical assistance initiative that builds upon the lessons
learned through the BJA Correctional Options Program regarding project
planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. The initiative
will support efforts to use Byrne Formula Grant Program funds and other
public and private funding sources to support the implementation of
Correctional Options projects at the State and local levels. The
grantee will work closely with the program evaluator and will assist in
the dissemination of information to key decisionmakers who can
influence the development and funding of correctional options at the
State and local levels. The award also will support the involvement of
a consortium of service providers.
Impact Evaluation of 10 Demonstration Sites
Grantee: The National Council on Crime and Delinquency; Washington, DC
This is a 15-month continuation award focusing on outcome measures
and publications regarding the cost effectiveness of selected
correctional options projects, as compared with traditional
incarceration. The evaluation will be interactive with both the
demonstration sites and the technical assistance providers, it will
include feasibility assessment activities to determine the evaluability
of project design and, as appropriate, technical advice on project
adjustments to improve operations and outcomes.
In addition to the dissemination of correctional options, BJA will
continue to expand its support for programs that demonstrate productive
work and employment preparedness services for prison and jail inmates,
offenders participating in community-based correctional options
programs, and ex-offenders.
Prison Industry Enhancement Technical Assistance
Grantee: Correctional Industries Association; Philadelphia, PA
This continuation award will enable BJA to maintain the current
level of effort regarding Prison Industry Enhancement (PIE) technical
assistance, training, and annual program audits. In addition, the award
will support the development of revised PIE regulations and guidelines,
extension of single PIE certification authority to encompass all State
prisons and local jails, two annual meetings, and the development of
marketing plans to promote expansion in the number of active PIE
projects.
Jail Work and Industries
Grantee: Community Resource Services; Gaithersburg, MD
This continuation award will enable BJA to continue providing
technical assistance and program planning support to reduce inmate
idleness through the development of productive work opportunities in
local jails, including Prison Industry Enhancement (PIE)-certified
private sector employment.
Project Return
Grantee: Tulane University; New Orleans, LA
With strong support from the New Orleans Business Council, Project
Return provides employment readiness training and support services to
ex-offenders. Drug and alcohol counseling, remedial education, life
skills training, vocational training, job placement services, and
family counseling are provided to 200 participants per year.
Opportunity To Succeed Program: Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
Grantee: Columbia University; New York, NY
The Opportunity to Succeed (OPTS) program provides intensive
services for addicted ex-offenders who received drug treatment while
incarcerated and are returning on probation or parole to their
communities in Kansas City, St. Louis, Tampa, Oakland, and New York
City. The program goal is to sustain treatment gains and achieve a
positive reintegration into the community by providing substance abuse
treatment, case management, employment, and training, housing, family
intervention, health services, and mental health services. Services are
structured, coordinated, and monitored by case managers working for
community based organizations.
Evaluation, Systems Improvement, and Information Dissemination
The Denial of Federal Benefits Program
Contractor: Network Systems Integration; Washington, DC
The Denial of Federal Benefits Program was established to implement
Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (Subpart G of Public
Law 100-690). This law offers an option to judges in both Federal and
State courts to deny Federal benefits to persons convicted of
trafficking in or possession of drugs. It also provides for the
mandatory denial of Federal benefits to individuals with three or more
convictions for trafficking offenses. In February 1993, additional
duties were assigned to the Denial of Federal Benefits Program in
connection with the implementation of the National Defense
Authorization Act of 1993. This law provides for a point of contact--
i.e., a clearinghouse--from which defense contractors may learn whether
an individual has been disqualified from defense contract participation
as a result of a procurement fraud conviction.
The goals of the program are to provide a sentencing option for
Federal and State judges to deny a Federal benefit to a drug offender,
a mechanism to report such a denial of Federal benefits, and a method
to inform Federal agencies of individuals sentenced to a denial of
Federal benefits. The program objectives are to enhance the use of
denial of Federal benefits as a sanction in sentencing offenders
convicted of a drug offense and to enhance BJA's capabilities to more
accurately and efficiently collect offender data and improve processing
of this data from Federal and State sources.
The Denial of Federal Benefits Program's current operations include
an information dissemination component, a systems management component,
and a program management and coordination component.
Testing of Nebraska's Victim Services Needs Assessment Instrument
Grantee: Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice;
Lincoln, NE
[[Page 21250]]
The purpose of the Victim Services Needs Assessment instrument is
to assist the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal
Justice in assessing whether crime victim assistance funds are being
utilized in the best way possible to address the needs of crime
victims. The goals in testing the instrument are to assess the
effectiveness and efficiency of existing services and to identify and
formally document services not currently available but needed by
victims of crime in Nebraska.
The instrument consists of three sections. Section 1, the Nebraska
Victimization Survey, is a statewide victimization instrument designed
to determine geographical service gaps and awareness of crime victim
services and evaluate attitudes toward crime and the criminal justice
system. The second section, the Inventory of Victim Assistance Programs
In Nebraska, is completed by victim assistance agencies and identifies
how the agency is funded, who represents its client base, what services
are provided, and what services are needed. Section 3, the Victim
Assistance Client Survey, is given to the crime victim and identifies
the types of services provided by the agency; the level of satisfaction
with services provided; the types of services the victim felt were
needed but were not provided; and if the victims used other agencies
for services.
The instrument is service specific; it is designated to be used by
States and local agencies. Once the instrument is tested and finalized,
it will be made available to other States for their use. The Office of
Victims of Crime will oversee instrument refinement.
An Initiative To Develop Model Internet Applications for State and
Local Criminal Justice Agencies
Grantee: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority; Chicago, IL
This initiative is being developed by the Illinois Criminal Justice
Information Authority (ICJIA) and the University of Illinois at
Chicago. The purpose is to develop model Internet applications that
will allow State and local criminal justice agency users to access
information about programs and resources that are available to combat
crime and violence. The goals of the initiative are to develop model
Internet applications in the State and local criminal justice community
for the electronic sharing and publishing of criminal justice data and
information.
The initiative involves information technology, data and
statistics, program development, and research and evaluation. ICJIA
enlisted BJA, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the Bureau
of Justice Statistics (BJS) to review and collaborate on the proposal
and determine its utility to State and local criminal justice agencies.
To ensure that the ICJIA's work is responsive to the needs of State and
local agencies across the country, SEARCH Group, Inc., the National
Criminal Justice Association, Justice Research Statistics Association,
BJA, NIJ, and BJS all will consult on this initiative.
U.S. Department of Justice Response Center and BJA Clearinghouse
Contractor: Aspen Systems, Inc.
The BJA Clearinghouse continues to serve as an information and
dissemination source for the criminal justice field. BJA also supports
the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Response Center, which provides
timely and accurate information on DOJ initiatives.
Report Publication and Dissemination
This initiative enables BJA to produce and disseminate information
to the criminal justice field about state-of-the-art programs and
activities, and to improve the criminal justice system through
development of publications and other media materials.
State and Local Training and Technical Assistance Program
Contractor: Community Research Associates; Nashville, TN
The purpose of the BJA State and Local Training and Technical
Assistance Program is to provide training and technical assistance to
States, units of local government, and recognized Native American
Indian Tribes in the development and implementation of comprehensive
systemwide strategies for preventing and combating drug-related and
violent crime, and in the improvement of the function of State and
local criminal justice systems. Although developed primarily to support
BJA's Formula Grant Program, training and technical assistance can also
be extended to BJA discretionary grantees and, in certain instances, to
other facets of the U.S. Department of Justice (e.g., in response to
requests from U.S. Attorneys).
Evaluation Program
The goal of BJA's Evaluation component is to identify criminal
justice programs of proven effectiveness and to disseminate information
about these programs, so that other jurisdictions throughout the
country can replicate them. Results of BJA program evaluations guide
the formulation of policy and programs within Federal, State, and local
criminal justice agencies. BJA coordinates the development of
evaluation guidelines with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). In
addition, NIJ conducts comprehensive evaluations of selected programs
receiving discretionary and formula grant funds from BJA.
Each applicant for State Byrne Formula Grant Program funds is
required to include in its project plan an evaluation component that
meets the BJA/NIJ evaluation guidelines. Each State is required to
provide BJA with an annual report that includes a summary of its grant
activities and an assessment of the impact of these programs on the
needs identified in its statewide drug and violent crime control
strategy. Applicants for Byrne Discretionary Grant Program funding are
required to include an evaluation component in their applications and
agree to conduct required evaluations according to procedures and terms
established by BJA.
SEARCH National Training and Technical Assistance Program
Grantee: SEARCH Group, Inc. (National Consortium for Justice
Information and Statistics); Sacramento, CA
The SEARCH National Training and Technical Assistance Program,
created in 1986, offers assistance to criminal justice agencies across
the country in the development, improvement, acquisition, and/or
integration of their computer systems (e.g., records and case
management, computer-aided dispatch, and criminal history records
systems). SEARCH provides onsite, no-cost training and technical
assistance to justice agencies. It also offers services at the National
Criminal Justice Computer Laboratory and Training Center located in
Sacramento, California.
Public Safety Support Services: National Training and Technical
Assistance for Law Enforcement Line of Duty Deaths
Grantee: Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.; Camdenton, MO
The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act (42 U.S.C. 3796 et seq.)
authorizes the Director of BJA to support national programs that assist
families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. Since
1984, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS) has implemented
programs to provide psychological support and practical guidance to law
enforcement agencies and families that have lost an officer in the line
of duty.
BJA has identified the need to: update research on law enforcement
agencies' readiness to handle line-of-duty deaths; provide training and
technical
[[Page 21251]]
assistance to better prepare law enforcement agencies to intervene
effectively with families and coworkers of officers killed in the line
of duty; and increase dissemination of information about the services
and benefits available to the families of fallen officers and about the
resources available to assist agencies.
BJA will survey law enforcement agencies regarding their written
policies and procedures on responding to line-of-duty deaths. In
addition, input and reaction will be sought from surviving family
members concerning the treatment accorded them by the deceased family
member's agency. The survey will provide some measure of the impact BJA
and other organizations have had over the past 11 years in improving
agency response to line-of-duty deaths.
National Institute of Justice Research Plan 1995-1996
For substantive questions regarding specific Goals, please contact
the appropriate Program Manager. Names and telephone numbers of all
Program Managers are listed at the end of each Goal. For general NIJ
information, contact Carrie Smith, at (202) 616-3233.
For information about the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement
Act of 1994 (Crime Law), contact the Department of Justice Response
Center, at (202) 307-1743 or (800) 421-6770.
To inquire about NIJ receipt of applications, contact Louise
Loften, at (202) 307-2965.
For document publication information, contact Mary Graham, at (202)
514-6207. For general information about NIJ programs and funding
opportunities, and application procedures; for requests for reprints,
literature, final reports, funded grants on related topics, etc.; for
names of researchers or practitioners working on related topics,
contact the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), at
(800) 851-3420.
The NIJ 1995-96 Research Plan is also available electronically via
the National Criminal Justice Reference Service Bulletin Board System.
You can access the Bulletin Board through the Internet (telnet to
ncjrsbbs.aspensys.com or gopher to ncjrs.aspensys.com 71) or through a
modem (set at 9600 baud and 8-N-1; dial 301-738-8895). The NIJ Research
Plan is listed under the ``National Institute of Justice Information''
menu.
For Internet access information, e-mail lively@justice.usdoj.gov.
National Institute of Justice Staff
Jeremy Travis, Director
Office of the Director
Margaret Battle
Chriss Wetherington
Christy Visher
Planning and Management Division
Carol Petrie, Director
Sheila Parker-Darby
Denise Gadson
Carrie Smith
Office of Research and Evaluation
Sally T. Hillsman, Director
Louise Lofton
Evelyn Washington
Criminal Behavior
Edwin W. Zedlewski, Acting Director
Bernie Auchter
Laurie Bright
Thomas Feucht
Helen Girma
Voncile Gowdy
Ginger Kyle
Pamela Lattimore
Jordan Leiter
Angela Moore
Jack Riley
James Trudeau
Crime Control and Prevention
Winnie Reed, Acting Director
Julianna Banks
Stephanie Bourque
Steven Edwards
Stephen Holmes
Eric Jefferis
Robert Kaminski
Robert Langworthy
Nancy Lavigne
Richard Lewis
Phyllis McDonald
Lois Mock
Rosemary Murphy
Jeffrey Ross
Richard Titus
Office of Science and Technology
David G. Boyd, Director
Raymond L. Downs
Kevin Jackson
Richard M. Rau
Robert Tolle
Office of Communication and Research Utilization
Virginia Baldau, Acting Director
Tamara Ross
Reference and Dissemination Division
John Schwarz, Director
Mary Graham
Eugene Hebert
G. Martin Lively
Daniel Tompkins
Research Applications and Training Division
John Spevacek, Acting Director
Cheryl Crawford
Marilyn Moses
Carolyn Peake
Samuel McQuade
John Thomas
Table of Contents
From the Director
Contacts
National Institute of Justice Staff
Introduction
Goal I: Reduce Violent Crime
Goal II: Reduce Drug- and Alcohol-Related Crime
Goal III: Reduce the Consequences of Crime
Goal IV: Improve the Effectiveness of Crime Prevention Programs
Goal V: Improve Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System
Goal VI: Develop New Technology for Law Enforcement and the Criminal
Justice System
Administrative Guidelines
Application Information
Recommendations to Grant Writers
NIJ Policy Regarding Unsolicited Proposals
Requirements for Award Recipients
Application Forms
Introduction
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research and
development agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Created in 1968
by Congress pursuant to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act,
the Institute is authorized to:
Sponsor research and development to improve and strengthen the
Nation's system of justice with a balanced program of basic and applied
research.
Evaluate the effectiveness of criminal justice and law enforcement
programs and identify those that merit application elsewhere.
Support technological advances applicable to criminal justice.
Test and demonstrate new and improved approaches to strengthen the
justice system.
Disseminate information from research, development, demonstrations,
and evaluations.
This Plan signals the new administrative direction that NIJ will
follow to achieve its research and evaluation goals. Conceptually, the
Plan is the basis of NIJ's pyramid of research. It will be supplemented
over the coming months by a series of solicitations on topics that
speak to current or persistent policy concerns that warrant research
investments. By their nature, those solicitations will represent a
somewhat more focused part of this pyramid. Intramural studies are at
the apex of the research pyramid. Questions with strong policy
orientation or immediate concern may best be addressed by NIJ staff who
can interact directly with the policymakers asking the questions.
[[Page 21252]]
Readers of prior NIJ Plans will find that this Plan has been
substantially shortened. Much of the traditional background text has
been discarded; suggested research topics have been reduced from
paragraphs to phrases. This change in style, however, implies no change
in the kinds of research being sought. NIJ believes that this
abbreviated format is more consistent with the spirit and intent of the
Plan as a vehicle to encourage the field to submit original ideas on a
wide range of research issues.
Focused solicitations will appear intermittently over the next
year. These will address more specific topics for which special funding
is available. Certain activities funded under the Violent Crime Control
and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Crime Law) will be focal points--
specifically, community policing, violence against women, boot camps,
and drug courts--as will evaluations of selected Bureau of Justice
Assistance programs. NIJ will also initiate solicitations in
collaborative arrangements with other Federal agencies, as well as for
topics that NIJ believes merit special attention for the development of
knowledge. These solicitations will be announced through the Federal
Register and other NIJ communications channels including the Internet
(the Department of Justice and NCJRS Online) and special mailings.
Interested applicants should telephone the National Criminal Justice
Reference Service (NCJRS) at 800-851-3420 or e-mail
askncjrs@ncjrs.aspensys.com for pending releases and dates of
announcement.
Partnerships are another new priority for the Institute. NIJ
believes that many of today's crime problems require solutions that
extend beyond criminal justice boundaries. The Institute has been
active in discussions with other Federal agencies and private
foundations and has established a variety of collaborative
relationships. Some of these will manifest themselves in the form of
special solicitations on specific topics or programs. Others will
simply encourage collaborative or interdisciplinary research and offer
the prospect of joint funding. Still others will result in the
development of shared research agendas. NIJ encourages researchers from
all disciplines to explore the opportunities for collaborative efforts
presented in this Plan and subsequent announcements, and to propose
arrangements that they are able to construct beyond those mentioned.
NIJ particularly encourages coordination of research applications with
submissions in other OJP agency Plans.
An organizational change has also occurred. The factors that
distinguish ``research'' from ``evaluation'' are subtle and secondary
to the substance of the issues. Therefore, the Institute has merged
these functions into a single Office of Research and Evaluation that
will review submissions for both areas. The Plan invites proposals for
a range of funding amounts. It includes a category of small grants
(less than $50,000) across all goals and subjects. Readers should
consult the administrative sections of the Research Plan for additional
information on the differences in application requirements.
Six Strategic Long-Range Goals
In FY 1993, the Institute set forth six long-range goals as the
focus of NIJ research, evaluation, and development in the coming years.
The creation of this long-range agenda was well received; a large
number of research and evaluation proposals were submitted, providing
an interdisciplinary framework for 1994.
In this 1995-96 Research Plan, the Institute specifies the
research, evaluation, and technology projects that NIJ anticipates
supporting under each goal. The numeric order of the goals does not
indicate levels of priority for the Institute.
Many of the special grant programs for individuals--such as the
Data Resources Program, various Fellowship programs, the NIJ Internship
Program--are now described in a separate publication, which will be
announced in the Federal Register.
NIJ solicits research and evaluations to develop knowledge that
will further these long-range goals:
I. Reduce violent crime.
II. Reduce drug- and alcohol-related crime.
III. Reduce the consequences of crime.
IV. Improve the effectiveness of crime prevention programs.
V. Improve law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
VI. Develop new technology for law enforcement and the criminal
justice system.
Studies that involve the use of randomized experimental designs are
encouraged, as are multiple strategies for data collection, and well-
controlled, quasi-experimental designs and equivalent comparison group
designs. Qualitative studies, including ethnographic data collection,
are also encouraged.
Research Collaborations
NIJ encourages joint research and evaluation projects with other
Federal agencies and private foundations interested in crime and
criminal justice issues. Applicants may wish to consider whether their
proposed project might lend itself to joint funding with another agency
or foundation. Applicants interested in exploring possible partnerships
should contact the potential partner agency directly, or the relevant
NIJ program manager, to discuss specific topics for possible
collaborative projects. NIJ has entered into memorandums of agreement
or is in other ways collaborating with the Departments of Defense,
Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban
Development, and Treasury. Agencies and foundations that have indicated
a desire to collaborate with NIJ on projects of mutual interest, or are
currently involved in joint research efforts with NIJ, include:
Agencies
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DOD)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Center for Mental Health Services
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Corrections Program Office (OJP)
Drug Courts Program Office (OJP)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute of Corrections
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Science Foundation
Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (DOJ)
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (HUD)
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Office for Victims of Crime
State Justice Institute
Violence Against Women Program Office (OJP)
Foundations
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Carnegie Corporation of New York
The Ford Foundation
The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation
The J.C. Kellogg Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The Pew Charitable Trusts
The Prudential Foundation
The Ronald McDonald Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation
The Institute cannot guarantee that joint funding for research and
[[Page 21253]]
evaluation projects will be forthcoming from these sources. Applicants
should consider whether their proposals are in accord with the goals of
these agencies and private foundations.
Specific information about applying for Institute grants is
contained in the section ``Administrative Guidelines.''
Goal I: Reduce Violent Crime
Purpose
The purpose of this solicitation is to encourage research and
evaluation projects spanning six broad areas: family violence, violence
against women, homicide, firearms and violence, gangs, and juvenile
violence. Through this solicitation the National Institute of Justice
(NIJ) expects to support research that will improve the criminal
justice knowledge base on crimes and criminal behavior that
increasingly concern the public.
Background
Violent crime is a leading concern among the American public today.
According to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), in 1992
there were 6.6 million violent victimizations in the United States--
including 141,000 rapes, 1.2 million robberies, and 5.3 million
assaults. The violent crime rate is steadily increasing, especially
among juveniles, and in 1992 was the highest ever recorded for blacks;
homicide is now the leading cause of death for young black males.
Handguns are a major factor in the increasing violence, especially
in the commission of homicide. Of the 23,760 murders reported to the
FBI in 1992, handguns were used in 55 percent. One of the most critical
issues in any consideration of ways to reduce violence and its
consequences is the role firearms play in contributing to violent
crime, serious injury, and death. The NCVS estimates the rate of
nonfatal handgun victimizations in 1992 at 4.5 crimes per 1,000 persons
aged 12 or older--the highest such figure on record. Findings from an
NIJ and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
study of incarcerated juveniles and inner-city high school students
showed that 83 percent of inmates and 22 percent of students had
possessed guns, with 55 percent and 12 percent respectively having
carried guns all or most of the time.
Between 1988 and 1992, arrests of juveniles for violent crimes
increased by 47 percent--more than double the increase for persons 18
years of age or older. Over the same period, juvenile arrests for
homicide increased by 51 percent and statistics on weapons law
violations indicate that juvenile use of guns has increased
dramatically.
Spousal abuse commonly comes to mind when violence against women is
discussed, but violence against women is much broader. According to the
NCVS, more than 2.5 million women experience violence each year; nearly
two in three female victims of violence were related to or knew their
attacker; about a third were injured as a result of the crime; nearly
half the victims of rape believed the offender to have been under the
influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the attack. The issue has
emerged as a topic of national interest and led to the inclusion of the
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the 1994 Crime Law.
The Crime Law contains many other provisions directed toward the
prevention, control, and reduction of violent crimes--enhancements for
law enforcement, correctional facilities, and drug treatment options;
restrictions on firearms; provisions to deal with juvenile crime and
gangs; and increases in the programs and research about family violence
as well as violence against women.
Through this general solicitation NIJ encourages studies that will
address these areas of broad general concern and that examine the
specific priorities identified in the 1994 Crime Law, particularly with
regard to violence among juveniles and the illegal possession and use
of firearms. The Institute is especially interested in filling critical
gaps in current knowledge and identifying and evaluating existing
programs of crime prevention and control.
Research Areas of Interest
Listed below are examples of research areas that could advance
criminal justice knowledge and practice under Goal I of the NIJ
Research Plan. Individuals are encouraged to suggest their own topics
of interest. Research is encouraged in, but not limited to, the
following areas:
Studies of Offenders and Offenses. Criminal careers of offenders
who engage in violent crime, including risk and protective factors, and
initiation, frequency, and termination patterns. Studies of specific
offenses and offenders, including robbery, sexual assault, child sexual
assault, stalking, and homicide. Offender perceptions of criminal
justice response to violent offenders. Juvenile violence, including
escalation patterns, racial conflicts, and influence of peers and
gangs. Family violence involving intimate partners, spouses, children,
and elders.
Violent Situations. Role of gangs and group offending in criminal
violence. Studies of patterns in violent events, including triggering
events, situational elements, and predisposing influences. Protective
factors in neighborhoods and communities at high risk of violence.
Violence in specific situations and locations including schools,
families, recreational settings, and the workplace.
Firearms Violence. Adult and juvenile patterns of gun availability,
sources of guns, and use in violent crime. Role of illegal markets in
weapons on patterns of firearms violence, especially among juveniles.
Impact of firearms laws on gun crimes, substitution of other weapons,
and offense patterns. Feasibility studies of innovative firearms
regulations.
Responses to Violent Offenders. Differentiating system responses to
violence from responses to other crimes. Violence prevention.
Evaluation of innovative programs and practices. Evidentiary concerns,
including uncooperative witnesses. Management of violent offenders on
probation and parole including risk assessment, treatment programs, and
community supervision.
Family Violence. Improving the criminal justice (police,
prosecution, courts) response to family violence. Interdisciplinary
research on the origins of spouse assault. Child homicide and fatality
review teams. Links between partner abuse and child abuse. Evaluation
of innovative programs and practices for responding to elder abuse.
Effectiveness of stalking legislation. In addition to family violence
research, NIJ also will issue a special solicitation in 1996 requesting
evaluations and research of selected topics covered under the Violence
Against Women Act.
Contact
Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ Program Managers to
discuss topic viability, data availability, or proposal content before
submitting proposals. To obtain specific information on the programs
described under this goal, potential applicants may contact:
Bernard Auchter, (202) 307-0154, for family violence and violence
against women. Lois Mock, (202) 307-0693, for firearms violence.
Winifred Reed, (202) 307-2952, for gangs. James Trudeau, (202) 307-
1355, for studies of offenders and offenses, violent situations, and
responses to violent offenders.
Goal II: Reduce Drug- and Alcohol-Related Crime
Purpose
The purpose of this solicitation is to encourage research and
evaluation
[[Page 21254]]
projects that will improve the criminal justice knowledge base about
crimes and criminal behavior involving the use of drugs and alcohol.
Through this solicitation NIJ seeks to clarify further the relationship
between substance abuse and crime and to reduce drug- and alcohol-
related crime.
Background
Substance abuse and drug-related crimes continue to affect the
lives of countless Americans residing in both urban and rural
neighborhoods across the Nation. NIJ's Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) data
show an increase in marijuana use and relatively stable but high levels
of major addictive substance use among booked arrestees in the 23 urban
areas monitored by DUF. Recent data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network
(DAWN) indicate that the use of heroin and cocaine is on the rise.
Efforts to prevent and reduce drug-related crime, and thereby improve
the quality of life in these areas, continue to occupy the criminal
justice community.
Alcohol is used by both offenders and victims in a significant
proportion of violent events, with documented connections between both
situational and chronic drinking and aggressive or violent behavior.
The National Academy of Sciences Panel on the Understanding and Control
of Violent Behavior has called for more research into the role of
alcohol in promoting violent events, particularly since little is known
about how alcohol and violence may reinforce one another or how the
alcohol-violence relationship may vary depending on type of violence.
The criminal justice system is the largest single source of
external pressure influencing abusers who otherwise would not enter
substance abuse treatment programs. Half or more of the admissions to
community-based residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment
programs are offenders on probation or parole. Criminal justice
referral to treatment relieves courts and prisons of overcrowding and
reduces the high cost of continued incarceration, while providing an
added degree of supervision beyond what probation or parole offices may
be able to afford. When successful, treatment further reduces criminal
justice costs by breaking the pattern of recidivism that brings typical
substance abusers back into the criminal justice system again and
again.
Research on criminal justice-involved populations suggests that
substance abuse treatment can be effective in reducing substance abuse
and criminal activity while the client is in treatment and for some
time thereafter. As substance abuse programs are implemented, it is
important to provide critical feedback on how they are working and for
whom they are most effective. It is also important to determine how
best to provide treatment--through public criminal justice agencies or
through private treatment agencies under contract.
Substance abuse prevention programs continue to proliferate in
response to public concerns. Comprehensive substance abuse programs for
youths can promote anti-drug social norms and thereby reduce or prevent
the use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. NIJ
seeks to evaluate comprehensive community-based substance abuse
programs that develop partnerships among criminal justice and schools,
health centers, families, peers, and media. NIJ's Drug Use Forecasting
(DUF) program gathers offense and drug use information from samples of
adult and juvenile arrestees at 23 sites nationwide, providing access
to a national sample of arrestees within hours of arrest. Along with a
brief, voluntary interview, urine specimens are obtained to test for
evidence of recent use of drugs. For 7 years, data from NIJ's DUF
program have traced the trends in drug use among persons arrested for a
wide range of offenses. In 1995, NIJ began soliciting proposals that
capitalized and expanded upon the research potential provided through
the DUF program's quarterly collection of interviews and urine
specimens from samples of adult and juvenile arrestees brought to jails
in 23 cities nationwide.
Researchers are encouraged to develop proposals that present
innovative ways of utilizing the DUF program as a research ``platform''
for pursuing a wide range of hypotheses related to drug use and
criminal activity. For instance, in collaboration with existing DUF
sites, the basic data collection protocol could be supplemented with
additional interview assessments or bio-assays. NIJ is also interested
in proposals that examine specific research questions by applying the
DUF protocol to targeted samples of arrestees such as those in suburban
or rural jails, or those arrested for specific offenses.
Research Areas of Interest
Listed below are examples of research areas that could advance
criminal justice knowledge and practices under Goal II of the NIJ
Research Plan. Individuals are encouraged to suggest their own topics
of interest. Research is encouraged in, but not limited to, the
following areas:
Substance Abuse and Criminal Behavior. Relationships between drugs,
alcohol, and violence, including the individual and environmental
circumstances. Relationship between substance abuse and related
criminal behavior of all types, including family violence.
Understanding substance abuse careers and how they track with criminal
careers over time. Inventory of the validity, scope, and gaps in
current substance abuse data sets.
Substance Abusing Offenders and the Criminal Justice System. Impact
of pretrial services, adjudication, sentencing, and corrections
(including community corrections) programs. Effect of strategies
implemented in one segment of the system on the rest of the system.
Offender attitudes, perceptions, and experiences as they move through
particular components/programs. Effective use of a series of graduated
sanctions for noncompliance behaviors.
Substance Abuse Prevention. Cost benefit analyses. Impact of
criminal justice-based strategies on later substance abuse and other
related criminal behavior. Development and identification of demand-
reduction strategies and programs for high-risk populations.
Treatment and Aftercare Evaluations. Assessment of treatment drop-
outs. Determination of the optimal mix of various treatment and after-
care components for various criminal justice populations.
Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) Research Platform Initiatives. Expansion
of adult and juvenile research protocols to address additional research
questions such as drug market analysis, drug treatment history of
arrestees, the onset of drug use among arrestees, the relationship
between drug acquisition and other criminal activities, and the role of
alcohol and drug consumption in the commission of crimes.
Drug Enforcement. Research on the effectiveness of interdiction
efforts and control strategies such as increased penalties for drug
trafficking in prisons and drug dealing in drug-free school zones.
Contact
Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ Program Managers to
discuss topic viability, data availability, or proposal content before
submitting proposals. To obtain specific information on the programs
described under this goal, potential applicants may contact: Laurie
Bright, (202) 616-3624, for substance abuse research and evaluations
related to the criminal justice system. Thomas E. Feucht, (202) 307-
2949, for substance abuse research related to DUF research
[[Page 21255]]
platform initiatives. James Trudeau, (202) 307-1355, for substance
abuse research related to criminal behavior.
Goal III: Reduce The Consequences of Crime
Purpose
The purpose of this solicitation is to encourage research and
evaluation projects that explore the causes of victimizations, their
consequences in injury, fear, property damage, and other forms of cost;
and the institutional responses of criminal justice agencies to
victims. In addition to individual victims, the Institute is interested
in the ways that households, organizations, and communities become
victims, and how victimizations harm and otherwise alter daily
functioning. NIJ is also interested in how victim service institutions
can best serve victims to reduce the harm done. The goals of the
research solicited are to understand how natural circumstances can lead
to victimizations, as well as the nature and extent of harm caused by
crime, and to use these findings to reduce both victimization risk and
severity.
Background
The extent of criminal victimization within the United States is
disturbing: In 1992, approximately 1 in every 4 households was
victimized by 1 or more crimes, and 1 in 20 had at least one member age
12 or older who was the victim of a violent crime. Violent crime
victimization rates, after declining through most of the 1980's, have
again begun to increase, most notably among blacks and persons ages 12-
24.
National public opinion surveys consistently indicate that crime
has displaced other issues as the Nation's most serious concern. In a
1994 New York Times/CBS News nationwide telephone poll, 23 percent of
respondents listed crime as ``the most important problem facing this
country today,'' and 40 percent said they live within a mile of an area
where they would be afraid to walk alone at night. The harm of
victimization includes injury, dollar loss, and a pervasive sense of
insecurity that disrupts and truncates the victim's daily activities
and satisfactions. This harm also touches those close to or acquainted
with the victim. The victim's needs are imperfectly understood by
researchers and practitioners and are inadequately responded to by
available programs of assistance. The victim's dealings with the
criminal justice system often compound the damage rather than serving
to restore the victim and create a sense of justice.
We are limited in our understanding of the antecedents and causes
of victimization. ``Routine activities'' research--that includes the
victim along with the offender, environment, and ``guardians'' has the
potential to improve the validity and effectiveness of crime prevention
programs. Such research might examine specific types of victims,
specific activity domains, or specific locations. A special emphasis
might be topics suggested by the Violence Against Women Act, which is
discussed in Goal I.
The effects of crime reach far beyond their impact on individuals
and households, extending into businesses, public housing areas,
neighborhoods, and ultimately into entire communities. Within the
community, violent crime, gangs and the threat they pose, vandalism,
drugs, and disorder may cause businesses to close or relocate, reduce
employment and shopping opportunities, and decrease property values.
Where this grim process is not interrupted, urban neighborhoods and
communities decay, investments dwindle or disappear, and law-abiding
residents and their organizations move out.
Crimes against business range from the armed robbery of a
neighborhood grocery to the electronic swindle of an international
corporation and include such offenses as the theft of cash or property
(by customers, employees, and suppliers), burglary, vandalism, billing
scams, embezzlement, extortion, computer hacking, hijacking of
shipments, kidnaping, arson, and theft of intellectual property. The
cost of crime to business is, of course, ultimately borne by consumers,
employees, and residents of areas that experience a decline because of
crime's effect on local business.
Through this general solicitation NIJ encourages studies that will
address these critical areas of citizen concern. The Institute is
particularly interested in research that advances our knowledge of the
extent and consequences of criminal victimization in the following
areas: assessing the harm caused by victimization, improving the
delivery of services to victims and their treatment by the criminal
justice system, increasing our understanding of the causes and means of
prevention of victimization, improving data about the victimization of
businesses, and the effects of crime and victimization on the delivery
of services in affected areas.
Research Areas of Interest
Listed below are examples of research topics that will advance
criminal justice knowledge of the extent, causes, and consequences of
criminal victimization under Goal III of the NIJ Research Plan.
Individuals are encouraged to suggest their own topics of interest.
Research is encouraged in, but not limited to, the following areas:
Assessing Victim Needs. Diagnostic instruments for use by victim
services providers that would assist staff intake assessment of victim
harm and required services. Victim-based evaluations of services.
Program Evaluations. Evaluations of victim services programs in
such areas as restorative justice, use of computers by victim services,
incorporation of victim services in community policing, programs
tailored to victims with special needs, including child victims, and
local program compliance with victim services mandated by State
legislation.
Criminal Justice System Response to Victims. How treatment of
victims and witnesses by the criminal justice system affects the
public's willingness to cooperate with the system at all stages of its
processes.
Victimization Patterns. How routine activities, behavior,
perceptions, and knowledge interact with situational variables and
offender behavior to increase or lower the risk of victimization.
Knowledge that can contribute to reducing the level of victimization.
Impact of Crime on Business. The quality of data on the costs of
victimization of business, its customers, suppliers, and employees, and
the community. Priorities for new data collection and the utility of
the data for combating crimes against business.
Impact of Crime on Service Delivery. Effects of fear of crime and
victimization on the ability of communities, public agencies, and
nonprofit organizations to provide services and meet the needs of
residents of affected neighborhoods.
Contact
Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ Program Managers to
discuss topic viability, data availability, or proposal content before
submitting proposals. To obtain specific information on the programs
described under this goal, potential applicants may contact Richard
Titus, at (202) 307-0695.
Goal IV: Improve the Effectiveness of Crime Prevention Programs
Purpose
The purpose of this solicitation is to encourage research and
evaluation projects that will increase the safety of individuals within
families, and in schools, businesses, workplaces, and
[[Page 21256]]
community environments; that will advance the knowledge of criminal
justice practitioners and help prevent crime and criminal behavior, and
develop and improve crime prevention programs. NIJ seeks research and
evaluations aimed at preventing involvement in crime, and individual,
community, and workplace efforts to improve safety and security.
Background
Crime prevention takes many forms. NIJ research in crime prevention
continues to focus on potential offenders, potential victims, and
particular locations and emphasizes both individual and community
responses to crimes that occur in various settings. There is a need to
examine how certain characteristics of neighborhoods, households,
schools, businesses, public housing developments, parks and other
public areas promote or constrain criminal activity. It is equally
important to study populations that may be especially vulnerable, or
invulnerable, to crime in those locations. It is also important to
examine crime prevention programs and strategies in the context of the
communities and jurisdictions in which they are found.
Crime prevention can and should focus on deterring potential
offenders by formulating strategies directed at high-risk groups that
are likely to become involved with the criminal justice system. NIJ
research emphasizes prevention strategies that may influence the
attitudes and behaviors of persons living in high-risk environments by
addressing their needs in a comprehensive manner and by promoting
positive and constructive forms of behavior. This approach to crime
prevention requires the coordination of mutually reinforcing efforts
that involve the family, school, and community as crime prevention
agents. Research has shown that efforts to assist youths at risk are
more likely to be effective when they start early and provide forms of
intervention based on an understanding of the developmental processes
that influence the attitudes and behavior of youths over time.
Crime prevention programs can also focus on potential victims of
crime and ways to prevent their victimization. A major issue in
prevention research is how to influence the behavior of individuals,
households, organizations, and community groups. Lessons learned in
studies of citizen patrols, changes in physical design, the
relationship between fear and physical signs of disorder, and the
redeployment of police officers, have all been incorporated in national
crime prevention campaigns and in the development of programs and
strategies designed to reduce crime victimization. Citizens and
community groups can accept and respond to the challenge of shared
responsibility for community security. Diverse crime prevention efforts
undertaken include means of preventing victimization as well as ways of
addressing the personal and social needs of victims resulting from
crime and drug abuse. In addition, citizen and community anti-crime
efforts are more likely to be effective when they are part of a
comprehensive approach to neighborhood problem solving that involves
citizens in a partnership with police and other municipal agencies.
We have learned that crime can be reduced through the proper design
and effective use of environmental crime prevention methods in
commercial sites, public and private housing, recreational areas, and
transportation systems. Research has underscored the importance of
incorporating environmental strategies as key components of community
crime prevention programs.
One possible way to protect people from crime is to develop a more
thorough understanding of such factors about offenders as how they
select their victims and targets; their modus operandi during the
commission of an offense, including any involvement with co-offenders;
their methods of disposing of noncash proceeds from crime; their
perceptions of the opportunity structure of different locations,
environments, and situations; and their perceptions of the criminal
justice system's effectiveness in apprehending and prosecuting them.
Research Areas of Interest
Listed below are examples of research areas that could advance
crime prevention knowledge and practice under Goal IV of the NIJ
Research Plan. Individuals are encouraged to suggest their own topics
of interest. Research is encouraged in, but not limited to, the
following areas:
Crime Prevention Programs for High-Risk Youths. (In coordination
with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention).
Development of methods that foster positive and constructive forms of
behavior. Focus on resilient youth and families. Interaction between
community, family and individual factors in promoting positive
behavior.
Developing Community-Based Crime Prevention Partnerships.
Identification of factors that enhance or diminish partnerships.
Development and testing of strategies to revitalize and reclaim high-
crime areas. Ways to organize community resources in an integrated
manner. How to develop useful problem-solving strategies.
Location-Specific Crime Prevention Programs. Schools and routes to
and from school. Public housing. Commercial settings. Parks and
recreation facilities. Parking lots. Use of traffic barriers for crime
and drug prevention. Understanding the actions and responses of
potential victims and offenders in these and other settings. (See Goal
III: ``Routine Activities and Victimization'' for a description of
victim-related research using the routine activities approach). Focus
on environmental and design features. Focus on a comprehensive
approach.
Crimes and Offender Behavior. Offender daily activity patterns.
Offense selection and planning. Target and victim selection. Modus
operandi during the commission of an offense including co-offending.
Disposition of noncash proceeds from crime. Offender perception of
criminal justice system effectiveness. Disruption of stolen property
markets.
Crime By and Related to Illegal Aliens. Recruitment,
transportation, and smuggling of illegal aliens into the United States.
Provision of false documentation to illegals. Employers' role in
committing crimes related to hiring illegals and fostering crime among
illegal aliens.
Contact
Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ Program Managers to
discuss topic viability, data availability, or proposal content before
submitting proposals. For specific information on the programs
described under this goal, potential applicants may contact:
Rosemary Murphy, (202) 307-2959, for school-based prevention
programs, crime prevention in public housing, crime prevention
partnerships and prevention for high-risk youths.
Richard Titus, (202) 307-0695 for location specific prevention
(except schools and public housing), crimes and offender behavior, and
crime by and related to illegal aliens.
Goal V: Improve Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System
Purpose
The purpose of this solicitation is to encourage efforts in
research and evaluation that will advance criminal justice knowledge in
the areas of policing, prosecution, defense, adjudication, and
corrections. The primary focus of research and
[[Page 21257]]
evaluation under this goal is improvement of the efficiency,
effectiveness, and fairness of the system. Certain types of cases,
however, take priority. These involve violent juvenile and adult
offenders, drug and alcohol abusers, and family violence offenders.
Also of interest are the consequences of decisions and practices in one
part of the system on other criminal justice agencies and on related
social service agencies. Through this solicitation, NIJ also seeks a
greater understanding of the relationship among the offender, victim,
and the criminal justice system. All issues surrounding the case are of
interest, but projects that focus on an issue from the perspective of
the various participants--prosecutor, defender, judge, legislator--are
encouraged.
Background
Each part of the criminal justice system faces new challenges.
Juvenile arrests for violent crimes increased by 47 percent between
1988 and 1992; juvenile arrests for homicide increased by 51 percent
during the same period. FBI data indicate that juvenile use of guns has
risen dramatically. Prosecutors nationwide note that youthful offenders
are being brought to their offices in increasing numbers.
The Nation's prison and jail population reached 1 million in the
past year, with more than 5 million persons under some form of
correctional supervision. Data from jails and prisons show a high
incidence of substance abuse disorders among inmates. Approximately 70
percent of jail detainees have a history of substance abuse; 56 percent
were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of arrest.
A significant proportion of inmates with drug abuse problems have a
high prevalence of other disorders. About 75 percent of inmates with
mental disorders, for example, are also substance abusers. Other
inmates abuse both drugs and alcohol. Few programs exist for such
inmates who have special needs. In most State prison systems, for
example, inmates may receive services from either mental health or
substance abuse programs but not from programs designed to treat those
with both conditions.
The 1994 Crime Law encourages innovations to improve criminal
justice effectiveness in many of these areas, including community
policing; prison construction and construction of alternative
facilities such as boot camps for nonviolent offenders; and drug courts
that combine court-supervised abstinence with outpatient treatment and
sanctions for those who fail to comply. NIJ expects to issue separate
solicitations for research in these areas in 1996.
White-collar and organized crime pose a serious threat to the
stable and orderly functioning of society. These complex and
sophisticated crimes threaten our economic stability, corrupt
legitimate institutions, and undermine the public respect for
government and law.
Research is also needed on the consequences of the decisionmaking
process within the criminal justice system. Much criminal justice
research has been specific to a single criminal justice agency, such as
the decisions of police in using deadly force, charging decisions and
plea bargaining practices of prosecutors and use by judges of
intermediate sanctions. However, such studies rarely focus on the
relationship among police, defense attorneys, public prosecutors, and
judges in plea or sentence bargaining.
Moreover, much research on criminal justice evaluates effectiveness
in terms of standards internal to a particular agency rather than the
consequences that decisions and practices in one part of the system
have for other components in the system or on system processes. There
are studies of jail and prison overcrowding and of early release as a
result of judicially mandated standards for maintaining correctional
facilities, but little is known about their consequences for the
criminal careers of offenders who have been released early. Likewise,
there is little research on the effect of sentence length or a given
type of sentence for any given offense.
Relatively little is known about how different kinds of crime are
detected and selected by social service and other agents and the
processes by which they are referred to law enforcement. NIJ seeks
research addressing these broader issues.
Research Areas of Interest
Listed below are examples of research topics that could advance
criminal justice knowledge under Goal V of the NIJ Research Plan.
Individuals are encouraged to suggest their own topics of interest.
Research is encouraged in, but not limited to, the following areas:
Law Enforcement
Note: NIJ is accepting applications for policing research during
the June and December, 1996 review cycles. The Institute expects to
issue a special policing solicitation in FY 1996. Law enforcement
research and evaluation proposals received for the June review will
be considered together with proposals submitted to the special
policing solicitation.
Prosecution, Defense, and Adjudication
Issues at the Pretrial Stage. Effective release and detention
decisions, charging decisions, and diversion decisions. Effective
responses to witness intimidation. Impact of variations in discovery
policy.
New Approaches. Specialized courts, e.g. domestic violence,
firearms offenses. Community courts. Restorative justice. Community-
based prosecution and defense services.
Drug Courts. Note: NIJ is not receiving applications for research
on drug courts under the June and December 1995 deadlines. Instead,
researchers should await the special solicitation to be issued in 1995,
as noted above.
Juvenile Justice. (In coordination with the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention.) Juvenile case processing,
emphasizing waiver to adult courts. Diversion to noncriminal justice
programs. Postarrest preconviction programs for chronic, serious
juvenile offenders.
Community and Institutional Corrections
Sanctions and Punishments. Operating community-based sanctions as a
system. Prosecutors' role in intermediate sanctions. Innovative
programs in domestic violence, child abuse, firearms.
Meeting Offender Needs. Offenders with mental health and drug
addiction conditions. Creating parity in services for incarcerated
women. Coordinating transitional care and community reintegration.
Preserving Safety. Planning and managing ``super'' maximum security
prisons. Managing juvenile offenders in adult facilities. Correctional
officer health and safety risks.
Managing Change. Understanding the impacts of prison expansion.
Correctional management of changing inmate populations. Inmate and
correctional officers' safety. Managing offenders in the community.
Systemwide Issues
Consequences of Decisions on System Responses. The impact that
reforms or major resources changes in one part of the system may have
on another. Perceived fairness of the criminal justice system,
particularly in minority communities, and appropriate responses by
criminal justice professionals.
Sentencing. Costs and benefits of various State sentencing reforms.
Impact of sentencing policy changes on prosecution, defense, and the
courts, e.g. ``truth in sentencing'' and ``three strikes'' legislation,
abolition of parole,
[[Page 21258]]
mandatory minimums, enhanced sentencing schemes for juvenile offenders.
Illegal Aliens. U.S. policy toward arrested illegal aliens. Impact
on local criminal justice system. Links with immigration. Management of
foreign language populations in correctional settings.
White-Collar and Organized Crime. For White-Collar Crime, research
on the prevention and control of health care fraud, insider insurance
fraud, and environmental crime, including regulatory issues, detention,
investigation, and prosecution. For Organized Crime, research on the
criminal justice response to international organized crime networks and
enterprise, and organized crime corruption of legitimate industries and
markets.
Contact
Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ Program Managers to
discuss topic viability, data availability, or proposal content before
submitting proposals. To obtain specific information on the programs
described under this goal, potential applicants may contact:
Lois Mock, (202) 307-0693, and Winifred Reed, (202) 307-2952, for
policing.
Jordan Leiter, (202) 616-9487, for prosecution and adjudication.
Voncile Gowdy, (202) 307-2951, for corrections and sanctions.
Jack Riley, (202) 616-9030, for illegal aliens and the criminal
justice system.
Lois Mock, (202) 307-0693, for white-collar and organized crime.
Goal VI: Develop New Technology for Law Enforcement and the Criminal
Justice System
Purpose
The purpose of this solicitation is to encourage technological
development projects that will improve the operational efficiency of
the criminal justice system. Through this solicitation NIJ expects to
support research that will enhance the safety and effectiveness of law
enforcement and correctional officers and other officers of the court.
Background
Science and technology programs cut across the entire range of
criminal justice issues and goals at NIJ; programs already in progress
or in the early stages of planning and development promise to provide
significant benefits in the 21st century. The Institute's science and
technology mission is accomplished through three major program areas:
the collection and dissemination of technical information, the
development of standards and operation of an equipment testing program,
and a research and development grants program.
To strengthen the collection and dissemination of technology
information, NIJ is developing the capabilities of the National Law
Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) (the former
Technology Assessment Program Information Center) and establishing
regional law enforcement technology centers. The purpose of these
centers is to provide criminal justice professionals with information
on available technology, guidelines and standards for these
technologies, and technical assistance in implementing them. These
centers will be linked through a Technology Information Network (TIN)
to provide Federal, State and local agencies with objective, reliable,
and timely information on technologies and equipment, such as who are
the producers and users; where high-cost, seldom-used equipment can be
borrowed for temporary or emergency situations; what the current
equipment standards are; tests and evaluations; and what safety,
health, or procedure bulletins have been issued. The TIN will also link
the centers with the current Regional Information Sharing Service
(RISS) that will then create an overall law enforcement technology
exchange network. NIJ has also established an Office of Law Enforcement
Technology Commercialization (OLETC) to help bring technology to the
market place for criminal justice procurement.
One of the most significant developments of NIJ's criminal justice
technology and standards program was the development of soft body armor
for police officers and standards governing its manufacture and sale.
NIJ has also developed standards for vehicle tracking devices, security
systems for doors and windows, breath alcohol testing, autoloading
pistols, mobile antennas, and other equipment. The Institute is
currently completing the development of performance standards for two
DNA testing procedures: Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)
and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The standards program is funded by
NIJ through the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) at the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
NIJ's research and development efforts have also been significant
and broad in scope in other areas. In the area of forensic science, NIJ
has supported a wide range of research on fingerprints, blood and
semen, DNA, trace evidence, bite marks, and forged or altered
documents. Further research is needed, particularly in DNA testing,
weapons identification, fingerprinting, and trace evidence. Progress is
also being made to develop alternatives to lethal force. When
confronted with the need to use force, officers are limited to the use
of firearms, batons, physical ``hands-on'' restraint, or, more
recently, chemical agents such as pepper spray. To provide
alternatives, NIJ initiated a Less-Than-Lethal technology program to
develop innovative, nonlethal measures suitable for use in situations
involving fleeing suspects, domestic disturbances, barricades, issuing
search warrants, drug raids, prison or jail disturbances, etc.
This announcement also supports research recommendations of the
Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Defense (DOD) under a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for interagency collaboration in
developing and sharing dual-use technologies for law enforcement
agencies and military operations other than war. Congress has
appropriated fiscal year 1995 funds for this program through the
Defense Authorization Bill. The day-to-day management of the program is
carried out at the DOD Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under
a Joint Program Steering Group (JPSG) with equal numbers of program
managers from the Defense and Justice Departments.
In soliciting research and development topics, NIJ principally
focuses on technologies and studies that will support the needs of
State and local criminal justice agencies. The Institute's science and
technology research also addresses the legal and social issues related
to the employment of new technologies in order to ensure that they will
be acceptable to the agency and the community.
Research Areas of Interest
Listed below are examples of research areas under Goal VI of the
NIJ Research Plan where new or improved technologies could enhance the
efficacy of the criminal justice system and reduce the level of
injuries and death during policing and correctional operations.
Individuals are encouraged to suggest their own topics of interest.
Projects should be directed toward the production of affordable and
practical equipment or systems that will have reasonably wide
application to Federal, State, and local agencies. Research is
encouraged in, but not limited to, the following areas:
Forensic Sciences. Identification and development of evidence in
DNA/
[[Page 21259]]
serology, finger-prints, trace evidence, pathology, entomology,
odontology, toxicology, questioned documents, and weapons
identification.
Less-Than-Lethal Technology. Reduction in the incidence of injuries
and death to officers and the public during confrontations, especially
those requiring the use of force, arrest of suspects, transport of
suspects or prisoners, pursuit of fleeing suspects on foot or in
vehicles, and control of violent individuals or crowds in the streets
or in prisons and jails. Enhancement of officer safety. Field
evaluations of new less-than-lethal technology.
Science and Technology. Virtual reality technology for officer
training; command and control operations; providing improved courtroom
security; improving the efficiency of probation and parole operations;
identifying concealed weapons; monitoring the status, health, and
location of officers or prisoners; and detecting and disabling
explosives. Technology useful in the detection and apprehension of
persons engaged in computer crime.
Drug Testing. Developing or adapting analytic techniques for
extracting drug-related material from hair and urine and other body
fluids. Comparative efficiencies and relative costs as well as the
utility of the testing techniques in various criminal justice settings.
Contact
Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ Program Managers to
discuss topic viability, data availability, or proposal content before
submitting proposals. To obtain specific information on the programs
described under this goal, potential applicants may contact:
Richard M. Rau, Ph.D., (202) 307-0648, for the Forensic Sciences
Program and the Drug Testing Program.
Raymond L. Downs, Ph.D., (202) 307-0646, for the Less-Than-Lethal
Program and the Science and Technology Program.
Kevin Jackson, (202) 307-2956, for the Standards Development and
Testing Program and the Law Enforcement Technology Centers.
DOD/DOJ Memorandum of Understanding.
Peter Nacci, (703) 351-8608, for information on the law enforcement
aspects of the DOJ/DOD MOU.
Dave Fields, Ph.D., (703) 696-2330, for information on the Military
Operations Other Than War aspects of the DOJ/DOD MOU.
General Law Enforcement Technology Information
Marc Caplan, National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology
Center, (800) 248-2742, for information on specific law enforcement
technologies that are under development or in production, technologies
in use by law enforcement agencies, soft-body armor and other equipment
standards, equipment testing and results, and other such nongrant-
related questions.
Administrative Guidelines
In this section applicants will find recommendations to grant
writers, requirements for grant recipients, general application
information, and a reiteration of the 1995-1996 grant application
deadlines.
Application Information
Please see ``Requirements for Award Recipients'' below for general
application and eligibility requirements and selection criteria.
Proposals not conforming to these application procedures will not be
considered.
Award Period. NIJ limits its grants and cooperative agreements to a
maximum period of 24 months.
Due Date. Ten (10) copies of fully executed proposals should be
sent to: [Name and Number of Specific Goal], National Institute of
Justice, 633 Indiana Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20531.
Completed proposals must be received at the National Institute of
Justice by the close of business on June 17 and December 16, 1996.
Extensions of these deadlines will not be permitted.
Contact. Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ Program Managers
in the appropriate goal areas to discuss topic viability, data
availability, or proposal content before submitting proposals.
Recommendations to Grant Writers
Over the past 4 years, Institute staff have reviewed approximately
1,500 grant applications. On the basis of those reviews and inquiries
from applicants, the Institute offers the following recommendations to
help potential applicants present workable, understandable proposals.
Many of these recommendations were adopted from materials provided to
NIJ by the State Justice Institute, especially for applicants new to
NIJ. Others reflect standard NIJ requirements.
The author(s) of the proposal should be clearly identified.
Proposals that are incorrectly collated, incomplete, or handwritten
will be judged as submitted or, at NIJ's discretion, will be returned
without a deadline extension. No additions to the original submission
are allowed. The Institute suggests that applicants make certain that
they address the questions, issues, and requirements set forth below
when preparing an application.
1. What is the subject or problem you wish to address? Describe the
subject or problem and how it affects the criminal justice system and
the public. Discuss how your approach will improve the situation or
advance the state of the art of knowledge or state of the science and
explain why it is the most appropriate approach to take. Give
appropriate citations to the scientific literature. The source of
statistics or research findings cited to support a statement or
position should be included in a reference list.
2. What do you want to do? Explain the goal(s) of the project in
simple, straightforward terms. The goals should describe the intended
consequences or expected overall effect of the proposed project, rather
than the tasks or activities to be conducted. To the greatest extent
possible, applicants should avoid a specialized vocabulary that is not
readily understood by the general public. Technical jargon does not
enhance an application.
3. How will you do it? Describe the methodology carefully so that
what you propose to do and how you would do it is clear. All proposed
tasks should be set forth so that a reviewer can see a logical
progression of tasks and relate those tasks directly to the
accomplishment of the project's goal(s). When in doubt about whether to
provide a more detailed explanation or to assume a particular level of
knowledge or expertise on the part of the reviewers, err on the side of
caution and provide the additional information. A description of
project tasks also will help identify necessary budget items. All staff
positions and project costs should relate directly to the tasks
described. The Institute encourages applicants to attach letters of
cooperation and support from agencies that will be involved in or
directly affected by the proposed project.
4. What should you include in a grant application for a program
evaluation? An evaluation should determine whether the proposed
program, training, procedure, service, or technology accomplished the
objectives it was designed to meet. Applicants seeking support for a
proposed evaluation should describe the criteria that will be used to
evaluate the project's effectiveness and identify program elements that
will require further modification. The description in the application
should include how the evaluation will be conducted, when it will occur
during the project period,
[[Page 21260]]
who will conduct it, and what specific measures will be used. In most
instances, the evaluation should be conducted by persons not connected
with the implementation of the procedure, training, service, or
technique, or the administration of the project.
5. How will others learn about your findings? Include a plan to
disseminate the results of the research, evaluation, technology, or
demonstration beyond the jurisdictions and individuals directly
affected by the project. The plan should identify the specific methods
that will be used to inform the field about the project such as the
publication of journal articles or the distribution of key materials.
Expectations regarding products are discussed more fully in the
following section, ``Requirements for Award Recipients.'' A statement
that a report or research findings ``will be made available to'' the
field is not sufficient. The specific means of distribution or
dissemination as well as the types of recipients should be identified.
Reproduction and dissemination costs are allowable budget items.
Applicants must concisely describe the interim and final products and
address each product's purpose, audience, and usefulness to the field.
This discussion should identify the principal criminal justice
constituency or type of agency for which each product is intended and
describe how the constituent group or agency would be expected to use
the product or report. Successful proposals will clearly identify the
nature of the grant products that can reasonably be expected if the
project is funded. In addition, a schedule of delivery dates of all
products should be delineated.
6. What are the specific costs involved? The budget application
should be presented clearly. Major budget categories such as personnel,
benefits, travel, supplies, equipment, and indirect costs should be
identified separately. The components of ``Other'' or ``Miscellaneous''
items should be specified in the application budget narrative and
should not include set-asides for undefined contingencies.
7. How much detail should be included in the budget narrative? The
budget narrative should list all planned expenditures and detail the
salaries, materials, and cost assumptions used to estimate project
costs. The narrative and cost estimates should be presented under the
following standard budget categories: personnel, fringe benefits,
travel, equipment, supplies, contracts, other, and indirect costs. For
multiyear projects, applicants must include the full amount of NIJ
funding for the entire life of the project. This amount should be
reflected in item 15g on Form 424 and line 6k on 424A. When
appropriate, grant applications should include justification of
consultants and a full explanation of daily rates for any consultants
proposed. To avoid common shortcomings of application budget
narratives, include the following information:
Personnel estimates that accurately provide the amount of time to
be spent by personnel involved with the project and the total
associated costs, including current salaries for the designated
personnel (e.g., Project Director, 50 percent of 1 year's annual salary
of $50,000 = $25,000). If salary costs are computed using an hourly or
daily rate, the annual salary and number of hours or days in a work
year should be shown.
Estimates for supplies and expenses supported by a complete
description of the supplies to be used, nature and extent of printing
to be done, anticipated telephone charges, and other common
expenditures, with the basis for computing the estimates included
(e.g., 100 reports x 75 pages each x $0.05/page = $375.00). Supply
and expense estimates offered simply as ``based on experience'' are not
sufficient.
8. What travel regulations apply to the budget estimates?
Transportation costs and per diem rates must comply with the policies
of the applicant organization, and a copy of the applicant's travel
policy should be submitted as an appendix to the application. If the
applicant does not have a travel policy established in writing, then
travel rates must be consistent with those established by the Federal
Government. The budget narrative should state which regulations are in
force for the project and should include the estimated fare, the number
of persons traveling, the number of trips to be taken, and the length
of stay. The estimated costs of travel, lodging, ground transportation,
and other subsistence should be listed separately. When combined, the
subtotals for these categories should equal the estimate listed on the
budget form.
9. Which forms should be used? A copy of Standard Form (SF) 424,
Application for Federal Assistance, plus instructions, appears in the
back of this book. Please follow the instructions carefully and include
all parts and pages. In addition to SF 424, recent requirements involve
certification regarding (1) lobbying; (2) debarment, suspension, and
other responsibility matters; and (3) drug-free workplace requirements.
The certification form that is attached to SF 424 should be signed by
the appropriate official and included in the grant application.
10. What technical materials are required to be included in the
application?
A one-page abstract of the full proposal, highlighting the
project's purpose, methods, activities, and when known, the location(s)
of field research.
A program narrative, which is the technical portion of the
proposal. It should include a clear, concise statement of the problem,
goals, and objectives of the project and related questions to be
explored. A discussion of the relationship of the proposed work to the
existing literature is expected.
A statement of the project's anticipated contribution to criminal
justice policy and practice. It is important that applicants briefly
cite those particular issues and concerns of present-day criminal
justice policy that stimulate the proposed line of inquiry and suggest
what their own investigation would contribute to current knowledge.
A detailed statement of the proposed research or study design and
analytical methodologies. The proposed data sources, data collection
strategies, variables and issues to be examined, and procedures of
analysis to be employed should be delineated carefully and completely.
When appropriate, experimental designs are encouraged because of their
potential relevance to policymaking and the strength of the evidence
they can produce.
The organization and management plan to conduct the study. A list
of major milestones of events, activities, and products and a timetable
for completion that indicates the time commitments to individual
project tasks should be included. All grant activities, including
writing of the final report, should be completed within the duration of
the award period.
The applicant's curriculum vitae should summarize education,
research experience, and bibliographic information related to the
proposed work.
11. Use of grant funds. Grant funds may be used to purchase or
lease equipment essential to accomplishing the objectives of the
project. The budget narrative must list such equipment and explain why
the equipment is necessary. Funds may not be used for operating
programs, writing texts or handbooks, training, etc.
12. To what extent may indirect costs be included in the budget
estimates? It is the policy of the Institute that all costs should be
budgeted directly; however, if an applicant has an indirect
[[Page 21261]]
cost rate that has been approved by a Federal agency within the past 2
years, an indirect cost recovery estimate may be included in the
budget. A copy of the approved rate agreement should be submitted as an
appendix to the application. If an applicant does not have an approved
rate agreement, the applicant should contact the Office of the
Comptroller, Office of Justice Programs, (202) 307-0604, to obtain
information about preparing an indirect cost rate proposal.
13. What, if any, matching funds are required? Units of State and
local governments (not including publicly supported institutions of
higher education) are encouraged to contribute a match (cash, noncash,
or both) of requested funds. Other applicants also are encouraged to
seek matching contributions from other Federal agencies or private
foundations to assist in meeting the costs of the project.
14. Should other funding sources be listed? Applicants are expected
to identify all other Federal, local, or private sources of support,
including other NIJ programs, to which this or a closely related
proposal has been or will be submitted. This information permits NIJ to
consider the joint funding potential and limits the possibility of
inadvertent duplicate funding. Applicants may submit more than one
proposal to NIJ, but the same proposal cannot be submitted in more than
one program area.
15. What are the deadlines? June 15 and December 15, 1995, and June
17 and December 16, 1996.
16. Is there a page limit? The Institute has established a limit of
30 double-spaced 12-point font pages for all normal grant applications.
This page limit does not include references, budget narrative,
curriculum vitae, or necessary appendices. Applications for small
grants ($1,000-$50,000) are limited to 15 double-spaced pages.
Applicants are cautioned that obvious attempts to stretch
interpretations of these limits will disqualify proposals from review.
17. What is the page order? The following order is mandatory.
Omission can result in rejection of the application:
1. SF 424.
2. Budget narrative.
3. Assurances and Certifications, etc.
4. Negotiated rate agreement.
5. Names and affiliations of all key persons from applicant and
subcontractor(s), advisors, consultants, and Advisory Board members.
Include the name of the Principal Investigator, title, organizational
affiliation (if any), department (if institution of higher education),
address, phone, and fax.
6. Abstract.
7. Table of Contents.
8. Program narrative.
9. References.
10. Resumes of key personnel.
18. What does the review process entail? After all applications for
a competition are received, NIJ will convene a series of peer review
panels of criminal justice professionals and researchers. NIJ will
assign proposals to peer panels that it deems most appropriate. Panel
members read each proposal and meet to assess the technical merits and
policy relevance of the proposed research. Panel assessments of the
proposals, together with assessments by NIJ staff, are submitted to the
Director, who has sole and final authority over approval and awards.
The review normally takes 60 to 90 days, depending on the number of
applications received. Each applicant receives written comments from
the peer review panel concerning the strengths and weaknesses of the
proposal. These comments may include suggestions for how a revised or
subsequent application to NIJ might be improved.
19. What are the criteria for an award? The essential question
asked of each applicant is, ``If this study were successful, how would
criminal justice policies or operations be improved?'' Four criteria
are applied in the evaluation process:
Impact of the proposed project.
Feasibility of the approach to the issue, including technical merit
and practical considerations.
Originality of the approach, including creativity of the proposal
and capability of the research staff.
Economy of the approach. Applicants bear the responsibility of
demonstrating to the panel that the proposed study addresses the
critical issues of the topic area and that the study findings could
ultimately contribute to a practical application in law enforcement or
criminal justice. Reviewers will assess applicants' awareness of
related research or studies and their ability to direct the research or
study toward answering questions of policy or improving the state of
criminal justice operations.
Technical merit is judged by the likelihood that the study design
will produce convincing findings. Reviewers take into account the logic
and timing of the research or study plan, the validity and reliability
of measures proposed, the appropriateness of statistical methods to be
used, and each applicant's awareness of factors that might dilute the
credibility of the findings. Impact is judged by the scope of the
proposed approach and by the utility of the proposed products.
Reviewers consider each applicant's understanding of the process of
innovation in the targeted criminal justice agency or setting and
knowledge of prior uses of criminal justice research by the proposed
criminal justice constituency. Appropriateness of products in terms of
proposed content and format is also considered.
Applicants' qualifications are evaluated both in terms of the depth
of experience and the relevance of that experience to the proposed
research or study. Costs are evaluated in terms of the reasonableness
of each item and the utility of the project to the Institute's program.
20. Are there any other considerations in selecting applications
for an award? Projects should have a national impact or have potential
relevance to a number of jurisdictions. Because of the broad national
mandate of the National Institute of Justice, projects that address the
unique concerns of a single jurisdiction should be fully justified.
Projects that intend to provide services in addition to performing
research are eligible for support, but only for the resources necessary
to conduct the research tasks outlined in the proposal. The applicant's
performance on previous or current NIJ grants will also be taken into
consideration in making funding decisions.
21. Who is eligible to apply? NIJ awards grants to, or enters into
cooperative agreements with, educational institutions, nonprofit
organizations, public agencies, individuals, and profitmaking
organizations that are willing to waive their fees. Where appropriate,
special eligibility criteria are indicated in the separate
solicitations.
22. Does NIJ accept resubmission of proposals? The Institute will
accept resubmission of a previously submitted proposal. The applicant
should indicate for Question 8, Form 424, that the application is a
revision. The applicant should include this information in the
abstract. Finally, the applicant should prepare a one-page response to
the earlier panel review (to follow the abstract) including (1) the
title, submission date, and NIJ-assigned application number of the
previous proposal and (2) a brief summary of responses to the review
and/or revisions to the proposal.
NIJ Policy Regarding Unsolicited Proposals
It is NIJ's policy to submit all unsolicited proposals to peer
review. NIJ's peer review process takes place in
[[Page 21262]]
periodic cycles; unsolicited proposals received will be included in the
next available review cycle. NIJ will offer the applicant the option of
revising the proposal in accordance with the program goals established
in the Plan or, alternatively, submitting the original proposal to the
peer panel it deems most appropriate.
Requirements for Award Recipients
Required Products
Each project is expected to generate tangible products of maximum
benefit to criminal justice professionals, researchers, and
policymakers. In particular, NIJ strongly encourages documents that
provide information of practical utility to law enforcement officials;
prosecutors; judges; corrections officers; victims services providers;
and Federal, State, county, and local elected officials. Products
should include:
A summary of approximately 2,500 words highlighting the findings of
the research and the policy issues those findings will inform. The
material should be written in a style that will be accessible to policy
officials and practitioners and suitable for possible publication as an
NIJ Research in Brief. An NIJ editorial style guide is sent to each
project director at the time of the award.
A full technical report, including a discussion of the research
question, review of the literature, description of project methodology,
detailed review of project findings, and conclusions and policy
recommendations.
Clean copies of all automated data sets developed during the
research and full documentation prepared in accordance with the
instructions in the NIJ Data Resources Manual.
Brief project summaries for NIJ use in preparing annual reports to
the President and the Congress. As appropriate, additional products
such as case studies and interim and final reports (e.g., articles,
manuals, or training materials) may be specified in the proposal or
negotiated at the time of the award.
Public Release of Automated Data Sets
NIJ is committed to ensuring the public availability of research
data and to this end established its Data Resources Program in 1984.
All NIJ award recipients who collect data are required to submit a
machine-readable copy of the data and appropriate documentation to NIJ
prior to the conclusion of the project. The data and materials are
reviewed for completeness. NIJ staff then create machine-readable data
sets, prepare users' guides, and distribute data and documentation to
other researchers in the field. A variety of formats are acceptable;
however, the data and materials must conform with requirements detailed
in Depositing Data With the Data Resources Program of the National
Institute of Justice: A Handbook. A copy of this handbook is sent to
each project director at the time of the award. For further information
about NIJ's Data Resources Program, contact Dr. Pamela Lattimore, (202)
307-2961.
Standards of Performance by Recipients
NIJ expects individuals and institutions receiving its support to
work diligently and professionally toward completing a high-quality
research or study product. Besides this general expectation, the
Institute imposes specific requirements to ensure that proper financial
and administrative controls are applied to the project. Financial and
general reporting requirements are detailed in Financial and
Administrative Guide for Grants, a publication of the Office of Justice
Programs. This guideline manual is sent to recipient institutions with
the award documents. Project directors and recipient financial
administrators should pay particular attention to the regulations in
this document.
Program Monitoring
Award recipients and Principal Investigators assume certain
responsibilities as part of their participation in government-sponsored
research and evaluation. NIJ's monitoring activities are intended to
help grantees meet these responsibilities. They are based on good
communication and open dialogue, with collegiality and mutual respect.
Some of the elements of this dialogue are:
Communication with NIJ in the early stages of the grant, as the
elements of the proposal's design and methodology are developed and
operationalized.
Timely communication with NIJ regarding any developments that might
affect the project's compliance with the schedules, milestones, and
products set forth in the proposal. (See statement on Timeliness,
below).
Communication with other NIJ grantees conducting related research
projects. An annual ``cluster conference'' should be anticipated and
should be budgeted for by applicants at a cost of $1,000 for each year
of the grant.
Providing NIJ on request with brief descriptions of the project in
interim stages at such time as the Institute may need this information
to meet its reporting requirements to the Congress. NIJ will give as
much advance notification of these requests as possible, but will
expect a timely response from grantees when requests are made. NIJ is
prepared to receive such communication through electronic media.
Providing NIJ with copies of presentations made at conferences,
meetings, and elsewhere based in whole or in part on the work of the
project. Providing NIJ with prepublication copies of articles based on
the project appearing in professional journals or the media, either
during the life of the grant or after.
Other reporting requirements (Progress Reports, Final Reports, and
other grant products) are spelled out elsewhere in this section of the
Research Plan. Financial reporting requirements will be described in
the grant award documents received by successful applicants.
Communications
NIJ Program Managers should be kept informed of research progress.
Written progress reports are required on a quarterly basis. All awards
use standard quarterly reporting periods (January 1 through March 31,
April 1 through June 30, and so forth) regardless of the project's
start date. Progress reports will inform the monitor which tasks have
been completed and whether significant delays or departures from the
original workplan are expected.
Timeliness
Grantees are expected to complete award products within the
timeframes that have been agreed upon by NIJ and the grantee. The
Institute recognizes that there are legitimate reasons for project
extensions. However, NIJ does not consider the assumption of additional
research projects that impinge upon previous time commitments as
legitimate reasons for delay. Projects with unreasonable delays can be
terminated administratively. In this situation, any funds remaining are
withdrawn. Future applications from either the project director or the
recipient institution are subject to strict scrutiny and may be denied
support based on past failure to meet minimum standards.
Publications
The Institute encourages grantees to prepare their work for NIJ
publication. In cases where grantees disseminate their findings through
a variety of media, such as professional journals, books, and
conferences, copies of such
[[Page 21263]]
publications should be sent to the Program Manager as they become
available, even if they appear well after a project's expiration. NIJ
imposes no restriction on such publications other than the following
acknowledgment and disclaimer: This research was supported by grant
number ________________ from the National Institute of Justice. Points
of view are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the
position of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Data Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection
Research that examines individual traits and experiences plays a
vital part in expanding our knowledge about criminal behavior. It is
essential, however, that researchers protect subjects from needless
risk of harm or embarrassment and proceed with their willing and
informed cooperation. NIJ requires that investigators protect
information identifiable to research participants. When information is
safeguarded, it is protected by statute from being used in legal
proceedings: ``[S]uch information and copies thereof shall be immune
from legal process, and shall not, without the consent of the person
furnishing such information, be admitted as evidence or used for any
purpose in any action, suit, or other judicial, legislative, or
administrative proceedings'' (42 United States Code 3789g).
Applicants should file their plans to protect sensitive information
as part of their proposal. Necessary safeguards are detailed in 28 Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 22. A short ``how-to'' guideline for
developing a privacy and confidentiality plan can be obtained from NIJ
program managers.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice has adopted Human
Subjects policies similar to those established by the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services. In general, these policies exempt most
NIJ-supported research from Institutional Review Board (IRB) review.
However, the Institute may find in certain instances that subjects or
subject matters may require IRB review. These exceptions will be
decided on an individual basis during application review. Researchers
are encouraged to review 28 CFR Part 46.101 to determine their
individual project requirements.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Comprehensive Program Plan for Fiscal Year 1996 OJJDP Program
Objectives
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
seeks to focus its assistance on the development and implementation of
programs with the greatest potential for reducing juvenile delinquency
and improving the juvenile justice system by establishing partnerships
with State, Native American, Native Alaskan, and local governments and
public and private organizations. To that end, OJJDP has set three
goals that constitute the major elements of a sound policy for juvenile
justice and delinquency prevention:
To promote delinquency prevention and early intervention
efforts that reduce the flow of juvenile offenders into the juvenile
justice system, the numbers of serious and violent offenders, and the
development of chronic delinquent careers.
To improve the juvenile justice system and the response of
the system to juvenile delinquents, status offenders, and dependent,
neglected, and abused children.
To preserve the public safety in a manner that serves the
appropriate development and best use of secure detention and
corrections options, while at the same time fostering the use of
community-based programs for juvenile offenders.
Underlying each of the three goals is the overarching premise that
achievement of these goals is vital to protecting the long-term safety
of the public from increased juvenile delinquency and violence. In
pursuing these goals, we divide our programs into the key categories
you will find in the program plan: public safety and law enforcement;
strengthening the juvenile justice system; delinquency prevention and
intervention; and child abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings. The
following discussion, however, addresses the broader goals of OJJDP.
Delinquency Prevention and Early Intervention
A primary goal of OJJDP is to identify and promote programs that
prevent or reduce the occurrence of juvenile offenses, both criminal
and non-criminal, and to intervene immediately and effectively when
delinquent or status offense conduct first occurs. A sound policy for
juvenile delinquency prevention seeks to strengthen the most powerful
contributing factor to socially acceptable behavior--a productive place
for young people in a law-abiding society.
Delinquency prevention programs can operate on a broad scale,
providing for positive youth development, or can target juveniles
identified as being at high risk for delinquency, with programs
designed to reduce future juvenile offending. OJJDP prevention programs
take a risk-focused delinquency prevention approach based on public
health and social development models.
Early interventions are designed to provide services to juveniles
whose non-criminal misbehavior indicates that they are on a delinquent
pathway, or for first time non-violent delinquent offenders or non-
serious repeat offenders who do not respond to initial system
intervention. These interventions are generally non-punitive but serve
to hold a juvenile accountable while providing services tailored to the
individual needs of the juvenile and the juvenile's family. They are
designed to both deter future misconduct and ameliorate risk or enhance
protective factors.
Improvement of the Juvenile Justice System
A second goal of OJJDP is to promote improvements in the juvenile
justice system and facilitate the most effective allocation of system
resources. This goal is necessary for holding juveniles who commit
crimes accountable for their conduct, particularly serious and violent
offenders who sometimes slip through the cracks of the system or are
inappropriately diverted. This includes assisting law enforcement
officers in their efforts to prevent and control delinquency and the
victimization of children through community policing programs and
coordination and collaboration with other system components and with
child caring systems. It involves helping juvenile and family courts,
and the prosecutors and public defenders who practice in those courts,
to provide a system of justice that maintains due process protections.
It requires trying innovative programs and carefully evaluating those
programs to determine what works and what does not work. It includes a
commitment to involving crime victims in the juvenile justice system
and ensuring that their rights are considered.
In this regard, OJJDP will continue to work closely with the Office
for Victims of Crime to further cooperative programming, including the
provision of services to juveniles who are crime victims or when the
provision of victims services improves the operation of the juvenile
justice system. Improving the juvenile justice system also calls for
building an appropriate juvenile detention and corrections capacity and
for intensified efforts to use juvenile detention and correctional
facilities when necessary and under conditions that maximize public
safety, while providing effective rehabilitation
[[Page 21264]]
services. It requires encouraging states to carefully consider the use
of expanded transfer authority that sends the most serious, violent,
and intractable juvenile offenders to the criminal justice system,
while preserving individualized justice. It necessitates conducting
research and gathering statistical information in order to understand
how the juvenile justice system works in serving children and families.
And finally, the system can only be improved if information and
knowledge is communicated, understood, and applied for the purpose of
juvenile justice system improvement.
Corrections, Detention and Community-Based Alternatives
A third OJJDP goal is to maintain the public safety through a
balanced use of secure detention and corrections, and community-based
alternatives. This involves identifying and promoting effective
community-based programs and services for juveniles who have formal
contact with the juvenile justice system, and emphasizing options that
maintain the safety of the public, are appropriately restrictive, and
promote and preserve positive ties with the child's family, school, and
community. Communities cannot afford to place responsibility for
juvenile delinquency entirely on publicly operated juvenile justice
system programs. A sound policy for combating juvenile delinquency and
reducing the threat of youth violence makes maximum use of a full range
of public and private programs and services, most of which operate in
the juvenile's home community, including those provided by the health
and mental health, child welfare, social service, and educational
systems.
Coordination of the development of community-based programs and
services with the development and use of a secure detention and
correctional system capability for those juveniles who require a secure
option is cost effective, will protect the public, reduce facility
crowding, and result in better services for both institutionalized
juveniles and those who can be served while remaining in their
community environment.
Summary of Public Comments on the Proposed Comprehensive Plan for
Fiscal Year 1996
OJJDP published its Proposed Comprehensive Plan for Fiscal Year
(FY) 1996 in the Federal Register (Vol. 61, No. 34) on February 20,
1996, for a 45-day public comment period. OJJDP received 46 letters
commenting on the proposed plan. All comments have been considered in
the development of the Final Comprehensive Plan for FY 1996.
The majority of the letters provided positive comments about the
overall plan and its programs. The following is a summary of the
substantive comments received and OJJDP's responses to the comments.
Unless otherwise indicated, each comment was made by a single
respondent.
Comment: Seven respondents expressed strong support for the overall
plan. One writer asserted that data projections for juvenile crime for
the next 15 years make a compelling case for full funding of all OJJDP
programs. Another commended OJJDP for the broad-based and forward-
thinking programming in the plan. A third comment indicated that the
proposed programs will strengthen law enforcement prevention efforts
and have an impact on juvenile crime. One respondent highly endorsed
the existing OJJDP program and the proposed plan but also recommended
that funds be earmarked for imaginative, innovative, and creative
programs with imagineering concepts to maximize program benefits. One
comment described the plan as a comprehensive, balanced approach to
juvenile delinquency and delinquency prevention. Another supported
OJJDP's purpose to provide a comprehensive, coordinated approach to
prevent and control juvenile crime and improve the juvenile justice
system. The final comment called OJJDP's priorities essential for
addressing the increasing complexity of issues facing the juvenile
justice system.
Response: OJJDP appreciates the support expressed by these and
other respondents.
Comment: Five letters contained criticism of the overall plan.
Three of these cited the lack of specific funding information as a
major flaw. One of those letters also noted that the majority of
funding is already committed, mostly to long-time recipients, and that
the plan contains a large number of social service programs with no
proven effectiveness in reducing or preventing delinquency. This writer
recommended eliminating or reducing 10 programs and suggested that
OJJDP reissue the plan to solicit a program to develop a comprehensive
drug prevention curriculum for students. Another respondent also
expressed concern about the large number of initiatives and activities
with predetermined recipients. Citing the JJDP Act competition
requirement (Section 262(d)(1)(B)), the writer asked about criteria for
waiving the competitive process. One respondent found that the plan was
not sufficiently comprehensive and called for programs to teach correct
principles and moral responsibility, particularly in the family unit
and in the schools.
Response: Proposed funding levels were not included in the plan due
to the uncertainty of FY 1996 appropriations. The proposed plan was
premised on FY 1996 funding being at or near FY 1995 levels.
Continuation commitments, coupled with a variety of proven or ongoing
projects, many of which are technical assistance and training
initiatives that have a national impact and level funding, preclude
wholesale funding of new programs in FY 1996. All new programs will be
competitively funded with no waivers of the competition requirement
contemplated.
Comment: One comment on the discretionary grant continuation policy
suggested that OJJDP should emphasize funding innovative programs along
with the continuation of programs. The writer noted that each year it
appears that limited funds are available for new programs.
Response: The plan includes several new and innovative programs
coupled with a focus on program evaluation. Innovative research and
evaluation programs will be eligible to compete under an expanded
field-initiated research program in FY 1996.
Comment: A Native American respondent stated that the plan should
specifically name Indian Nations as partners.
Response: The cited language in the plan is amended to read:
``establishing partnerships with State, Native American, Native
Alaskan, and local governments and public and private organizations.''
Comment: OJJDP received three comments on the goals listed in the
plan. One respondent suggested that the first goal could be
strengthened by calling specifically for better character development
in the home and in schools. The writer stated that the second goal does
not convey the idea that the primary effort should be character
corrections, in the corrections system, to shrink the number of
offenders. The second respondent expressed support for the three goals
and described how the Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation is working
toward those same goals, with early intervention being of particular
importance. The third letter expressed support for the goals and
indicated that their achievement is vital to public safety.
Response: Both prevention and treatment programs seek to improve
character and instill positive values in
[[Page 21265]]
juveniles. OJJDP has long supported family strengthening programs, many
of which feature character development objectives.
Comment: Six respondents commented on the field-initiated research
program. All were generally supportive, and five made substantive
comments. One suggested specific topics: measuring effectiveness of
intervention with young prostitutes; drug treatment approaches,
educational/literacy project effectiveness; and what works with the
multiproblem young criminal. One respondent, noting the call for
improving data collaboration efforts, suggested that a portion of the
research be applied to projects that would seek to standardize court
reports, thus increasing the juvenile justice system's ability to
access and share appropriate information with child protective services
and mental health agencies. Another writer who supported the research
initiative expressed interest in two priority research topics: (1)
youth gangs in residential facilities and (2) mental health issues,
with emphasis on eliminating posttraumatic stress disorder in youthful
offenders and breaking the cycle of violence. One respondent was
pleased with the program but expressed concern that the priority areas
did not specifically include adolescent sexual offenders. A Native
American respondent pointed out several research needs in the Native
American community, including technical assistance and program support
to acquire a workable data base, share information, and analyze that
information for policy development and planning. This respondent
suggested that OJJDP should directly fund or devote staff or contract
expertise to relevant studies and should encourage its staff and
consultants to network with Indian Nation programs to undertake the
studies that policy development requires.
Response: While the plan suggests priority research topics, OJJDP
will take into careful consideration each of the topics suggested by
these respondents. The adolescent sex offender is a topic of particular
interest to OJJDP. Several OJJDP studies related to the juvenile sexual
offender are nearing completion, and it is anticipated that study
findings will suggest future research directions. While Native American
research needs have not been specifically mentioned, OJJDP welcomes
applications from the Native American community that identify these
needs and propose studies that will meet them. OJJDP is also working
closely with the Native American desk within the Office of Justice
Programs to obtain feedback on its Native American programs, including
the new 1996 Native American training and technical assistance program.
Comment: In a comment related to the national juvenile court data
archives, a respondent suggested that funds be set aside for States to
develop statewide juvenile information systems and to explore issues
such as minority overrepresentation, use of legal counsel, and gender
implications.
Response: OJJDP obtains invaluable information from State
information systems. Such systems are used to analyze both juvenile
court and juvenile corrections activity. The Office understands that
the development and maintenance of such systems are expensive and time
consuming. Many States do not have the resources available to fully
implement information systems that can contribute to a national
information system. In the past, the Office has supported the
development and improvement of State systems through programs such as
the National Juvenile Court Data Archive and the Juveniles Taken Into
Custody program. Each includes a technical assistance component that
aids States in determining appropriate information systems and
information collection methods.
The Office recognizes the need for further development of State
information systems. Areas other than corrections and courts also
require attention. OJJDP will examine more carefully the role of the
Office through the development of a long-term information systems
development plan. This plan will examine national information needs and
make specific recommendations for meeting these needs. As part of this
plan, OJJDP will examine what assistance can be provided to the States
as they develop and refine their information systems and how these
systems can also help to meet overarching national information needs.
Comment: One respondent objected to funding the National Conference
of State Legislatures, suggesting that OJJDP promote State Agencies as
the appropriate entities to provide technical assistance to State
legislatures.
Response: In funding the National Conference of State Legislatures
(NCSL) in FY 1995, OJJDP concluded that the organization was uniquely
qualified to provide pertinent and timely information to State
legislators and their staff. NCSL looks to traditional Federal, State,
and local juvenile justice agencies for information, packaging the data
to meet the specific needs of State lawmakers. In addition, as a
membership organization, NCSL has a number of information tools, such
as professional publications and conferences, designed to reach State
legislators.
Comment: One comment addressed telecommunications assistance,
noting the very positive response in the writer's State to OJJDP's
teleconference series. The respondent made two suggestions: (1) Provide
special allocations to States to facilitate downlinking of
teleconferences and (2) focus more on the use of new technology such as
the interactive video disc (IVD).
Response: OJJDP appreciates hearing of the value of its satellite
teleconference series. In the coming year, OJJDP and its
telecommunications grantee, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), will
explore the use of other technologies, including IVD, for information
dissemination and training purposes. To date, OJJDP has not been
apprised of problems viewers may have had in affording or accessing
downlink sites. In fact, EKU has acted as coordinator to help
interested individuals and organizations locate sites in the community
and to join groups of persons living in their same geographical area to
sponsor and attend teleconferences.
Comment: A respondent called for more emphasis on private sector
involvement and media support in the area of public safety and law
enforcement.
Response: Combating Violence and Delinquency: The National Juvenile
Justice Action Plan, recently released by the Coordinating Council on
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, has as one of its eight
primary objectives to reduce youth violence: ``Implement an aggressive
public outreach campaign on effective strategies to combat youth
violence.'' The Coordinating Council is chaired by the Attorney
General, co-chaired by the Administrator of OJJDP, and includes nine
Federal agency and nine practitioner members. The Council developed the
Action Plan as a rallying point to mobilize individuals and
organizations across the country toward eight objectives that,
together, provide a comprehensive--tough but smart--response to the
crisis of youth violence and victimization. The role of the private
sector and the media in implementing the Action Plan will be critical
in its success.
Comment: OJJDP received four comments strongly supporting the Kids
and Guns initiative. One recommended that OJJDP should clarify the
proposed plan to allow State agencies to apply if they can demonstrate
that the proposed
[[Page 21266]]
program would be community-based. One respondent urged substantial
funding for competitive, comprehensive, communitywide demonstration
projects that focus on the reduction and prevention of gun violence.
Another comment praised the support for linkages between community and
law enforcement responses to youth gun violence. A fourth respondent
suggested that gun violence prevention programs must take into account
public safety and perception and cause students to take responsibility
for their actions and the actions of their peers while at the same time
working with the community to ensure the healthy development of each
child. The writer also stressed that youth gun violence reduction
programs must be tailored to the needs of each community.
Response: The final Kids and Guns initiative program description
incorporates each of these comments. The solicitation will allow State
agencies to apply if they can demonstrate strong existing linkages to a
community-based organization and if the proposed programs will be
community-based.
Comment: Two respondents urged that recipients of OJJDP funds
should be required to have ``zero tolerance'' for street gangs,
charging that present policies appear to facilitate or foster the gang
problem in some cases where funding has put active gang members on the
Federal payroll.
Response: OJJDP's policy supports the elimination of crime and
violence by criminal street gangs and would, therefore, not provide
funding to any recipient that does not attempt to intervene with such
gangs and their activities in such a way as to achieve this policy
objective. OJJDP believes that the elimination of crime and violence
can best be achieved through the mobilization of communities to prevent
the formation of gangs and through collaboration between all elements
of the system to eliminate gang crime and violence through intervention
and suppression. OJJDP's program model does not legitimize criminal
street gang membership or condone gang membership by youth.
Comment: OJJDP received four letters in support of community
assessment centers. One respondent praised the centers as a valuable
tool to service the front end of the juvenile justice system and raised
four specific issues for consideration in competitive solicitations:
replication (funding for new assessment centers), expansion (funding
for existing centers to expand into areas not presently covered),
technical assistance for communities that want to develop a community
assessment center, and research/evaluation (funding for a research
effort to study the effectiveness of assessment centers and answer
policy questions raised in OJJDP's concept paper on assessment
centers). Another writer called the development of one-stop, community-
based intake, assessment, and case referral centers a step in the right
direction. A third respondent described a proposed center that would
eventually result in the creation of alternatives to detention and
enhanced ability to put together a graduated sanctions approach. The
fourth respondent called community assessment centers an additional
option for the juvenile court system in sentencing adolescents and
stated that the centers could provide short-term diagnostic residential
placement and allow school systems to avoid the expense of long-term
out-of-district placement.
Response: OJJDP agrees that community assessment centers are a
promising approach to improving the multisystem responses to all types
of youth at risk and delinquent youth. Community assessment centers can
help communities in providing better assessments of a child's needs,
designing a potentially more effective treatment plan, and creating a
centralized location for information related to the child and the
intended intervention, fostering a more effective and efficient case
management service system.
As indicated in the proposed plan, an initial fact-finding phase is
currently underway, including assessment center site visits in order to
identify variations in the assessment center approach and to better
understand the needs of the juvenile justice system in this area.
Although a specific determination with regard to the elements of a
program model has not yet been made, OJJDP plans to issue an assessment
center solicitation within a short period of time. It is too early to
say whether postadjudication diagnostic placements or school
alternatives to out-of-district placements would be viable elements of
an assessment center model.
Comment: Two writers commented in the area of training and
technical assistance programs. One respondent suggested that OJJDP
include funds and technical assistance to nontechnical staff who
support very difficult youth and families and that these funds be
available directly to grantees through the grant application process so
they may seek help from within their local communities. Another writer
referred to a growing need for training in cultural differences for law
enforcement and juvenile justice practitioners.
Response: OJJDP agrees that training and technical assistance
provided from a national level cannot fully meet the full spectrum of
local needs. Funds are also provided to support training and technical
assistance through the Formula Grants Program administered by States.
Comprehensive State plans are required to support the development of an
adequate research, training, and evaluation capacity. Further, 2
percent of Part B funds are set aside for technical assistance, most of
which is delivered at the local level.
OJJDP agrees that there are training needs in cultural diversity.
The Office has supported the development and nationwide implementation
of a training of trainers curriculum in this area.
Comment: OJJDP received 10 comments concerning gender-specific
programming for female juvenile offenders. Nine comments supported
second-year funding for a Cook County, Illinois, program for female
juvenile offenders. The 10th respondent requested information about
possible funding for a program to promote self-esteem and offer
alternatives to gangs to teenage girls in lower income areas.
Response: OJJDP provided a grant in FY 1995 to the Cook County
Temporary Juvenile Detention Center for a 1-year developmental project
under a competitive grant program. There was no commitment for
subsequent year funding. OJJDP has also funded the PACE Center for
Girls, which operates in seven sites throughout the State of Florida.
PACE offers a continuum of services that are specially designed to meet
the needs of at-risk teenage girls. In addition, OJJDP has targeted
significant resources over the next 5 years to programs for at-risk
girls and female juvenile offenders through funding of six sites under
the SafeFutures Program.
There is no program funded to specifically promote self-esteem in
girls from lower income areas. As noted above, OJJDP is funding the
PACE Center for girls, which provides teenage girls, including those
from lower income areas with both academic education courses and self-
esteem programs.
In FY 1996, OJJDP will competitively fund a training and technical
assistance program to help communities provide improved gender-specific
services for at-risk and delinquent girls. OJJDP believes that this
approach will take the lessons learned from prior funding and existing
research and produce a national impact
[[Page 21267]]
that continuation funding of a single project could not achieve.
Comment: OJJDP received four comments on the proposed Native
American technical assistance program. One writer recommended that
OJJDP focus the expertise requirements of the solicitation on Indian
juvenile justice and make the selection process for the technical
assistance provider competitive. Another respondent stated that OJJDP
should fund National Indian Justice Center training programs, pointing
out that Indian students need tuition, travel, and lodging funds for
these programs. The third respondent identified the need for trained
workers for family building and for reestablishment of youth groups.
The fourth writer expressed interest in technical assistance to
replicate successful efforts by Native American tribes.
Response: OJJDP's solicitation for a technical assistance provider
for Native American programs is focused on juvenile justice system
theory, practice, and law in the context of Native American culture,
traditions, and tribal law. The Native American technical assistance
program will be awarded through a competitive selection process. OJJDP
is aware of the work of the National Indian Justice Center, the
technical assistance provider for OJJDP's Native American Community-
Based Alternatives Program. OJJDP encourages the National Indian
Justice Center and other Native American service providers to apply for
funding under the Native American technical assistance program. The
solicitation to be issued by OJJDP for the technical assistance
provider for the Native American community will include the transfer of
knowledge and technologies that have proven successful in Native
American communities.
Comment: One commenter expressed the hope that the James E. Gould
Memorial Program was not a duplication of the American Correctional
Association's Accreditation of Correctional Officers, Caseworkers and
Detention Staff Program.
Response: The James E. Gould Memorial Program is a competitive
assistance award to provide technical assistance to juvenile
correctional and detention facilities. Under the grant, the American
Correctional Association (ACA) provides technical assistance and
training on myriad issues for juvenile correctional and detention
facilities. The accreditation program of the ACA is an entirely
different, independent effort that is not funded by OJJDP.
Comment: One respondent questioned whether a greater emphasis on
transfer of juveniles to criminal court represents an improvement to
the juvenile justice system, suggesting that transfer deemphasizes the
juvenile justice system and amounts to an abandonment of individualized
justice. The writer indicated that rates of serious and violent
juvenile crime have increased with the greater use of transfers in some
areas. OJJDP was urged to place more emphasis on innovative approaches
to serious and violent juvenile offenders, such as the New Mexico plan,
the blended jurisdiction approach of Minnesota, and the serious
juvenile offender statute as developed and implemented in Virginia.
Response: OJJDP is committed to both protecting the public and
separating certain serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders
from those juveniles who can benefit from treatment and rehabilitation
resources and programs that are available in the juvenile justice
system. Transfer to the criminal court of those targeted juvenile
offenders who have demonstrated through their behavior that they do not
belong in the juvenile justice system (nature of offense or
nonamenability to juvenile justice treatment) enables the juvenile
justice system to focus its efforts and resources on the much larger
group of high-risk juveniles, first-time less serious and violent or
repeat offenders who can benefit from a wide range of effective
intervention strategies. The Coordinating Council's National Juvenile
Justice Action Plan supports individualized case reviews and proposes a
two-tier system of extended jurisdiction in the juvenile court for
serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders and consideration of
innovative blended sentencing options for juvenile offenders under
criminal court jurisdiction. This system would permit the transfer of
some juvenile offenders, taking into account age, presenting offense,
and offense history, and allow greater prosecutorial discretion for the
older, more serious, and violent juvenile offender.
Comment: One writer stated that training for juvenile court judges
under the current plan is commendable and needed but recommended that
training focus more on the core requirements of the JJDP Act and issues
surrounding State compliance.
Response: The judicial training program funded by OJJDP to the
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) has
addressed, to a major degree in past years, the core requirements of
the Act and other related topics in comprehensive curriculums for
juvenile and family court judges, probation officers, and others
working in juvenile courtservices. However, OJJDP will consult with the
NCJFCJ to determine whether the issues surrounding State compliance
need to be reassessed in an upcoming training needs assessment.
Comment: A respondent suggested modified language to describe the
Juvenile Justice Prosecution Unit.
Response: OJJDP accepts the recommended changes but notes that they
do not materially revise the original project description.
Comment: Two respondents supported funding for the Sauk Centre
Correctional Facility.
Response: OJJDP appreciates the letters of support for the Sauk
Centre Correctional Facility in Minnesota. In 1994, the Centre was
selected as one of three sites in the Nation to participate in the
OJJDP-sponsored Correctional Education program. The Centre has
participated in OJJDP-sponsored training and technical assistance and
has developed plans for making education and learning a major component
of its treatment program. The entire staff at the facility will be
trained to use interactive teaching methods to work with the youth.
Comment: One respondent strongly suggested that OJJDP add a
component that would research and recommend solutions to the nationwide
critical shortage of secure juvenile housing space.
Response: OJJDP conducts the biennial Census of Public and Private
Juvenile Detention, Correctional, and Shelter Facilities. This census
collects information on the capacity of each facility, the number of
juveniles housed there, and the security level of the facility. The
information permits analysis of population levels compared to capacity.
By computing population-to-capacity ratios, the Office can provide a
greater understanding of crowding in all types of juvenile facilities.
OJJDP is examining its data collection and reporting with regard to
juvenile custody. As part of these developments, OJJDP will consider
various measures of crowding. In the context of OJJDP's overall
statistics development, the Office will also examine how best to
disseminate information and research on capacity issues for both secure
and nonsecure facilities. Issues around solutions to the problem of
crowding will be considered in these activities.
Comment: One respondent asked that OJJDP include comprehensive day
programs for adolescents and young adults with the dual classification
of developmental disability and sexual offender/reactor. The writer
pointed out that a structured day program can be an
[[Page 21268]]
extremely cost-effective alternative to residential treatment with
outcomes of reintegration into the community, as opposed to isolation
from the community.
Response: OJJDP agrees with the commentator about the importance of
day programs. OJJDP is supporting replication of the Bethesda Day
Treatment program in 10 sites in FY 1996, including the six SafeFutures
sites. Bethesda Day is an intensive program that involves an
alternative school and afterschool programs for high-risk and
delinquent youth. A careful assessment process and a comprehensive case
management system, in addition to extensive family involvement, make
this a very successful model program. OJJDP will explore with Bethesda
Day Treatment the application of the model to the dual-classification
juvenile. In addition, each SafeFutures site has mental health service
funds that can be used for this purpose.
Comment: Two respondents indicated a need to address the impact of
mandatory provisions related to juvenile incarceration, such as
limitations on holding time and the prohibition against juvenile and
adult facilities being run by one person. One of the comments indicated
that the mandatory provisions related to time, staff, and facility site
and sound are sometimes unrealistic.
Response: The core requirements of OJJDP's Part B Formula Grants
Program are under continuing review and evaluation to determine their
efficacy and impact. OJJDP will continue to work with State and local
governments to insure that these requirements work to protect juvenile
offenders while continuing to provide law enforcement and human service
agencies with sufficient flexibility.
Comment: One comment expressed interest in funding assistance for
two alternative programs: Teen Court and House Arrest.
Response: OJJDP recognizes that teen court programs serve multiple
purposes in helping to address problem behavior when youth are charged
with alcohol use and other misdemeanor offenses. Teen courts are seen
as an effective intervention in many jurisdictions where enforcement of
such offenses is considered difficult or a low priority. Teen courts
are included in OJJDP's Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive
Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders as a
graduated sanction for jurisdictions to use in helping to send the
message to youth that the community does not condone law-breaking
behaviors. OJJDP views the teen court program as an excellent vehicle
to help youth realize that they are accountable for their actions; to
educate them on the impact of their actions, either positive or
negative, on others in the community; and to offer a hands-on juvenile
justice system experience for both the youthful offender and youth who
volunteer for the program. To provide assistance to jurisdictions
interested in establishing or enhancing a teen court program as an
alternative response to juvenile crime, OJJDP has collaborated with the
Department of Transportation on the soon-to-be-released publication
entitled Peer Justice and Youth Empowerment: An Implementation Guide
for Teen Court Programs.
OJJDP is committed to enhancing services for those juveniles who
can benefit from treatment and rehabilitation in the juvenile justice
system as well as protecting the public. One of the most recent and
popular innovations has been the use of electronic monitoring, which
provides an effective tool for the supervision of selected pre- and
postadjudicated offender populations who remain in the community. OJJDP
currently has an initiative to develop a set of guidelines and research
protocols to assist juvenile justice program administrators and
policymakers in the self-evaluation of their electronic monitoring
programs.
Comment: OJJDP received four comments that supported the importance
of delinquency prevention and early intervention, one writer calling it
the most cost-effective means of dealing with future delinquency. One
of the respondents also suggested that early intervention efforts might
be strengthened by calling specifically for better character
development in the home and in the schools. Another writer indicated
that it is essential for OJJDP to maintain a holistic approach and
continue to emphasize healthy youth development through prevention and
remediation. The fourth comment expressed approval of the recognition
of prosecutors as an integral part of prevention programming.
Response: OJJDP agrees with the suggestion that delinquency
prevention and early intervention are critical components of a
continuum-of-care system. Delinquency prevention and early intervention
are key components of OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious,
Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. The Comprehensive Strategy
supports a holistic approach, emphasizing healthy youth development.
One of the major themes of the Strategy is to ameliorate the impact of
risk factors that interfere with healthy youth development. This year
OJJDP released a report, Delinquency Prevention Works, which explains
the importance of delinquency prevention and includes information about
successful delinquency prevention models. The OJJDP-funded Program of
Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency is documenting
that research-based, risk-focused prevention is the most cost-effective
method for dealing with juvenile delinquency. Three of OJJDP's new
initiatives support the principles of delinquency prevention: the
development of Assessment Centers and the Child Abuse and Neglect and
the Field-Initiated Research Programs.
The evaluation of the SafeFutures Program should provide important
information on the value of comprehensive delinquency prevention and
early intervention programming. OJJDP is working with a variety of
agencies in the area of delinquency prevention, including the Center
for Mental Health Services, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention,
and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, all part of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. OJJDP is also working with the
health, child welfare, and education systems through several
interagency workgroups and jointly funded programs.
OJJDP considers prosecutors to be an integral component of
prevention and early intervention strategies and will continue working
with prosecutors through the National District Attorneys Association.
Comment: In the area of training in risk-focused prevention
strategies, one respondent suggested that consideration be given to
matching future funds with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development State Block Grants in Economic Development Initiatives,
Enterprise Zones, Neighborhood Development, and Community Adjustment
Planning.
Response: OJJDP and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) are strengthening linkages between their respective
programs in regard to risk-focused prevention strategies. Through an
interagency agreement, HUD is working as a partner with OJJDP to
provide training and technical assistance in public housing sites under
OJJDP's SafeFutures Program. Both HUD and OJJDP, as well as Education,
Labor, Treasury, and other divisions and bureaus within the Department
of Justice, are members of the Youth Gang Consortium. Initiated in
December 1995, the Consortium is facilitating coordination of gang
program development, information exchange,
[[Page 21269]]
and service delivery nationwide. OJJDP is currently working directly
with Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Enhanced Enterprise
Communities (EZ/EC/EEC's) under several major initiatives. Four of the
six SafeFutures sites are located in EC/EEC's and are receiving hands-
on technical assistance and training in risk-focused prevention.
Seventeen EZ/EC/EEC's are receiving training in implementing a
comprehensive youth-focused community policing strategy in their
communities under a joint program with the Office of Community Oriented
Policing and Community Relations Service. Other EZ/EC/EEC initiatives
will come online in FY 1996, including Youth Out of the Education
Mainstream, a joint program of the Departments of Justice and
Education.
Comment: Two respondents expressed concern that the proposed plan
did not include mental health needs of youth in the juvenile justice
system and asked that some discretionary funds be set aside for mental
health programs. One of the writers stressed that all components of the
juvenile justice system must work together and also work with the
private sector, teaching hospitals, and family members to minimize
further mental health problems for at-risk youth and at the same time
protect the public.
Response: OJJDP has provided leadership in addressing mental health
issues in the juvenile justice system. In 1995, OJJDP supported a
mental health conference, ``Caring for Every Youth's Mental Health: An
Issue Inseparable From Youth Crime,'' and jointly sponsored the ``Early
Intervention Childhood System of Care Conference'' in Atlanta, Georgia.
With the Department of Education, OJJDP also cosponsored a 1996
conference, ``Making Collaboration Work for Children, School, Families,
and Community,'' which included a range of mental health issues.
The State Challenge Grant Program includes a provision for the
support of mental health programs. To date, 13 States have selected
this area as one of their challenge activities. In addition, OJJDP is
working with the Center for Mental Health Services to determine
innovative ways in which to collaborate in the development and
implementation of mental health programs for juveniles in the juvenile
justice system.
Finally, mental health is a key component of OJJDP's SafeFutures
Program. The six sites have each been allocated $150,000 per year to
address the mental health needs of juveniles in the juvenile justice
system, with a focus on services for juveniles with learning
disabilities, mental disorders, and juvenile sex offenses.
Comment: One respondent stressed that substance abuse is a critical
issue with almost all juvenile offenders.
Response: OJJDP concurs with this observation. In FY 1996, OJJDP
will continue four major drug- and alcohol-related programs, will work
with the American Probation and Parole Association, and will
collaborate with the Office of National Drug Control Policy in
expanding related programs in FY 1997.
Comment: Two writers commented on OJJDP's training and technical
assistance for family strengthening services. One urged that available
funds for new programs be allocated to prevention and to strengthening
families. Another respondent faulted the proposed plan for not
addressing the need to teach moral responsibility in the family unit.
Response: The Office acknowledges the value of prevention and the
importance of the family's role in delinquency prevention. The training
and technical assistance program endeavors to strengthen families by
assisting communities to enhance the range of available family support
services and programs. OJJDP believes that each community knows best
the types of services that need to be made available to its families.
Consequently, this program seeks to increase the capacity of
communities to identify and implement programs that meet the diverse
needs of its families.
Comment: Addressing the proposed program to establish a community-
based approach to combating child victimization, one writer commended
OJJDP for targeting child victims as a priority area and for providing
assistance to create a better system to protect children and support
professionals who work with these families. The letter also contained
three suggestions. First, spread the net as wide as possible, instead
of narrowly restricting what type of entities may apply. Second,
provide a ``big tent,'' by not overly restricting what other
initiatives must be in place unless directly related and necessary for
a child welfare reform effort. Third, do not require match to be in
dollars, but instead accept in-kind match.
Response: The three points the author raises are valid suggestions
that the Office will take into consideration in developing the
competitive solicitation for this program.
Comment: Three respondents praised OJJDP's emphasis on
collaboration. Two of these comments also raised specific issues. One
pointed out areas where enhanced collaboration would be beneficial:
adoption opportunities, maternal and child health programs (including
teen pregnancy prevention), family preservation, runaway/homeless
youth, information management, data collection, and evaluation. The
other respondent noted that, although collaboration was identified as
an important part of the plan, no reference was made to the parties
that are minimally expected to be involved in collaborative efforts.
Response: The introduction to the program plan, and many of the
program descriptions in the plan, refer to OJJDP's Comprehensive
Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders and the
Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent,
and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. These documents provide a context for
OJJDP's plan, including Title V prevention grants and other programs
outside the scope of the plan. The Guide provides communities with a
framework for preventing delinquency, intervening in early delinquent
behavior, and responding to serious, violent, and chronic offending. A
key aspect of this framework and the Title V training includes a step-
by step process for convening key leaders in a community to be a part
of a collaborative process. Although adoption, runaway/homeless
services, information managers, data collectors, and evaluators are not
explicitly stated as required participants in such a collaborative
process, there is no reason why they would not be included. In various
programs, OJJDP provides specific guidance as to the type of groups
that should be involved in the program. However, in view of varied
local needs, priorities, resources, and existing planning and service
delivery systems, OJJDP does not see a need to go beyond providing
general guidance on the range of participants.
Introduction to Fiscal Year 1996 Program Plan
Intolerably high rates of juvenile violence and delinquency,
victimization, school drop out, teen pregnancy, illegal drug use, and
child abuse and neglect are plaguing our country. In jurisdictions
across the Nation, over-burdened juvenile justice and dependency court
systems are being held accountable for redressing the results of
unstable families lacking parenting skills, communities with inadequate
health and mental health support networks, fragmented social service
delivery systems, a shortage of constructive activities for young
people, and easy access to guns and drugs. They lack the resources
necessary to respond
[[Page 21270]]
to serious, violent, and chronic delinquency, to hold juveniles
accountable, and to turn back the tide of increasing violent
delinquency by providing early intervention services for at-risk
juveniles and their families.
The OJJDP fiscal year 1996 Comprehensive Plan seeks to support
programming that is built on sound research and strengthens
collaborations needed to empower the juvenile justice and dependency
court systems to work effectively with communities in preventing and
controlling delinquency and reducing juvenile victimization.
In 1993, OJJDP published a Comprehensive Strategy for Serious,
Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders (Comprehensive Strategy).
Designed to provide a response to the social crisis we are facing, the
Comprehensive Strategy utilizes statistics, research, and program
evaluations as the basis for a set of sound principles for establishing
a continuum of care for our children. The Comprehensive Strategy
emphasizes the importance of local planning teams assessing the factors
which put youth at risk for delinquency, determining available
resources, and putting in place prevention programs that either reduce
those risk factors or provide protective factors that buffer juveniles
from the impact of risk factors. The Comprehensive Strategy also
stresses the importance of early intervention for juveniles whose
behavior puts them on one or more pathways to delinquency and of having
a system of graduated sanctions that can ensure immediate and
appropriate accountability and treatment for juvenile offenders.
During FY 1995 OJJDP published a Guide for Implementing the
Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile
Offenders (Guide). The Guide provides information on the process of
identifying risk and protective factors in the community and offers
detailed information about programs known to prevent delinquency or
reduce recidivism. By providing a foundation and framework for each
community's individualized strategy, the Guide can serve as a powerful
tool for States, cities, counties, and neighborhoods that are
mobilizing to address the problem of juvenile violence and delinquency.
The Comprehensive Strategy also served as the foundation for the
development of the National Juvenile Justice Action Plan (Action Plan),
recently published by the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention in March. The Action Plan provides an additional
resource to communities that seek to balance vigorous enforcement of
the law and prevention services in order to reduce juvenile delinquency
and violence. The Action Plan prioritizes Federal activities and
resources under eight critical objectives, each of which needs to be
addressed in order to effectively combat delinquency and violence. The
Action Plan describes grants, training, technical assistance,
information dissemination, and research and evaluation activities that
will assist jurisdictions to: (1) strengthen their juvenile justice
systems; (2) prosecute certain serious, violent and chronic juvenile
offenders in the criminal justice system; (3) target youth gun, gang,
and drug violence through comprehensive policing and prevention
techniques; (4) create positive opportunities for youth; (5) break the
cycle of violence by addressing child victimization, abuse, and
neglect; (6) mobilize communities into effective partnerships for
change; (7) conduct research and evaluate programs; and (8) develop a
public education campaign in order to both get the message out about
successes in addressing juvenile delinquency and violence and rebuild
confidence in every community's ability to impact this serious problem.
These are the activities that the research, as well as numerous expert
commissions on at-risk children, youth, families, and communities,
indicates are necessary to make a lasting difference. It is these
activities, coupled with the Comprehensive Strategy implementation,
that form the basis of OJJDP's 1996 Program Plan.
The Program Plan supports a balanced approach to aggressively
addressing juvenile delinquency and violence through graduated
sanctions, improving the juvenile justice system's ability to respond,
and preventing the onset of delinquency. It takes into account the
short term need to ensure public safety and the long term imperative of
supporting children's development into healthy, productive citizens
through a range of prevention, early intervention, and graduated
sanctions programs.
Three major new program areas were identified through a process of
engaging OJJDP staff, other Federal agencies, and juvenile justice
practitioners in an examination of existing programs, research
findings, and the needs of the field. They are: (1) Developing one-
stop, community-based intake, assessment, and case referral centers and
programs for juveniles who may require services or juvenile justice
system interventions; (2) supporting the linkage between community and
law enforcement responses to youth gun violence; and (3) improving the
dependency and criminal court system's and the community's response to
child abuse and neglect. In addition, a range of research and
evaluation projects that will expand our knowledge about juvenile
offenders, the effectiveness of prevention, intervention, and treatment
programs, and the operation of the juvenile justice system have been
identified for FY 1996 funding.
Enhanced program support in the area of disproportionate minority
confinement, gender-specific services, and technical assistance to
Native American Tribes, would also be provided. Combined with OJJDP
programs being continued in FY 1996, these new demonstration and
support programs form a continuum of programming that supports the
objectives of the Action Plan and mirrors the foundation and framework
of the Comprehensive Strategy.
These continuation activities and programs and the new FY 1996
programs are at the heart of OJJDP's categorical funding efforts. For
example, while focusing on the development of assessment centers as a
new area of programming, OJJDP will continue to offer training seminars
in the Comprehensive Strategy and look to the SafeFutures program to
implement the Comprehensive Strategy model under existing grants and
contracts. Combined, these activities provide a holistic approach to
prevention and early intervention programs while enhancing the juvenile
justice system's capacity to provide immediate and appropriate
accountability and treatment for juvenile offenders.
OJJDP's Part D Gang Program will continue to support a range of
comprehensive prevention, intervention, and suppression activities at
the local level, evaluate those activities, and inform communities
about the nature and extent of gang activities and effective and
innovative programs through OJJDP's National Youth Gang Center.
Similarly, the demonstration program focusing on juvenile gun violence
will complement existing law enforcement and prosecutorial training
programs by supporting grassroots community organization's efforts to
address juvenile access to, carriage, and use of guns. This programming
will build upon OJJDP's youth-focused community policing, mentoring,
and conflict resolution initiatives, as well as programming in the area
of drug abuse prevention, such as funding to the Congress of National
Black Churches and the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise for
local church and neighborhood-based drug abuse prevention programs.
[[Page 21271]]
In support of the need to break the cycle of violence, OJJDP's new
demonstration program to improve linkages between the dependency and
criminal court systems, child welfare and social service providers, and
family strengthening programs will complement ongoing support of Court
Appointed Special Advocates, Child Advocacy Centers, and prosecutor and
judicial training in the dependency field, funded under the Victims of
Child Abuse Act of 1990, as amended.
The Plan's research and evaluation programming will support many of
the above activities by filling in critical gaps in our knowledge about
the level and seriousness of juvenile crime and victimization, its
causes and correlates, and effective programs in preventing delinquency
and violence. At the same time, OJJDP's research efforts will also be
geared toward efforts that monitor and evaluate the ways juveniles are
treated by the juvenile and criminal justice systems and any trends in
this response, particularly as they relate to juvenile violence and its
impact.
OJJDP is also utilizing its national perspective to disseminate
information to those at the grassroots level--practitioners, policy
makers, community leaders, and service providers who are directly
responsible for planning and implementing policies and programs that
impact on juvenile crime and violence.
OJJDP will continue to fund longitudinal research on the causes and
correlates of delinquency, the findings of which are shared regularly
with the field through OJJDP publications, utilize state-of-the-art
technology to develop and disseminate an interactive CD-ROM on programs
that work to prevent delinquency and reduce recidivism, air national
satellite teleconferences on key topics of relevance to practitioners,
and publish new reports and documents on timely topics such as school-
based conflict resolution, curfews, the Federal Educational Records
Privacy Act, confidentiality of juvenile court records, innovative
sentencing options, and strategies to reduce youth gun violence.
The various contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and
interagency fund transfers described in the Program Plan form a
continuum of activity designed to address the crisis of youth violence
and delinquency in our Nation. In isolation, this programming can do
little. However, the emphasis of OJJDP's programming is on
collaboration. It is through collaboration that Federal, State, and
local agencies; Native American Tribes; national organizations; private
philanthropies; the corporate and business sector; health; mental
health and social service agencies; schools; youth; families; and
clergy can come together to form partnerships and leverage additional
resources, identify needs and priorities, and implement innovative
strategies. Together, we can make a difference.
Fiscal Year 1996 Programs
The following are brief summaries of each of the new and
continuation programs for FY 1996. As indicated above, the program
categories are public safety and law enforcement; strengthening the
juvenile justice system; delinquency prevention and intervention; and
child abuse, neglect, and dependency courts. However, because many
programs have significant elements of more than one of these program
categories, or generally support all of OJJDP's programs, they are
listed in an initial program category called ``Overarching Programs''.
The specific program priorities within each category are subject to
change with regard to their priority status, sites for implementation,
and other descriptive data and information based on the review and
comment process, grantee performance, application quality, fund
availability, and other factors.
A number of programs contained in this document have been
identified for funding by Congress with regard to the grantee(s), the
amount of funds, or both. Such programs are indicated by an asterisk
(*). The 1996 Appropriations Act Conference Report for the Departments
of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies
Programs identified six programs for OJJDP to examine and fund if
warranted. One of these programs is included in the Plan for
continuation funding. The remaining five will receive careful
consideration for funding in FY 1996.
Fiscal Year 1996 Program Listing
Overarching
Program of Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency
Field-Initiated Research
Evaluation of SafeFutures
OJJDP Management Evaluation Contract
Juvenile Justice Statistics and Systems Development
Research Program on Juveniles Taken into Custody--NCCD
Juveniles Taken into Custody--Interagency Agreement
Children in Custody--Census
Juvenile Justice Data Resources
National Juvenile Court Data Archive*
National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Training and
Technical Assistance Center
Technical Assistance for State Legislatures
OJJDP Technical Assistance Support Contract--JJRC
Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse
Telecommunications Assistance
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
Insular Area Support*
Public Safety and Law Enforcement
Kids and Guns: Reducing Youth Gun Violence
Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang Prevention, Intervention,
and Suppression Program
Targeted Outreach with a Gang Prevention and Intervention Component
(Boys and Girls Clubs)
National Youth Gang Center
Child-Centered Community-Oriented Policing
Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Program
Violence Studies*
Hate Crimes
Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System
Development of OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and
Chronic Juvenile Offenders
Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offender Treatment Program
Community Assessment Centers
Juvenile Restitution: A Balanced Approach
Training and Technical Assistance Program to Promote Gender-Specific
Programming for Female Juvenile Offenders
Technical Assistance to Native American Programs
National Indicators of Juvenile Violence and Delinquent Behavior and
Related Risk Factors
Evaluation of the Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang
Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression
Evaluation of Intensive Community-Based Aftercare Demonstration and
Technical Assistance Program
Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP) Evaluation
Juvenile Transfers to Criminal Court Studies
Technical Assistance to Juvenile Courts*
Juvenile Court Judges Training*
The Juvenile Justice Prosecution Unit
Due Process Advocacy Program Development
Intensive Community-Based Aftercare Demonstration and Technical
Assistance Program
Training and Technical Assistance for National Innovations to Reduce
Disproportionate Minority
[[Page 21272]]
Confinement (The Deborah Wysinger Memorial Program)
Juvenile Probation Survey Research
Improvements in Correctional Education for Juvenile Offenders
Performance-Based Standards for Juvenile Detention and Corrections
Facilities
Technical Assistance to Juvenile Corrections and Detention (The James
E. Gould Memorial Program)
Training for Juvenile Corrections and Detention Staff
Training for Line Staff in Juvenile Detention and Corrections
Training and Technical Support for State and Local Jurisdictional Teams
to Focus on Juvenile Corrections and Detention Overcrowding
National Program Directory
Delinquency Prevention and Intervention
Training In Risk-Focused Prevention Strategies
Youth-Centered Conflict Resolution
Pathways to Success
Teens, Crime, and the Community: Teens in Action in the 90s*
Law-Related Education
Cities in Schools--Federal Interagency Partnership
Race Against Drugs
The Congress of National Black Churches: National Anti-Drug Abuse/
Violence Campaign (NADVC)
Community Anti-Drug Abuse Technical Assistance Voucher Project
Training and Technical Assistance for Family Strengthening Services
Henry Ford Health System*
Jackie Robinson Center*
Child Abuse and Neglect and Dependency Courts
A Community-Based Approach to Combating Child Victimization
Permanent Families for Abused and Neglected Children*
Parents Anonymous, Inc.*
Lowcountry Children's Center, Inc.*
Overarching
Program of Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency
Three projects sites comprise the Program of Research on the Causes
and Correlates of Delinquency: The University of Colorado at Boulder,
the University of Pittsburgh, and the State University of New York at
Albany. The main purpose of FY 1996 funding will be to support
additional data analyses in support of OJJDP program development.
Results from this program have been used extensively in the development
of OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic
Juvenile Offenders and other program initiatives.
OJJDP began funding this program in 1986 and has invested
approximately $10 million to date. The program has addressed many
issues of juvenile violence and delinquency. These include developing
and testing causal models for chronic violent offending and examining
interrelationships among gang involvement, drug selling, and gun
ownership/use. To date, the Program has produced a massive amount of
information on the causes and correlates of delinquent behavior.
Although there is great commonality across the projects, each has
unique design features. Additionally, each project has disseminated the
results of its research through a variety of publications, reports, and
presentations.
With FY 1996 funding, each site of the Causes and Correlates
Program will be provided additional funds to further analyze the
longitudinal data. New publications, including two joint publications,
will be developed in FY 1996 and both the role of mental health in
delinquency and pathways to delinquency will be the subject of further
analyses.
This program will be implemented by the current grantees, Institute
of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado at Boulder; Western
Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh; and
Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center, State University of New
York at Albany. No additional applications will be solicited in FY
1996.
Field-Initiated Research
Through the FY 1996 Field-Initiated Research program, OJJDP will
solicit innovative programs that address critical research and
evaluation needs of the juvenile justice field. Priority research
topics include: youth gangs in residential facilities; mental health
issues; waiver and transfer to the juvenile justice system; reporting
of child victimization; improving data collaboration efforts between
juvenile justice, child welfare, child protective services, and mental
health; institutional crowding; and topics related to OJJDP's
Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile
Offenders. In addition to research topics, this program will also
entertain proposals from State and local agencies wishing to conduct
evaluations of programs initiated with OJJDP Formula, Title V, and
discretionary funds that appear to be having significant impact and
offer a possibility for national replication.
OJJDP will issue a competitive solicitation for this initiative in
FY 1996.
Evaluation of SafeFutures
With FY 1995 funds, OJJDP funded six communities under the
SafeFutures: Partnerships to Reduce Youth Violence and Delinquency
Program. The program sites are: Contra Costa County, California; Fort
Belknap Indian Community, Montana; Boston, Massachusetts; St. Louis,
Missouri; Seattle, Washington; and Imperial County, California. The
SafeFutures Program provides support for a comprehensive prevention,
intervention, and treatment program to meet the needs of at-risk
juveniles and their families.
Approximately $8 million will be made available for annual awards
over a 5-year project period to support the efforts of these
jurisdictions to enhance existing partnerships, integrate juvenile
justice and social services, and provide a continuum of care that is
designed to reduce the number of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile
offenders.
The Urban Institute received a competitive 3-year Phase I
cooperative agreement award with FY 1995 funds to provide a national
evaluation of the SafeFutures program. The evaluation will consist of
both process and impact components for each funded site. The evaluation
process includes an examination of planning procedures and the extent
to which each site's implementation plan is consistent with the
principles of a continuum of care/graduated sanctions model. The
evaluation will identify the obstacles and key factors contributing to
the successful implementation of the SafeFutures continuum of care
model. The evaluator is responsible for developing a cross-site
monograph documenting the process of program implementation for use by
other communities that want to develop and implement a comprehensive
community-based strategy to address serious, violent, and chronic
delinquency.
A FY 1996 supplemental award will be made to the current grantee,
the Urban Institute, to complete first year funding. No additional
applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
OJJDP Management Evaluation Contract
The purpose of this contract, competitively awarded in FY 1995 to
Caliber Associates, is to provide to OJJDP an expert resource capable
of performing independent, management-oriented evaluations of selected
OJJDP programs. These evaluations are designed to determine the
effectiveness and efficiency of either individual projects or groups of
projects. The
[[Page 21273]]
contractor also assists OJJDP in determining how to make the best use
of limited evaluation resources and how best to design and implement
evaluations. Work plans that have been requested or will be requested
from the contractor in FY 1996 include: continuing the evaluation of
three OJJDP-funded bootcamps; continuing to support the evaluation of
Title V delinquency prevention programs at the local level; preparation
of OJJDP's Title V Program report to Congress; providing assistance to
OJJDP program development working groups; assisting OJJDP in the
creation of an ``evaluation partnership for juvenile justice'' designed
to improve the number and quality of evaluations conducted by Formula
Grants Program grantees, other Federal agencies, private foundations
that fund evaluations, and State and local governments; and conducting
other short- or long-term evaluations as required. The contract will be
performed by the current contractor, Caliber Associates. No additional
applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Juvenile Justice Statistics and Systems Development
The Juvenile Justice Statistics and Systems Development (SSD)
Program was competitively awarded to the National Center for Juvenile
Justice (NCJJ) in FY 1990 to improve national, State, and local
statistics on juveniles as victims and offenders. The project has
focused on three major functions: (1) Assessment of how current
information needs are being met with existing data collection efforts
and recommending options for improving national level statistics; (2)
analyzing data and disseminating information gathered from existing
Federal statistical series and national studies. Based on this work,
OJJDP released the first ``Juvenile Offenders and Victims: A National
Report'' in September 1995; and (3) provision of training and technical
assistance for local agencies in developing or enhancing management
information systems. A training curriculum, ``Improving Information for
Rational Decision making in Juvenile Justice,'' was drafted for pilot
testing.
In this final phase of the SSD project, NCJJ will complete a long-
term plan for improving national statistics on juveniles as victims and
offenders, including constructing core data elements for a national
reporting program for juveniles waived or transferred to criminal
court, an implementation plan for integrating data collection on
juveniles by juvenile justice, mental health, and child welfare
agencies, and a report on standardized measures and instruments for
self-reported delinquency surveys. The project will also make
recommendations to fill information gaps in the areas of juvenile
probation, juvenile court and law enforcement responses to juvenile
delinquency, violent delinquency, and child abuse and neglect. In
addition, the SSD Project will provide an update of Juvenile Offenders
and Victims: A National Report, and work with the Office of Justice
Programs, Crime Statistics Working Group and other Federal interagency
working groups on statistics. The project will be implemented by the
current grantee, NCJJ. No additional applications will be solicited in
FY 1996.
Research Program on Juveniles Taken Into Custody--NCCD
The Research Program on Juveniles Taken into Custody was designed
and implemented in FY 1989 in response to a growing need for
comprehensive juvenile custody data. The project now has the
participation of all State juvenile corrections agencies. Each year the
project produces a report on juveniles taken into custody. In FY 1996,
the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) will continue to
refine the State Juvenile Correctional System Reporting Program. It is
anticipated that individual-level data for 1996 will be representative
of more than 85 percent of the at-risk juvenile population. In
addition, NCCD will prepare reports, including the annual Juveniles
Taken Into Custody report, providing a detailed summary and analysis of
the most recent data regarding: (1) The number and characteristics of
juveniles taken into custody; (2) the rate at which juveniles are taken
into custody; and (3) the trends demonstrated by the data.
This program will be implemented by the current grantee, NCCD. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Juveniles Taken Into Custody (JTIC)--Interagency Agreement
OJJDP will continue its program to improve the collection of
juvenile custody data through an interagency agreement with the Bureau
of the Census. This agreement provides for the collection and
processing of individual-level data on juveniles under State
correctional custody. The Census Bureau and OJJDP have developed close
working relationships with State juvenile corrections agencies. Through
these relationships, OJJDP has developed a program to collect data on
each juvenile in State custody and the Census Bureau has developed an
understanding of the State data that allows for ``translation'' of
State information to a national format. Each year since 1990, the
Census Bureau has collected this information and processed it for
analysis by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD).
The resulting analyses are published in OJJDP's annual Juveniles
Taken Into Custody report, which is disseminated to practitioners and
planners, and are used to meet statutory information requirements in
OJJDP's Annual Report to the President and Congress.
The program will be implemented in FY 1996 by the Bureau of the
Census under an interagency agreement.
Children in Custody--Census
Under this ongoing collaborative program between OJJDP and the U.S.
Bureau of the Census, OJJDP will transfer funds to the Census Bureau to
complete the 1995 biennial census of public and private juvenile
detention, correctional, and shelter facilities. The census describes
juvenile custody facilities in terms of their resident population,
programs, and physical characteristics. It also provides data on trends
in the use of juvenile custody facilities for delinquent juveniles and
status offenders. These data are analyzed and included in OJJDP's
annual Juveniles Taken Into Custody report and other statistical
reports.
The Census Bureau's Center for Survey Methods Research will also
continue to develop and test a roster-based data collection system
designed to enhance information collected on juveniles in custody
beginning with the 1997 biennial census. Finally, the Bureau's
Governments Division will continue its efforts to develop a complete
directory of juvenile justice facilities and programs. This directory
will serve as the frame for conducting the 1997 census and other future
surveys. It will contain basic information on each facility that is
necessary for creating representative samples. It will also contain
basic administrative information to be used in conducting the census.
The program will be implemented by the U.S. Bureau of the Census
under an existing interagency agreement.
Juvenile Justice Data Resources
OJJDP has entered into an agreement with the Inter-University
Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University
of Michigan to make OJJDP data sets routinely available to researchers.
Under this agreement, ICPSR assures the technical integrity
[[Page 21274]]
and develops a universal format for the data. The codebooks, along with
the data, provide clear guidance for additional analyses. Once
prepared, ICPSR provides access to these data sets to member
institutions and the public. Among the data sets previously processed
and available through ICPSR are the Children in Custody Census (1971-
1991); the Conditions of Confinement Study; and the National Incidence
Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children
(NISMART).
This program will be implemented under an interagency agreement
with ICPSR. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
National Juvenile Court Data Archive*
The National Juvenile Court Data Archive collects, processes,
analyzes, and disseminates automated data and published reports from
the Nation's juvenile courts. The Archive's reports examine referrals,
offenses, intake, and dispositions, in addition to providing
specialized topics such as minorities in juvenile courts and
information on specific offense categories. The Archive also provides
assistance to jurisdictions in analyzing their juvenile court data. In
1995, this project produced a bulletin, Offenders in Juvenile Court
1992, and a report, Juvenile Court Statistics 1992, along with a number
of OJJDP Fact Sheets and special analyses.
In FY 1996, the Archive will enhance the collection, reporting, and
analysis of more detailed data on detention, dispositions, risk
factors, and treatment data using offender-based data sets from a
sample of juvenile courts.
The project will be implemented by the current grantee, the
National Center for Juvenile Justice. No additional applications will
be solicited in FY 1996.
National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Training and
Technical Assistance Center
The National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Training
and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) was competitively funded in FY
1995 for a 3-year project period to develop a national training and
technical assistance clearinghouse, inventory juvenile justice
training/technical assistance resources, and establish a data base with
respect to these resources.
In FY 1995, work involved organization and staffing of the Center,
providing an orientation for OJJDP training and technical assistance
providers regarding their role in the Center's activities, and initial
data base development.
In FY 1996, NTTAC will conduct needs assessments, support training/
technical assistance program development, promote collaboration between
OJJDP training/technical assistance providers, develop training/
technical assistance materials, and promote evaluation of OJJDP-
supported training and technical assistance. In addition, NTTAC will
prepare program materials and implement specialized training, including
training-of-trainers programs, and develop standards and procedures for
academic/professional accreditation/certification of OJJDP training and
trainers. NTTAC provides a single, central source for information
pertaining to the availability of OJJDP supported training/technical
assistance programs and will publish and maintain an up-to-date catalog
of such programs.
This project will be implemented by the current grantee, Community
Research Associates. No additional applications will be solicited in FY
1996.
Technical Assistance for State Legislatures
State legislatures are being pressed to respond to public fear of
juvenile crime and a loss of confidence in the capability of the
juvenile justice system to respond effectively. For the most part,
State legislatures have had insufficient information to properly
address juvenile justice issues. In FY 1995, OJJDP awarded a two-year
grant to the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) to provide
relevant, timely information on comprehensive approaches in juvenile
justice that are geared to the legislative environment. In FY 1995,
NCSL convened a Leadership Forum with invited legislators; convened
several focus groups; and established an information clearinghouse
function. In FY 1996, OJJDP will award second-year funding to the NCSL
to further identify, analyze, and disseminate information to help State
legislatures make more informed decisions about legislation affecting
the juvenile justice system. A complementary task will involve
supporting increased communication between State legislators and State
and local leaders who influence decision making regarding juvenile
justice issues. NCSL will provide technical assistance to four States,
will continue outreach activities, and maintain its clearinghouse
function.
The project will be implemented by the current grantee, NCSL. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
OJJDP Technical Assistance Support Contract: Juvenile Justice Resource
Center
This 3-year contract, competitively awarded in FY 1994, provides
technical assistance and support to OJJDP, its grantees, and the
Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in
the areas of program development, evaluation, training, and research.
This program support contract will be supplemented in FY 1996. The
contract will be implemented by the current contractor, Aspen Systems
Corporation. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse
A component of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service
(NCJRS), the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (JJC) is OJJDP's central
source for the collection, synthesis, and dissemination of information
on all aspects of juvenile justice, including research and evaluation
findings: State and local juvenile delinquency prevention and treatment
programs and plans; availability of resources; training and educational
programs; and statistics. JJC serves the entire juvenile justice
community, including researchers, law enforcement officials, judges,
prosecutors, probation and corrections staff, youth-service personnel,
legislators, the media, and the public.
Among its many support services, JJC offers toll-free telephone
access to information: prepares specialized responses to information
requests; produces, warehouses, and distributes OJJDP publications;
exhibits at national conferences; maintains a comprehensive juvenile
justice library and database; and administers several electronic
information resources. Recognizing the critical need to inform juvenile
justice practitioners and policy makers on promising program
approaches, JJC continually develops and recommends new products and
strategies to communicate more effectively the research findings and
program activities of OJJDP and the field. The entire NCJRS, of which
the OJJDP-funded JJC is a part, is administered by the National
Institute of Justice under a competitively awarded contract. The
project will be implemented by the current grantee, Aspen Systems
Corporation. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Telecommunications Assistance
Developments in information technology and distance training can
expand and enhance OJJDP's capacity to disseminate information and
provide
[[Page 21275]]
training and technical assistance. These technologies have the
following advantages when used properly: increased access to
information and training for persons in the juvenile justice system;
reduced travel costs to conferences; and reduced time attending
meetings requiring one or more nights away from one's home or office.
Additionally, the successful use of ``live'' satellite teleconferences
by OJJDP during the past year has generated an enthusiastic response
from the field.
During the past twelve months the grantee has produced four live
satellite teleconferences on the following topics: Community
Collaboration for Delinquency Prevention; Model Juvenile Correctional
Programs for Serious, Violent, Chronic Offenders; Youth Focused
Community Policing; and Juvenile Boot Camps.
OJJDP will continue the competitive cooperative agreement award to
Eastern Kentucky University in 1994 to provide program support and
technical assistance for a variety of information technologies,
including audio-graphics, satellite teleconferences, and fiber optics.
The grantee will also continue to provide limited technical assistance
to other grantees interested in using this technology and explore
linkages with key constituent groups to advance mutual goals and
objectives. This project will be implemented by the current grantee,
Eastern Kentucky University. No additional applications will be
solicited in FY 1996.
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice supports and facilitates the
purposes and functions of each State's Juvenile Justice State Advisory
Group (SAG). The Coalition, acting as a statutorily authorized, duly
chartered Federal advisory committee, reviews Federal policies and
practices regarding juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, and
prepares and submits an annual report and recommendations to the
President, Congress, and the Administrator of OJJDP. The Coalition also
serves as an information center for the SAGs and conducts an annual
conference to provide training for SAG members. The program will be
implemented by the current grantee, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice.
No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Insular Area Support*
The purpose of this program is to provide supplemental financial
support to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands. Funds are available to address the special
needs and problems of juvenile delinquency in these insular areas, as
specified by Section 261(e) of the JJDP Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
5665(e).
Public Safety and Law Enforcement
Kids and Guns: Reducing Youth Gun Violence
This project is intended to enhance the effectiveness of
comprehensive youth gun violence reduction efforts by supporting
innovative local community-generated strategies. Under a competitive
announcement, OJJDP will fund community-based organizations, local
units of government, and State agencies if they can demonstrate that
the program will be community-based, to strengthen their linkages to
broader youth gun violence reduction efforts.
Applicants will be encouraged to: be creative in designing
initiatives for the prevention, intervention, and reduction of youth
gun violence in targeted neighborhoods; coordinate their efforts with
other community-based law enforcement initiatives, youth-serving
organizations, crime victim organizations, and the juvenile justice
system; and collaborate with these agencies to evaluate program
effectiveness. Applicants will also be required to show that their
proposed initiative reflects current youth gun violence research and a
local assessment of youth access to guns, why young people carry guns,
and why they use them.
OJJDP will support an independent evaluation of this project that
focuses on collecting and analyzing data on the program implementation
process. The evaluator will design an impact evaluation in
collaboration with OJJDP and an approved advisory board.
The Reducing Youth Gun Violence project will be competitively
funded in up to three sites with a 2-year project period. The
evaluation will be competitively funded under a cooperative agreement
to a single grantee for a 3-year project period.
Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang Prevention, Intervention,
and Suppression Program
This program supports the implementation of a comprehensive gang
program model in five jurisdictions. The program was competitively
awarded with FY 1994 funds under a 3-year project period. The
demonstration sites implementing the model, developed with OJJDP
funding support by the University of Chicago, are: Mesa, Arizona;
Tucson, Arizona; Riverside, California; Bloomington, Illinois; and San
Antonio, Texas. Implementation of the comprehensive gang program model
requires the mobilization of the community to address gang-related
violence by making available social interventions, providing social/
academic/vocational and other types of opportunities, supporting gang
suppression through law enforcement, prosecution and other community
control mechanisms, and supporting organizational change and
development in community agencies to more effectively address gang
violence prone youth.
During the past year, the demonstration sites began an ongoing
problem assessment process to identify the full nature and extent of
the gang problem in the community and its potential causes. The
assessment process will also help communities to understand what may
cause gang violence in their community and to identify benchmarks by
which program success may be measured. The demonstration sites also
participated in training and technical assistance activities, including
two cluster conferences sponsored by OJJDP. In addition, the
demonstration sites began strategy implementation and service provision
and made progress in community mobilization, either through existing
planning structures or by creating new structures.
In FY 1996, demonstration sites will receive second year funding to
continue implementation of the model program and build upon the
sustained mobilization, planning and assessment processes.
Additionally, the demonstration sites will continue to target youth
prone to gang violence through continuing implementation of the program
model and work with the independent evaluator of this demonstration
program. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Targeted Outreach With a Gang Prevention and Intervention Component
(Boys and Girls Clubs)
This program is designed to enable local Boys and Girls Clubs to
prevent youth from entering gangs and to intervene with gang members in
the early stages of gang involvement to divert them from gang
activities into more constructive programs. In FY 1996, Boys and Girls
Clubs of America would provide training and technical assistance to
existing gang prevention and intervention sites and expand the gang
prevention and intervention program to 30 additional Boys and Girls
[[Page 21276]]
Clubs, including those in SafeFutures sites. This program will be
implemented by the current grantee, the Boys and Girls Clubs of
America. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
National Youth Gang Center
The proliferation of gang problems ranging from large inner cities
to smaller cities, suburbs, and even rural areas over the past two
decades led to the development by OJJDP of a comprehensive, coordinated
response to America's gang problem. This response involves five program
components, one of which is the implementation and operation of the
National Youth Gang Center (NYGC). The NYGC was competitively funded
with FY 1994 funds for a three-year project period. The purpose of the
NYGC is to expand and maintain the body of critical knowledge about
youth gangs and effective responses to them. NYGC assists State and
local jurisdictions in the collection, analysis, and exchange of
information on gang-related demographics, legislation, research, and
promising program strategies. The Center also coordinates activities of
the OJJDP Gang Consortium--a group of Federal agencies, gang program
representatives, and service providers. Other major tasks include
statistical data collection and analysis on gangs, analysis of gang
legislation, gang literature review, identification of promising gang
program strategies, and gang consortium coordination activities.
Fiscal Year 1996 funds will support second year funding of the NYGC
cooperative agreement to the current grantee, the Institute for
Intergovernmental Research. No additional applications will be
solicited in FY 1996.
Child Centered Community-Oriented Policing
In FY 1993, OJJDP provided support to the New Haven, Connecticut
Police Department and the Yale University Child Development Center to
document a child-centered, community-oriented policing model being
implemented in New Haven, Connecticut. The basic elements of the model
are a 10-week training course in child development for all new police
officers and child development fellowships for all community-based
district commanders who direct neighborhood police teams. The
fellowships provide 4 to 6 hours of training each week over a 3-month
period at Yale's Child Study Center. The program also includes: (1) a
24-hour consultation from a clinical professional and a police
supervisor to patrol officers who assist children who have been exposed
to violence; (2) weekly case conferences with police officers,
educators, and child study center staff; and (3) open police stations,
located in neighborhoods and accessible to residents for police and
related services, community liaison, and neighborhood foot patrols.
In FY 1994, BJA community policing funds helped support the first
year of a 3-year training and technical assistance grant to replicate
the program nationwide. These funds supported the development of
criteria for a request for proposals, protocols for consultation,
train-the-trainer sessions for New Haven police and clinical faculty,
and the development of a multi-model strategy for data collection and
program evaluation. Fiscal Year 1995 OJJDP funds supported continuation
of the project's expansion in up to four replication sites.
Fiscal year 1996 funds will support the implementation of the five-
phase replication protocol in the four selected sites, replication site
data collection and analysis activities, and development of a detailed
casebook about the model and program.
This project will be implemented by the current grantee, the Yale
University School of Medicine. No additional applications will be
solicited in FY 1996.
Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Program
This continuation award will supplement the 3-year law enforcement
and technical assistance support contract, competitively awarded in FY
1994 to Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin. Fiscal
year 1996 funds will be used to continue to provide services under the
nationwide training and technical assistance program designed to
improve law enforcement's capability to respond to juvenile
delinquency, to contribute to delinquency prevention, and to address
issues of missing and exploited children and child abuse and neglect.
Technical assistance under this contract is provided in response to a
wide variety of requests from Federal, State, county, and local
agencies with responsibility for the prevention and control of juvenile
delinquency and juvenile victimization. The contract supports
continuation of the Gang, Gun, and Drug Policy Training Program, the
Police Operations Leading to Improved Children and Youth Services
series of training programs, a Native American Law Enforcement Training
Program, and a variety of other law enforcement training programs
offered by OJJDP.
This contract will be implemented by the current contractor, Fox
Valley Technical College. No additional applications will be solicited
for award of FY 1996 funds.
Violence Studies*
The 1992 Amendments to the JJDP Act required OJJDP to fund two-year
studies on violence in three urban and one rural jurisdiction. Building
on the results of OJJDP's Program of Research on the Causes and
Correlates of Delinquency, these studies were to examine the incidence
of violence committed by or against juveniles in urban and rural areas
of the United States. In FY 1994, OJJDP initiated this program by
supporting studies of homicides by and of youth in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and a cross-site study in rural areas in South Carolina, Georgia, and
Florida. The grantees are the University of Wisconsin and the
University of South Carolina. In FY 1995, OJJDP provided funding for
the second year of these studies and initiated two new violence studies
in Los Angeles, California, and Washington, D.C. The grantees are the
University of Southern California and the Institute for Law and
Justice.
These four studies will provide valuable information regarding
community violence patterns, with a particular focus on homicide and
firearm use involving juveniles. They will also improve the juvenile
justice system by identifying strategic law enforcement responses to
juvenile violence and by identifying diversion, prevention, and control
programs that ameliorate juvenile violence.
During FY 1996, the University of Wisconsin and the University of
South Carolina will analyze their data and issue their findings with
prior year funds. The University of Southern California will receive FY
1996 funds to identify violence prevention programs and conduct a
household survey and interview adolescents and their care givers in Los
Angeles County. The Institute for Law and Justice will receive FY 1996
funds to collect and analyze aggregate data from various juvenile
justice providers and from a series of interviews with agency staff
serving adjudicated juveniles. This will be followed by analysis and
the preparation of a comprehensive report.
The program will be continued by the current project grantees. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Hate Crimes
In FY 1993, OJJDP competitively awarded a grant to Education
[[Page 21277]]
Development Center, Inc. (EDC), to assess existing curriculum materials
and develop a multi-purpose curriculum for use in educational and
institutional settings. In FYs 1994 and 1995, EDC developed a multi-
purpose curriculum for hate crime prevention in school and other
classroom settings and the curriculum was pilot tested in the eighth
grade of the Collins Middle School in Salem, Massachusetts. Information
received in the pilot test was evaluated and the curriculum redesigned.
EDC then tested the curriculum in additional sites in New York and
Florida to ensure that it was geographically and demographically
representative. In consultation with the Office for Victims of Crime,
EDC also developed a dissemination strategy for the curriculum and
other products, including a judge's guide on sanctions for juveniles
who commit hate crimes.
In FY 1996, EDC will identify school districts and juvenile justice
agencies across the country who are interested in receiving training in
the curriculum. EDC will also provide training to education and
juvenile justice personnel in order to foster adoption of the
curriculum. The project will be implemented by the current grantee,
EDC. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System
Development of OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and
Chronic Juvenile Offenders
The National Council on Crime and Delinquency, in collaboration
with Developmental Research and Programs, Inc., has completed Phase I
and II of a collaborative effort to support development and
implementation of OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent,
and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. Phase I involved assessing existing and
previously researched programs in order to identify effective and
promising programs that can be used in implementing the Comprehensive
Strategy. In Phase II, a series of reports were combined into a Guide
for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and
Chronic Juvenile Offenders. Phase II also included convening of a
forum, ``Guaranteeing Safe Passage: A National Forum on Youth
Violence,'' and holding two regional training seminars for key leaders
on implementing the Comprehensive Strategy.
In FY 1996, Phase III of the project will be funded to provide:
targeted dissemination of the Comprehensive Strategy at national
conferences; intensive training for selected States to implement the
Comprehensive Strategy in up to six local jurisdictions; individualized
technical assistance for the five Serious, Violent, and Chronic
Juvenile Offender Program sites and the six SafeFutures sites;
technical assistance to a limited number of individual jurisdictions
interested in implementing the Comprehensive Strategy; and continued
development of Comprehensive Strategy implementation materials.
The program will be implemented by the current grantees, the
National Council on Crime and Delinquency and Developmental Research
and Programs, Inc., under third-year funding of this 3-year program. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offender Treatment Program
The Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offender Treatment
Program is designed to assist local jurisdictions in the development
and implementation of a comprehensive strategy for the intervention,
treatment, and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. The program is an
extension of an initial effort, funded by OJJDP in 1993, entitled
``Accountability-Based Community Intervention (ABC) Program.'' Under
the ABC initiative, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. were
competitively funded to plan and implement a comprehensive graduated
sanctions strategy.
In FY 1994, under a competitive announcement, OJJDP awarded funds
under the Serious, Violent, and Chronic Offender Treatment Program to
three additional jurisdictions (Boston, Massachusetts; Richmond,
Virginia; and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana) to develop and implement a
graduated sanctions plan. The plan's basic elements include: (1) Assess
the existing continuum of secure and nonsecure intervention, treatment,
and rehabilitation services in each jurisdiction; (2) define the
juvenile offender population; (3) develop and implement a program
strategy; (4) develop and implement an evaluation; (5) integrate
private nonprofit, community-based organizations into the provision of
offender services; (6) incorporate an aftercare program as an integral
component of all residential placements; (7) develop a resource plan to
enlist the financial and technical support of other Federal, State, and
local agencies, private foundations, or other funding sources; and (8)
develop a victim assistance component using local organizations.
In FY 1995, the ABC Program jurisdictions completed program funding
and in FY 1996, each of the three FY 1994 grantees will receive awards
to continue implementation activities. No additional applications will
be solicited in FY 1996.
Community Assessment Centers
In FY 1996, OJJDP will identify jurisdictions that have developed
assessment programs for juveniles and established linkages to
integrated service delivery systems through the use of assessment
centers. The concept of community assessment centers, reflecting the
use of community input in a center's development and operations, offers
many advantages, including comprehensive needs assessments of at-risk,
dependent, or delinquent youth; improved access to integrated services;
the promotion of alternatives to incarceration; and an enhanced ability
to monitor racial and gender disparities in juvenile justice processing
through automated information systems. OJJDP will examine current
efforts across the Nation in order to identify replicable components or
models that meet, or could be adapted to meet, the following goals:
Ensuring positive outcomes for youth through the provision
of comprehensive, community-based assessments that result in the
development of an integrated treatment plan while avoiding unnecessary
detention.
Promoting and increasing the use of alternatives to
detention and a system of graduated sanctions for delinquent offenders.
Providing for more accurate and timely monitoring of the
processing of at-risk, dependent, or delinquent juveniles to ensure
fair and equitable treatment and outcomes in all phases of the juvenile
justice system.
Enhancing access to data or records across disciplines and
integrating assessment, case management, and community-based services
through the use of automated information systems, consistent with the
principles of confidentiality.
If it is determined through this initial survey that a replicable
model exists or can be developed, OJJDP will issue a competitive
solicitation, late in FY 1996, for the replication or development of
the model, including an evaluation component.
Juvenile Restitution: A Balanced Approach
OJJDP will continue support of the juvenile restitution training
and technical assistance program in FY
[[Page 21278]]
1996. The project design is based on practitioner recommendations
regarding program needs and on how best to integrate and
institutionalize restitution and community service as key components of
juvenile justice dispositions. In 1992, a working group was convened to
help map out a plan for optimum development of the components of
restitution programs. Plan components include community service, victim
reparation, victim-offender mediation, offender employment and
supervision, employment development, and other program elements
designed to establish restitution as an important element to improving
the juvenile justice system. This project is guided by balanced and
restorative justice principles, which include the need to provide a
balance of community protection, offender competency development, and
accountability in programs for sanctioning and controlling juvenile
offenders.
In FY 1995, the project assisted three local jurisdictions to
implement the ``balanced approach,'' participated in presenting
regional ``round tables'' for States interested in adopting the
balanced and restorative justice model, and provided ad hoc technical
assistance. In FY 1996 the project will continue this work and also
develop guideline materials on the balanced and restorative justice
program.
This project will be implemented by the current grantee, Florida
Atlantic University. No additional applications will be solicited in FY
1996.
Training and Technical Assistance Program to Promote Gender-Specific
Programming for Female Juvenile Offenders
The 1992 Amendments to the JJDP Act, Public Law 102-586, 106 Stat.
4982, addressed for the first time the issue of gender specific
services. The Amendments required States participating in OJJDP's State
Formula Grants Program to conduct an analysis of gender-specific
services for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency,
including the types of services available, the need for such services,
and a plan for providing needed gender-specific services for the
prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency.
In FY 1995, the OJJDP Gender Specific Services Program effort
focused on providing training and technical assistance directly to
States and on providing and promoting the establishment of State level
gender-specific programs. Training and technical assistance have been
provided to a broad spectrum of policymakers and service providers
regarding services for juvenile female offenders.
In addition, OJJDP, in conjunction with the American Correctional
Association (ACA), sponsored a National Juvenile Female Offender
Conference. The purpose of the Conference was to provide juvenile
corrections agency staff with an increased awareness of the unique
problems and rehabilitative needs of female offenders and improve
skills in working effectively with these offenders. Innovative juvenile
female corrections programs were presented, including new approaches
and strategies for operating facility-based programs for female
offenders.
OJJDP also awarded discretionary grants to implement programs for
female juvenile offenders and at-risk girls. Under the competitive
Program to Promote Alternative Programs for Juvenile Female Offenders,
OJJDP funded programs in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Illinois. In
addition, OJJDP has funded expansion of the Practical and Cultural
Education Center for Girls, Inc. (P.A.C.E.) Program in Miami, Florida.
Also, in order to provide the field with information regarding existent
projects and current research, OJJDP funded Girls, Incorporated to
conduct a national gender-specific services forum, which will be held
during FY 1996. Finally, OJJDP's six SafeFutures Program sites will
implement components designed to establish services for at-risk and
delinquent girls.
In FY 1996, OJJDP will award a competitive grant to support a
training and technical assistance program designed to build upon the
work of these multiple efforts. It will transfer lessons learned,
stimulate formulation of State and local policies based upon research
findings and statistical trend data, and assist community-based youth
serving agencies and juvenile detention and correctional programs to
initiate, refine, and expand gender-specific programming that utilizes
the strengths and capabilities unique to females.
In FY 1996, one two-year project period award will be made based
upon a competitive solicitation.
Technical Assistance to Native American Programs
Native American programs for juveniles are facing increasing
pressures because of the increasing numbers of youth who are involved
in drug abuse, gang activity, and delinquency. Many reservations are
experiencing the problems that plague communities nationwide: gang
activity; violent crime; use of weapons; and increasing drug and
alcohol abuse.
From FYs 1992 to 1995, OJJDP funded four Native American sites to
support the development of programs to impact these problems. These
sites are Gila River, Pueblo Jemez, the Navajo Nation, and the Red Lake
Band of Chippewas. Each of these sites has been implementing programs
specifically designed to meet the needs of the tribe. In Gila River an
alternative school has been developed and implemented. The Navajo
Nation has expanded the Peace Maker program to accommodate additional
delinquent offenders and this approach has been adapted to the Red Lake
and Pueblo Jemez communities. Additional programming, such as job
skills development, has also been developed in some of the sites to
meet the needs of their youth.
Although these programs have been successful, there is a need at
these sites to expand programming options such as gang prevention and
intervention programs. Other Native American Tribes have similar
problems and needs, as do programs for Native Americans in many major
metropolitan areas.
OJJDP will fund a national technical assistance program to support
the development of additional programming for the four sites that OJJDP
currently funds and to extend programming support to Tribes and urban
tribal programs across the country. OJJDP will fund a technical
assistance provider to provide direct technical assistance and to
coordinate the delivery of technical assistance by other experts. This
will be a three-year technical assistance program.
National Indicators of Juvenile Violent and Delinquent Behavior and
Related Risk Factors
The difficulty of using juvenile arrests as a reliable measure of
the level and nature of juvenile crime is well known. While juvenile
arrest statistics have been useful as a barometer of juvenile
involvement in crime, there are many critical dimensions in measuring
this phenomenon that cannot be captured by any method other than direct
measures of self-reported delinquency. The Department of Labor's Bureau
of Labor Statistics is launching a 12,000-subject survey of 1217-year-
old juveniles that provides an opportunity to supplement the data
collection by asking relevant questions about delinquency, guns, and
violence. This longitudinal survey also provides an unprecedented
opportunity to determine the generalizability of the findings from
OJJDP's Program of Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency
across a broad range of
[[Page 21279]]
juvenile populations. A transfer of funds will be made to the
Department of Labor.
Evaluation of the Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang
Prevention, Intervention and Suppression Program
The University of Chicago, School of Social Services
Administration, received a competitive cooperative agreement award in
FY 1994. This four-year project period award supports an evaluation of
OJJDP's Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang Prevention,
Intervention, and Suppression Program. The evaluation will assist the
five program sites in establishing realistic and measurable objectives,
to document program implementation, and to measure the impact of a
variety of gang program strategies. It will also provide interim
feedback to the program implementors. The five sites are Bloomington,
Illinois; Mesa, Arizona; Tucson, Arizona; Riverside, California; and
San Antonio, Texas.
In FY 1996, the grantee will: design and implement organizational
surveys and youth interviews; develop and implement program tracking
and worker questionnaires and interviews; gather and track aggregate
level offense/offender client data from police, prosecutor, probation,
school, and social service program sources; develop and implement
uniform individual level criminal justice data collection efforts;
consult with local evaluators on development and implementation of
local site parent/community resident surveys; and coordinate ongoing
efforts with local researchers conducting special surveys of gang youth
in the program.
This project will be continued by the current grantee, the
University of Chicago, School of Social Services Administration. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Evaluation of Intensive Community-Based Aftercare Demonstration and
Technical Assistance Program
The National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) received a 3-
year competitive FY 1994 grant to conduct a process evaluation and
design an impact evaluation of the Intensive Community-Based Aftercare
Demonstration and Technical Assistance Program at sites in Colorado,
New Jersey, Nevada, and Virginia. NCCD's initial award funded the
design and implementation of the process evaluation, the design of an
impact evaluation, and start-up data collection. A report on the
process evaluation will be submitted in the spring of 1996. Fiscal Year
1996 funding will enable NCCD to begin the impact evaluation. Because
of the excellent progress made during the first two years on the
process evaluation, OJJDP will extend this program for three additional
years to allow sufficient time for completion of an impact evaluation.
The project will be implemented by the current grantee, NCCD. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP) Evaluation
The Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP) was funded at 41 sites by
OJJDP in FY 1995. In compliance with Part G, Section 288H of the JJDP
Act, all JUMP sites are participating in a national evaluation designed
to determine the success and effectiveness of JUMP in reducing
delinquency and gang participation, improving academic performance, and
reducing the dropout rate. Each program participant has been provided
with a JUMP Evaluation Workbook containing data collection instruments
and instructions on their use. It provides for the collection of data
on delinquency, school performance, family functioning, and project
operations. Grantees are responsible for collecting and analyzing site
data and preparing periodic evaluation reports for OJJDP.
The evaluation grantee will be expected to: assist the sites in
implementing the JUMP Evaluation Workbook; provide other evaluation
technical assistance to the funded sites; and complete a cross-site
evaluation of results from the 41 sites at the end of the JUMP program
grants. A draft report to Congress will be prepared based on the cross-
site evaluation.
One two-year cooperative agreement will be competitively awarded to
carry out this program.
Juvenile Transfers to Criminal Court Studies
States are increasingly enacting juvenile code revisions broadening
judicial waiver authority, providing prosecutor direct file authority,
and mandating transfer of older, more violent juveniles to criminal
court. Many States are also developing innovative procedures, such as
blending traditional features of juvenile and criminal justice
sentencing practices, through statutes that categorize juvenile
offenders into different classes according to the seriousness of the
offense, designating juvenile or criminal court for each class, or
providing judges with discretion to make these judgments at sentencing.
Studies of the impact of criminal court prosecution of juveniles have
yielded mixed conclusions. Solid research on the intended and
unintended consequences of transfer of juveniles to criminal court will
enable policy makers and legislatures to develop statutory provisions
and policies and improve judicial and prosecutorial waiver and transfer
decisions.
To address this shortage of research programs, OJJDP competitively
funded two juvenile waiver and transfer research projects in FY 1995.
The first, awarded to the National Center for Juvenile Justice,
compares juvenile and criminal court handling of juveniles in four
States that authorize judicial waiver of serious and violent juvenile
offenders and mandate criminal court handling for specified categories
of juvenile offenders. The second study, awarded to the Florida
Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, evaluates Florida's system of blending
the option of criminal and juvenile justice system sentencing to handle
serious or violent juvenile offenders. Additional funding is planned in
FY 1996 to enable the projects to collect case specific information on
sentence completion and recidivism data to provide a more definitive
assessment of the impact of criminal versus juvenile justice system
handling of serious and violent offender cases.
The projects will be implemented by the current grantees, the
National Center for Juvenile Justice and the Florida Juvenile Justice
Advisory Board. No additional applications will be solicited in FY
1996.
Technical Assistance to Juvenile Courts*
The National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ), the research
division of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges,
provides technical assistance under this grant for juvenile court
practitioners. The focus of the technical assistance is on court
administration and management, program development, and special legal
issues. During FY 1995, NCJJ responded to over 830 requests for
technical assistance.
In FY 1996, special emphasis will be placed on appropriate
sanctions for handling serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders
and other emerging issues confronting the juvenile court, such as the
increased use of waivers and transfers. The program will be implemented
by the current grantee, NCJJ. No additional applications will be
solicited in FY 1996.
[[Page 21280]]
Juvenile Court Judges Training*
The primary focus of this project in FY 1996 will be to continue
and refine the training and technical assistance program offered by the
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. The objectives of
the training are to supplement law school curriculums by providing
basic training to new juvenile court judges and to and provide
experienced judges with state-of-the-art training on developments in
juvenile and family case law and effective dispositional options.
Emphasis is also placed on alcohol and substance abuse, child abuse and
neglect, gangs and violence, disproportionate incarceration of minority
youth, and intermediate sanctions. Training is also provided to other
court personnel, including juvenile probation officers, aftercare
workers, and child protection and community treatment providers. In FY
1995, over 13,000 judges and court personnel received training through
some 80 different programs. In addition, over 800 training related
technical assistance requests were completed.
The project will be implemented by the current grantee, the
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. No additional
applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
The Juvenile Justice Prosecution Unit
OJJDP has historically supported prosecutor training activities
through the National District Attorneys' Association (NDAA). To
continue that work, OJJDP awarded a 3-year project period grant in FY
1995 to the American Prosecutor Research Institute (APRI) which is the
research and technical affiliate of NDAA, to establish a Juvenile
Justice Prosecution Unit (JJPU). The JJPU implements workshops on
juvenile justice related policy, leadership, and management for chief
prosecutors and unit chiefs; provides background information to
prosecutors on juvenile justice issues and programs; provides training;
and provides technical assistance to prosecutors.
The project is based on planning and input by prosecutors familiar
with juvenile justice needs. The project draws on the expertise of
working groups of elected or appointed prosecutors and juvenile unit
chiefs to support project staff in providing technical assistance,
juvenile justice-related research and program information to
practitioners nationwide, and training. Start up activities focused on
the collection of information through a questionnaire that was sent to
every prosecutors' office regarding juvenile programs. APRI also
sponsored a National Invitational Symposium on Juvenile Justice which
provided a forum for prosecutors to exchange ideas, programs, issues,
legislation, and practices in juvenile justice. APRI will conduct three
workshops for elected and appointed prosecutors and juvenile unit
chiefs to help improve prosecutor involvement in the prosecution and
prevention of juvenile delinquency.
The project will be implemented by the current grantee, APRI. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Due Process Advocacy Program Development
In FY 1993, OJJDP funded the American Bar Association (ABA), in
partnership with the Juvenile Law Center (JLC) of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and the Youth Law Center (YLC) of San Francisco,
California, to develop strategies to improve due process and the
quality of legal representation. The goals of the program are to
increase juvenile offenders' access to legal services and to improve
the quality of preadjudication, adjudication, and dispositional
advocacy for juvenile offenders. The strategies developed will be made
available to State and local bar associations and other relevant
organizations so that they can develop approaches to increase the
availability and quality of counsel for juveniles.
In FYs 1994 and 1995, the ABA, JLC, and YLC conducted an assessment
of the current state of the art with regard to legal services,
training, and education. This survey included a review of literature,
case law, State statutes, and a survey of public defenders, court
appointed lawyers, law school clinical programs, and judges. A report,
entitled ``A Call for Justice, An assessment of the Access to Counsel
and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings'' was
developed and published by the ABA. It has been widely distributed to
State and local bar associations, Chairs of State Juvenile Justice
Advisory Committees, participants in the ABA survey, the National
Association of Child Advocates, and others.
In FY 1996, training is scheduled to begin with the first training
being provided to the States of Tennessee, Maryland, and Virginia. The
structure and scope of the training will be tailored to fit the needs
of each site. A training manual, under development, will cover training
on key issues such as detention, transfer or waiver, and dispositions.
It is designed to fill gaps in existing training programs. The ABA and
its partners will also establish networks with public defenders
offices, children's law centers, and others through the HANDSNET system
and mailings that provide program updates.
This program will be implemented by the current grantee, ABA. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Intensive Community-Based Aftercare Demonstration and Technical
Assistance Program
This initiative is designed to support implementation, training and
technical assistance, and evaluation of an intensive community-based
aftercare model in four jurisdictions that were competitively selected
to participate in this demonstration program. The overall goal of this
intensive aftercare model is to identify and assist high-risk juvenile
offenders to make a gradual transition from secure confinement back
into the community. The Intensive Aftercare Program (IAP) model can be
viewed as having three distinct, yet overlapping segments: (1) pre-
release and preparatory planning activities during incarceration; (2)
structured transitioning involving the participation of institutional
and aftercare staffs both prior to and following community reentry; and
(3) long-term reintegrative activities to insure adequate service
delivery and the required level of social control.
In FY 1994, The Johns Hopkins University received a grant to test
an intensive community-based aftercare model in four demonstration
sites: Denver (Metro), Colorado; Clark County (Las Vegas), Nevada;
Camden and Newark, New Jersey; and Norfolk, Virginia. Each of the four
sites received additional funds to support program implementation in FY
1995. The Johns Hopkins University contracts with California State
University at Sacramento to assist in the implementation process by
providing training and technical assistance and by making funds
available through contracts to each of the four demonstration sites.
Each of the sites have developed risk assessment instruments for use in
selecting specific youth who need this type of intensive aftercare
intervention, hired and trained staff in the intensive aftercare model,
identified existing and needed community support (intervention)
services, and identified data necessary for an accurate evaluation of
the intensive community-based aftercare program. In addition, each of
the sites has begun random assignment of clients to the program. The
Johns Hopkins University and its sub-contractor, California State
University at
[[Page 21281]]
Sacramento, have provided continuous training and technical assistance
to both administrators/managers and line staff in the intensive
community-based aftercare sites. Staff have been trained in the
theoretical underpinnings of the IAP model as well as in the practical
applications of the model, such as techniques for identifying juveniles
appropriate for the program. Training and technical assistance in this
model have also been available to other States and OJJDP grantees on a
limited basis.
In FY 1996, the sites will continue to implement and test the
aftercare model. An independent evaluation contractor is performing a
process evaluation and has designed an impact evaluation to be
implemented under a separate grant.
The Johns Hopkins University will provide continuing training and
technical assistance to the four selected sites and will initiate
aftercare technical assistance services to jurisdictions participating
in the OJJDP/Department of the Interior Youth Environmental Services
(YES) Program and to OJJDP's six SafeFutures Program sites. This
funding supports the third budget period of a 3-year project period.
This project will be implemented by the current grantee, The Johns
Hopkins University. No additional applications will be solicited in FY
1996.
Training and Technical Assistance for National Innovations to Reduce
Disproportionate Minority Confinement (The Deborah Wysinger Memorial
Program)
National data and studies have shown that minority children are
over represented in juvenile and criminal justice facilities across the
country. Accordingly, Congress, in the 1988 reauthorization of the JJDP
Act, amended the Formula Grants Program State plan requirements to
include addressing disproportionate confinement of minority juveniles.
This is accomplished by gathering data, analyzing it to determine the
extent to which minority juveniles are disproportionately confined, and
designing strategies to address this issue. A Special Emphasis
discretionary grant program was developed to demonstrate model
approaches to addressing disproportionate minority confinement (DMC) in
five State pilot sites (Arizona, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, and
Oregon). Funds were also awarded to a national contractor to provide
technical assistance to assist both the pilot sites and other States,
to evaluate their efforts, and share relevant information.
In FYs 1994 and 1995, OJJDP made additional Special Emphasis
discretionary funds available to non-pilot States that had completed
data gathering and assessment in order to provide initial funding for
innovative projects designed to address DMC.
These efforts to impact DMC have yielded an important lesson: that
systemic, broad-based interventions are necessary to reduce DMC. OJJDP
recognizes the need to foster the development and documentation of
effective strategies using training, technical assistance, information
dissemination, provision of practical and targeted resource tools, and
public education. In order to further these strategies, OJJDP proposes
to competitively solicit innovative proposals to implement a 3-year
national training, technical assistance, and information dissemination
initiative focused on the disproportionate confinement of minority
youth. The selected grantee will: (1) review and synthesize current
State and local practices and policies designed to reduce DMC; (2)
develop and deliver training to juvenile justice specialists, SAG
Chairs, and selected grantees to inform them of DMC requirements, best
practices and issues; (3) assist key OJJDP grantees to incorporate DMC
issues, practices and policies into their training and education
programs (key grantees are those training and technical assistance
providers working with police, the courts and juvenile detention staff,
SafeFutures sites, Title V, and some State Challenge Program grant
recipients); (4) assist the eight current DMC grantees to manage and
institutionalize their programs; (5) support the Formula Grants Program
technical assistance contractor and OJJDP staff in reviewing State DMC
plans; and (6) develop and carry out a national dissemination and
public education program on DMC and help States and localities develop
similar local education programs.
The selected DMC grantee will coordinate with OJJDP's National
Training and Technical Assistance Center and other OJJDP contractors to
identify OJJDP program areas where DMC policies and practices can be
integrated into ongoing program activities. The DMC grantee and the
National Training and Technical Assistance Center will also collaborate
in the development of toolkits and resource products--screening tools,
assessment, and training components--to be used by jurisdictions at
each stage of their DMC data gathering, assessment and program response
cycle. Other resource products will include educational curricula,
technical assistance protocols for working with courts, police, intake
services, probation and prosecutor's offices, assessment and screening
tools, and planning and analysis tools for juvenile justice
specialists.
OJJDP will competitively award a single grant to implement a 3-year
national training, technical assistance, and information dissemination
initiative focused on the disproportionate confinement of minority
youth.
Juvenile Probation Survey Research
Juvenile probation is one of the most critical areas of the
juvenile justice system. However, there is presently very little
information available on juveniles on probation. We do not know how
many juveniles are on probation, their demographic characteristics,
their offenses, or the conditions of their probation, including length,
residential confinement, electronic monitoring, restitution, etc. This
project will conduct survey research and develop a questionnaire to
collect this important information. As States operate their juvenile
probation systems in very different manners, this project will also
examine how these differences affect the information collected.
OJJDP plans to undertake a 2-year project to complete this research
through an interagency agreement with the Bureau of the Census.
Improvements in Correctional Education for Juvenile Offenders
The Improvements in Correctional Education for Juvenile Offenders
Program, a program development and demonstration initiative, was
awarded to the National Organization for Social Responsibility (NOSR)
in FY 1992. It is being implemented in three phases: identification,
assessment, and testing and dissemination. The purpose of the Program
is to assist juvenile corrections administrators in planning and
implementing improved educational services for detained and
incarcerated juvenile offenders.
During the 3-year project period, the grantee implemented the first
two phases of the program. An extensive literature search of effective
education practices was undertaken and a report on effective practices
in juvenile corrections education was published and a training and
technical assistance manual were published. In addition, three State
juvenile corrections facilities were selected as model sites for
testing effective educational practices. The sites are: Adobe Mountain
School, Arizona; Lookout Mountain Youth Center, Colorado; and Sauk
Centre, Minnesota.
In FY 1995, NOSR received funding to implement Phase III, testing
and
[[Page 21282]]
dissemination. The three model test sites are receiving site specific
technical assistance in the assessment of their educational programs
and in the development and implementation of effective educational
practices, including reintegration of appropriate juveniles back into
the mainstream education system.
Fiscal Year 1996 funds will be used to assist each site to enhance
its curriculum and implementation strategy to better address the needs
of the juveniles they serve.
The project will be implemented by the current grantee, NOSR. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Performance-Based Standards for Juvenile Detention and Correctional
Facilities
There is a need to increase the accountability of detention and
correctional agencies, facilities, and staff in performing their basic
functions. The development of performance-based standards has emerged
as a primary strategy for improving conditions of confinement. This
program supports the development and implementation of performance-
based standards for juvenile detention and corrections. The performance
measures and standards being developed will address both services and
the quality of life for confined juveniles. They will reflect the
consensus of a broadly representative group of national organizations
on the mission, goals, and objectives of juvenile detention and
corrections. OJJDP plans to promote nationwide adoption and
implementation of the measures and standards through a future training
and technical assistance program.
In FY 1995, OJJDP awarded a competitive 18-month cooperative
agreement to the Council of Juvenile Corrections Administrators (CJCA)
to develop national performance-based standards for juvenile detention
and correctional facilities. A National Consortium of major
professional and advocacy organizations is providing technical advice
and support in all aspects of the development and implementation of the
standards. The project will focus on standards in the areas of: safety;
security; order; programming/treatment/education; health; and justice.
During FY 1996, the working groups will complete the drafting of
performance criteria and measures, as well as assessment tools for
monitoring performance in all substantive areas. In addition, all
materials will be field tested and revised as needed. A plan for
implementation will also be submitted.
By 1997, initial performance standards and a measurement system
will be developed along with specific plans for an 18-month period of
intensive demonstration and testing of the performance-based standards
and their impact on juvenile corrections and detention programming.
The program will be implemented by the current grantee, CJCA. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Technical Assistance to Juvenile Corrections and Detention (The James
E. Gould Memorial Program)
The primary purpose of the Technical Assistance to Juvenile
Corrections and Detention project is to provide specialized technical
assistance to juvenile corrections, detention, and community
residential service providers. The grantee, the American Correctional
Association (ACA), also plans and convenes an annual Juvenile
Corrections and Detention Forum. The Forum provides an opportunity for
juvenile corrections and detention leaders to meet and discuss issues,
problems, and solutions to emerging corrections and detention problems.
The ACA also provides workshops and conferences on current and emerging
national issues in the field of juvenile corrections and detention and
offers technical assistance through document dissemination. OJJDP
awarded a FY 1995 competitive grant to ACA to provide these services
over a three-year project period. The project will be implemented by
the current grantee, ACA. No additional applications will be solicited
in FY 1996.
Training for Juvenile Corrections and Detention Staff
In FY 1996, OJJDP will continue to support the development and
implementation of a comprehensive training program for juvenile
corrections and detention management staff through an interagency
agreement with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). The program
is designed to offer a core curriculum for juvenile corrections and
detention administrators and mid-level management personnel in such
areas as leadership development, management, training of trainers,
legal issues, cultural diversity, the role of the victim in juvenile
corrections, juvenile programming for specialized needs of offenders,
and managing the violent or disruptive offender. The training is
conducted at the NIC Academy and regionally. This program is a
continuation activity, initiated in FY 1991 under an interagency
agreement with NIC that was renewed in FY 1994. No additional
applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Training for Line Staff in Juvenile Detention and Corrections
In FY 1994, the National Juvenile Detention Association (NJDA) was
awarded a competitive three-year project period grant to establish a
training program to meet the needs of the more than 38,000 line staff
of juvenile detention and corrections facilities. In the first year
under the grant, NJDA revised and updated a 40-hour Detention
Careworker curriculum, developed a 24-hour Train-the-Trainer for the
Detention Careworker curriculum, conducted 16 separate trainings and
developed new lesson plans in 7 substantive areas, conducted a national
training needs assessment for juvenile corrections careworkers, and
provided technical assistance to 37 agencies and training to 887 line
staff.
In FY 1996, NJDA will continue to offer training to practitioners,
develop new curriculums around emerging issues, and complete the
development and testing of a 40-hour basic careworker curriculum for
juvenile corrections line staff. Additionally, NJDA will deliver
selected training programs for juvenile detention and corrections line
staff on a number of topical issues.
This project will be implemented by the current grantee, NJDA. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Training and Technical Support for State and Local Jurisdictional Teams
To Focus on Juvenile Corrections and Detention Overcrowding
The Conditions of Confinement: Juvenile Detention and Correctional
Facilities Research Report (1994), completed by Abt Associates under an
OJJDP grant, identified overcrowding as the most urgent problem facing
juvenile corrections and detention facilities. Overcrowding in juvenile
facilities is a function of decisions and policies made at the State,
county, and city levels. The trend in a number of jurisdictions toward
an increased use of detention and commitment to State facilities has
been reversed when key decision makers, such as the chief judge, chief
of police, director of the local detention facility, head of the State
juvenile correctional agency, and others who affect the flow of
juveniles through the system, agree to make decisions collaboratively
and to modify practices and policies. In some instances modification
has occurred in response
[[Page 21283]]
to court orders. Compliance with court orders is improved with the
support of enhanced interagency communication and planning among those
agencies affecting the flow of juveniles through the system.
In addressing the problems of overcrowded facilities, OJJDP
considered the recommendations of the Conditions of Confinement study
regarding overcrowding, the data on over representation of minority
youth in confinement, and other information that suggests crowding in
juvenile facilities must be reduced. Policy makers can do this by
increasing capacity, where necessary, or by taking other steps to
control crowding. This project, competitively awarded to the National
Juvenile Detention Association (NJDA) in FY 1994 for a three-year
project period, provides training and technical assistance materials
for use by State and local jurisdictional teams. In FY 1995, the
project collected information on strategies that are used or could be
used to control crowding, and prepared training and technical
assistance materials. Based on the demonstrated need for assistance and
related criteria, NJDA will select three jurisdictions in FY 1996 for
onsite development, implementation, and testing of crowding reduction
procedures, and will provide regional training on these procedures to
other jurisdictions.
A FY 1996 continuation award will be made to the current grantee,
the National Juvenile Detention Association. No additional applications
will be solicited in FY 1996.
National Program Directory
In FY 1995, OJJDP initiated the development of a National Program
Directory, a national list of all juvenile justice offices, facilities,
and programs in the United States, through the Bureau of the Census.
The Census Bureau developed a directory format for juvenile detention
and correctional facilities, which would contain the addresses and
phone numbers of localities, names and titles of directors, and
important classification information, classify facilities by the agency
or firm that operates them, and list the functions of the facility.
This structure was developed specifically to provide OJJDP with the
ability to conduct surveys and censuses of juvenile custody facilities.
The effort placed into developing this structure would also translate
to other areas, such as a list of juvenile probation offices.
Beyond developing the computer structure, this project will
develop, in FY 1996, the actual sampling frame or address list. The
development of complete frames for any segment of the juvenile justice
system requires many different approaches. The Census Bureau will use
contacts with professional organizations to compile a preliminary list
of juvenile facilities, courts, probation offices, and programs. The
Census Bureau will then seek contacts in each State for further
clarification of the lists, following up until a complete list of all
programs of interest has been compiled. This program will be funded
through an interagency agreement with the Census Bureau. No additional
applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Delinquency Prevention and Intervention
Training in Risk-Focused Prevention Strategies
OJJDP will provide additional training in FY 1996 to communities
interested in developing a risk-focused delinquency prevention
strategy. This training supports OJJDP's Title V Delinquency Prevention
Incentive Grants Program, codified at 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5781-5785, by
providing the knowledge and skills necessary for State, local, and
private agency officials and citizens to identify and address risk
factors that lead to violent and delinquent behavior in children. In
FYs 1994 and 1995, this training was offered to all States,
territories, and the District of Columbia that received discretionary
grants from OJJDP to implement the Title V Program.
OJJDP awarded a new contract with FY 1995 funds to perform ongoing
tasks and provide prevention training in the following areas: (1)
orientation on risk and resiliency-focused prevention theories and
strategies for local community leaders; (2) the identification,
assessment and addressing of risk factors; (3) training of trainers
in selected States to provide a statewide capacity to train communities
in risk-focused prevention; and (4) development of training curriculums
and materials to increase the capacity of States and localities to
conduct risk-focused prevention training. These services will be
provided through second year funding of a competitive contract awarded
to Developmental Research and Programs, Inc. No additional applications
will be solicited in FY 1996.
Youth-Centered Conflict Resolution
Increasing levels of juvenile violence have become a national
concern. Violence in and around school campuses and conflict among
juveniles both in schools and neighborhoods have become extremely
problematic for school administrators, teachers, parents, community
leaders, and the public. While experts may debate the merits and impact
of the varied contributing factors, most would agree that school
curriculums do not provide for the systematic teaching of problem- and
conflict-resolving skills.
To address this issue, OJJDP awarded a competitive grant in FY 1995
to the Illinois Institute for Dispute Resolution to develop, in concert
with other established conflict resolution organizations, a national
strategy for broad-based education and training in the use of conflict
resolution skills. In support of this task, the grantee is to conduct
four regional conferences based on a joint publication being developed
by the Departments of Justice and Education. The grantee will also
provide technical assistance and disseminate information about conflict
resolution programs. The project will be continued by the current
grantee, the Illinois Institute for Dispute Resolution. No additional
applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Pathways to Success
This project is a collaborative effort among OJJDP, the Bureau of
Justice Assistance (BJA), and the National Endowment for the Arts. The
Pathways to Success Program promotes vocational skills, entrepreneurial
initiatives, recreation, and arts education during afterschool,
weekend, and summer hours by making a variety of opportunities
available to at-risk youth.
Through a competitive process, five sites were funded in FY 1995,
the first year of a 2-year project period. The selected programs are
located in: Newport County, Rhode Island; New York, New York;
Anchorage, Alaska; Washington, D.C.; and Miami, Florida.
The SOS Playbacks: Arts-Based Delinquency Based Juvenile
Delinquency Prevention Program, located in Newport County, Rhode
Island, provides an afterschool arts program for students aged 13-18
from local public housing developments. Students in the program
participate in peer-to-peer support and education through the mediums
of visual arts, dance, and drama.
Project CLEAR, located in New York City, provides extended day
programs to students in two elementary schools that have a high
percentage of students who live in low-income areas and have limited
English proficiency. Services include academic tutoring, arts in
education instruction, physical recreation, and group counseling
services. Two hundred students in
[[Page 21284]]
grades 1-6 are served annually. Saturday programs for targeted youth
and their families and evening programs for parents are also provided.
The Anchorage School District and the out-North Theater in
Anchorage, Alaska have collaborated to provide afterschool and summer
theater programs for students aged 12-14 from low income areas in
Anchorage. Students involved in this program will produce and perform
in plays they have written that reflect their personal life
experiences.
The District of Columbia Courts Elementary Baseball Program
provides combined recreational activities, tutoring activities, one-to-
one mentoring, and parent workshops for students aged 6-10 who are
enrolled in Garrett Elementary School in Washington, D.C. This school
is located in one of the highest crime areas in Washington, D.C. The
central activity of this program is interleague baseball games. Team
participation is contingent upon student participation in tutoring and
other activities.
The Aspira ``Youth Sanctuary'' Program, located in Dade County,
Florida, addresses delinquency and other behavioral problems of Latino
youth aged 10-16 who reside in migrant camps. This program teaches art,
including community mural projects, folklore dance incorporating Latino
dancing, and provides recreation opportunities for targeted students
afterschool, on weekends, and during the summer months. Parent training
workshops and parent support are key activities in this program.
This Program will be implemented in FY 1996 by the current project
grantees. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Teens, Crime, and the Community: Teens in Action in the 90s*
This continuation program is conducted by the National Crime
Prevention Council (NCPC) in partnership with the National Institute
for Citizen Education in the Law (NICEL). Teens in Action in the 90s is
a special application of the Teens, Crime, and Community (TCC) program
that operates on the premise that teens, who are disproportionately the
victims of crimes, can contribute to improving their schools and
communities through a broad array of activities.
During FY 1995, the TCC Program expanded to more than 100 new
sites, primarily through five regional expansion centers located in New
England, the Mid-Atlantic States, the Mid-South, the Deep South, and
the Pacific Northwest Coast. These TCC projects utilized Boys and Girls
Clubs of America and their affiliates in six localities to become
partners in TCC efforts in these cities.
More than 4,000 teachers, social service providers, juvenile
justice professionals, law enforcement officers, and other community
leaders participated in intensive training to help sites implement the
TCC curriculum in their communities. Over 1,000 individuals benefited
from technical assistance, materials, and consultation regarding TCC in
areas of program implementation, fund development, and networking
opportunities.
In FY 1996, NCPC and NICEL will implement the National Teens,
Crime, and the Community Program in additional locations across the
country. In addition, TCC will seek to implement projects in the six
SafeFutures Program sites.
This program will be implemented by the current grantee, NCPC. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Law-Related Education (LRE)
The national Law-Related Education (LRE) Program ``Youth for
Justice'' includes five coordinated LRE projects and programs operating
in 48 States and 4 non-State jurisdictions.
The program's purpose is to provide training and technical
assistance to State and local school jurisdictions that will result in
the institutionalization of quality LRE programs for at-risk juveniles.
The focus of the program during FY 1996 will be to continue linking LRE
to violence reduction and to involve program participants in finding
solutions to juvenile violence. The major components of the program are
coordination and management, training and technical assistance,
assistance to local program sites, public information, and program
development and assessment.
This program will be implemented by the current grantees, the
American Bar Association, the Center for Civic Education, the
Constitutional Rights Foundation, the National Institute for Citizen
Education in the Law, and the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Cities in Schools' Federal Interagency Partnership
This program is a continuation of a national school dropout
prevention model developed and implemented by Cities in Schools, Inc.
The Cities in Schools (CIS) Program provides training and technical
assistance to States and local communities, enabling them to adapt and
implement the CIS model. The model brings social, employment, mental
health, drug prevention, entrepreneurship, and other resources to high-
risk youth and their families in the school setting. Where CIS State
organizations are established, they assume primary responsibility for
local program replication during the Federal interagency partnership.
The Federal Interagency Partnership program is based on a program
strategy that is designed to enhance CIS, Inc.'s capability to provide
training and technical assistance, introduce selected initiatives to
CIS youth at the local level, disseminate information, and network with
Federal agencies on behalf of State and local CIS programs.
Fiscal year 1995 accomplishments include the following:
establishment of 15 student-run entrepreneurship programs;
establishment of a consulting program consisting of a pool of CIS State
and local program directors and other experts to support the expanded
technical assistance needs of the CIS network of State and local
programs; production and distribution of two publications, a catalogue
of program resources, and a history of the CIS program; a three-day
training session featuring presentations from Federal agencies on the
financial and programmatic resources available through their
Departments; and a catalogue of State and local programs in the areas
of family strengthening and parent participation, working with
adjudicated or incarcerated youth, violence prevention, prevention of
AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, and conflict resolution.
The Cities in Schools Federal Interagency Partnership program is
jointly funded by OJJDP and the Departments of Health and Human
Services and Commerce under an OJJDP grant. The project will be
implemented by the current grantee, Cities in Schools, Inc. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Race Against Drugs
The Race Against Drugs (RAD) Program is a unique drug awareness,
education, and prevention campaign designed to help young people
understand the dangers of drugs and live a non-impaired lifestyle. With
help and assistance from 23 motor sports organizations, the cooperation
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the U.S. Navy, and other government agencies, the
National Child Safety Council, and a variety of corporate sponsors, RAD
has become an exciting and innovative addition to drug abuse
[[Page 21285]]
prevention programs. RAD activities now include national drug awareness
and prevention activities at schools, malls, and motor sport events;
television and public service announcements, posters, and signage on T-
shirts, hats, decals, etc.; and specialized programs like the ``Adopt-
A-School Essay and Scholarship'' and ``Winner's Circle'' programs.
Curriculum materials include the Be A Winner Action Book for 6-8th
graders, a RAD Adult Guide, and a RAD coloring book for K-4th graders.
In FY 1995 the program was funded to develop additional and updated
curriculum materials, reach additional program sites, and demonstrate
the Winner's Circle Program in Seattle, Washington. It was funded
jointly by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and OJJDP with the Center
for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) providing extensive printing and
clearinghouse support.
In FY 1996, OJJDP will continue funding to assist RAD to expand
program operations to reach 500,000 youth at 300 RAD events annually,
conduct 20 adopt-a-school programs in conjunction with major racing
events, develop mobile educational exhibits and a variety of new
educational materials, and conduct a program evaluation. OJJDP
anticipates that the program will operate with private direct funding
and in-kind support at the end of the project period.
The program will be implemented by the current grantee, the
National Child Safety Council. No additional applications will be
solicited in FY 1996.
The Congress of National Black Churches: National Anti-Drug Abuse/
Violence Campaign (NADVC)
OJJDP will continue to fund the Congress of National Black
Churches' (CNBC) national public awareness and mobilization strategy to
address the problem of juvenile drug abuse and violence in targeted
communities. The goal of the CNBC national strategy is to summon,
focus, and coordinate the leadership of the black religious community,
in cooperation with the Department of Justice and other Federal
agencies and organizations, to mobilize groups of community residents
to combat juvenile drug abuse and drug-related violence.
The campaign now operates in 37 city alliances, having grown from 5
original target cities. The smallest of these alliances consists of 6
churches and the largest has 135 churches. The NADVC program involves
approximately 2,220 clergy and affects 1.5 million youth and the adults
who influence their lives. NADVC also provides technical support to
four statewide religious coalitions.
As a result of NADVC's technical assistance and training workshops,
project sites have been able to leverage approximately $1.5 million in
private and government funding.
NADVC has contributed to the planning and presentation of numerous
technical assistance and training conferences on violence and substance
abuse prevention and produced a National Training and Site Development
Guide and a video to assist sites implementing the NADVC model.
The Program will be expanded in FY 1996 to address family violence
intervention issues and target up to 6 additional cities, for a total
of 43 cities. Consideration will be given to SafeFutures sites when
selecting the new sites. This program will be implemented by the
current grantee, CNBC. No additional applications will be solicited in
FY 1996.
Community Anti-Drug-Abuse Technical Assistance Voucher Project
The National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (NCNE) has extended
its outreach to community-based grassroots organizations around the
country that are working effectively to solve the problems of juvenile
drug abuse. This project has three goals: (1) to allow various
neighborhood groups to inexpensively purchase needed services through
the use of technical assistance vouchers disbursed by NCNE; (2) to
demonstrate the cost-effective use of vouchers to help neighborhood
groups secure technical assistance for anti-drug-abuse projects to
serve high-risk youth; and (3) to extend OJJDP funded technical
assistance to groups that are often excluded because they lack the
administrative sophistication, technical and grantsmanship skills, and
resources to participate in traditional competitive grant programs.
The Technical Assistance Voucher Project builds upon the strengths
and problem solving capacity existing in low-income communities
nationwide and provides much needed technical and monetary resources to
grassroots organizations that are operating youth anti-drug programs
and activities for high risk youth.
The program awards 15-25 vouchers, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000
annually. Eligible organizations must have: proven effectiveness in
serving a specific constituency; a small operating budget ($150,000
maximum); 501(c)(3) tax exempt status; and a program that targets high-
risk youth and/or juvenile offenders; and leadership that is indigenous
to the community. Vouchers can be used for planning, proposal writing,
program promotion, legal assistance, financial management, and other
activities. This project will be implemented by the current grantee,
NCNE. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Training and Technical Assistance for Family Strengthening Services
Prevention, early intervention, and effective crisis intervention
are critical elements in a community's family support system. In many
communities, one or more of these elements may be missing or programs
may not be coordinated. In addition, technical assistance and training
have not generally been available to community organizations and
agencies providing family strengthening services. In response, OJJDP
awarded a three-year competitive grant in FY 1995 to the University of
Utah's Department of Health and Education to provide training and
technical assistance to communities interested in establishing or
enhancing a continuum of family-strengthening efforts, including parent
training. Grant activities include a literature review, national
search, rating, and selection of family strengthening models,
development and implementation of a marketing and dissemination
strategy, and the selection of sites to receive intensive technical
assistance. The grantee will also convene two regional conferences,
produce user and training-of-trainers guides, and distribute videos of
several family-strengthening workshops.
This program will be implemented by the current grantee, the
University of Utah's Department of Health and Education. No additional
applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Henry Ford Health System*
In FY 1995, the Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) initiated a two-
year program in Detroit, Michigan called ``Reducing Youth Violence
Through School-Based Initiatives.'' The program serves seven elementary
schools and two middle schools that feed into a Detroit high school.
Primary Program activities are to identify juveniles at high risk,
assess the needs of target youth, identify resources available in the
community to serve those needs, coordinate community resources to
create comprehensive programs, and evaluate the efficacy of the
program. Participants include teachers, family members, community
programs and agencies, as well as student and health center staff. This
project will be implemented by the current grantee,
[[Page 21286]]
HFHS. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Jackie Robinson Center*
This three-year project, initially funded in FY 1994, supports
expansion of the Brooklyn USA Athletic Association, Inc.'s Jackie
Robinson Centers for Physical Culture (JRC), which provide a
comprehensive youth development and delinquency and crime prevention
program. Presently, there are 18 school and 3 replication sites in
operation serving in-school youth between the ages of 8 and 18. JRC's
services are designed to prevent New York City youth from becoming
involved in street gangs, violence, or drug and alcohol abuse, and to
alert, educate, and inform youth and their parents about these issues.
Activities conducted by JRC include development of positive peer
groups, youth leadership, social and personal skills training, academic
tutoring, sports, cultural activities, rap and discussion groups,
individual counseling, parent education and involvement, community
events, on-site crisis intervention, referral to treatment, physical/
medical examinations, social service referral, and college and job
placement assistance. JRC has increased its recruitment and
registration from 750 to 6,600 students. Students in each of the 18
sites participated in a minimum of 3 special events during the year.
In FY 1996, JRC will develop a data bank system to monitor the in-
school progress of participating students through indicators such as
attendance, academic, and behavioral records. This project will be
implemented by the current grantee, the Brooklyn USA Athletic
Association, Inc. No additional applications will be solicited in FY
1996.
Child Abuse and Neglect and Dependency Courts
A Community-Based Approach to Combating Child Victimization
Statistics on child abuse and neglect are alarming. In 1994 alone,
an estimated 3.1 million abused or neglected children were reported to
public welfare agencies. More than 1 million of these cases were
substantiated. Each year, an estimated 2,000 childrenmost under 4
years olddie at the hands of parents or caretakers.
Research demonstrating a link between child victimization and later
involvement in violent delinquency suggests the efficacy of preventing
child abuse and neglect and treating the victims of abuse as a means of
reducing later violent and delinquent behavior.
To break the cycle of childhood victimization and violent
delinquency, OJJDP plans to enter into a joint solicitation with other
bureaus of the Office of Justice Programs, in cooperation with other
Federal agencies, to foster comprehensive, community-based, interagency
and multi disciplinary approaches to the prevention, identification,
intervention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
It is anticipated that two to five demonstration projects will be
competitively awarded in FY 1996 as part of a 5-year project period.
Sites will be required to address each of the following program areas:
(1) data collection and evaluation; (2) system reform and
accountability; (3) training and technical support to practitioners;
(4) provision of a continuum of services to protect children and
support families; and (5) prevention education and public information.
Training and technical assistance will be made available to
selected sites in a number of areas, including system reform,
practitioner training, victim advocacy, team-building and interagency
collaboration, family-strengthening services assessment and
implementation, and diversity/cultural awareness training.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an ability to leverage
other available sources of funds and document a readiness to engage in
reform of child protection systems, progress in assessing and
addressing child abuse and neglect, and broad community representation,
commitment, and participation.
Permanent Families for Abused and Neglected Children*
This is a national project to prevent unnecessary foster care
placement of abused and neglected children, to reunify the families of
children in care, and to ensure permanent adoptive homes when
reunification is impossible. The purpose is to ensure that foster care
is used only as a last resort and as a temporary solution. Accordingly,
the project is designed to ensure that government's responsibility to
children in foster care is acknowledged by the appropriate disciplines.
Project activities include national training programs for judges,
social service personnel, citizen volunteers, and others under the
Reasonable Efforts Provision of the Social Security Act, as amended, 42
U.S.C. Sec. 671(a)(15), training in selected States, and implementation
of a model guide for risk assessment.
The project is implemented by the National Council of Juvenile and
Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) . NCJFCJ provides support services to
coordinate programs, trains judges in the Court Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA) program, and implements the Model Court Program in
additional jurisdictions.
In FY 1996, a new program to divert families from the court system
through arbitration under court supervision will be developed in three
model courts using other funding sources. However, the program will be
incorporated into NCJFCJ's permanency planning training.
The Permanent Families for Abused and Neglected Children Program
will be implemented by the current grantee, NCJFCJ. No additional
applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Parents Anonymous, Inc.*
Parents Anonymous, Inc. (PA) establishes groups and adjunct
programs that respond to the needs of families through a mutual support
model of parents and professionals sharing their expertise and their
belief in each individual's ability to grow and change in ways that
create caring and safe environments for themselves and their children.
In FY 1994, OJJDP began supporting PA's Juvenile Justice Project to
enhance PA's mission to prevent child abuse and neglect by developing a
new capability within the PA network to address the needs of high-risk,
inner-city populations, with an emphasis on minority parents.
As a result of OJJDP funding, PA has: developed 31 new groups in 11
states; produced and disseminated the booklet, I Am A Parents Anonymous
Parent, in Spanish; convened a National Leadership Conference in
Washington, D.C. in February 1995 which focused on outreach,
recruitment and services for families of color and collaboration with
juvenile justice agencies; convened an Executive Directors' Leadership
Conference in Claremont, California, in November 1995; conducted
written surveys, focus groups, and intensive telephone interviews to
gather ``best practices'' data; produced and disseminated 12,000 copies
of an expanded Innovations PA newsletter; and produced and disseminated
15,000 copies of The Parent Networker, a new semi-annual publication
focused on issues of diversity.
In FY 1996, PA will convene at least two regional trainings focused
on working with families of color in high-risk settings, produce and
disseminate two technical assistance bulletins, one on parent
involvement as it relates to
[[Page 21287]]
communities and families of color, and the other on strategies for
providing PA programs for incarcerated parents, conduct two
teleconference trainings, provide training and technical assistance to
implement PA services in up to six SafeFutures Program sites, expand
the number of PA affiliates working with the Juvenile Justice Project,
and publish and disseminate a ``PA Best Practices'' manual.
The project will be implemented by the current grantee, PA. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Lowcountry Children's Center, Inc.*
OJJDP will continue to fund Lowcountry Children's Center, Inc.
(LCC) of Charleston, South Carolina in its expansion and coordination
of the services required to create a model multi disciplinary, crisis
intervention program for child victims of sexual assault and their
families. LCC's goals are to: (1) continue their existing multi
disciplinary services; (2) enhance support and coordination between law
enforcement and the Solicitor's (prosecutors) office in cases
concerning allegations of child physical and sexual assault; (3)
provide medical examination in a timely manner; and (4) collect and
analyze data regarding the demographics of child victims and their
families and the characteristics of the perpetrator, the sexual
assault, and the community response. In 1995, as a result of this multi
disciplinary approach, LCC has exceeded its initial projections
regarding the number of individual children who have been assessed and
the number of clinical treatment units provided to these children and
their families (as of December 31, 1995). LCC provided physical
examinations for 194 children alleged to be victims of sexual abuse in
a child-oriented environment and in a timely manner.
This project will be continued by the current grantee, LCC, Inc. No
additional applications will be solicited in FY 1996.
Shay Bilchik,
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Office for Victims of Crime Fiscal Year 1996 Discretionary Program Plan
Victim Services 2000: A Vision for the 21st Century
Introduction
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is pleased to announce its
Discretionary Program Plan for Fiscal Year 1996 (FY96). OVC was created
to help ensure justice and healing for our nation's crime victims. It
carries out this broad mandate by funding crucial victim services,
supporting training for the diverse professionals who work with crime
victims, and developing programs to enhance victims' rights and
services.
OVC administers two formula and many discretionary grant programs
designed to benefit victims. These programs are funded by the Crime
Victims Fund, which is derived from the fines, penalty assessments, and
bail forfeitures of Federal criminal offenders--not from tax dollars.
In FY96, OVC has approximately $220 million to support critical
services to crime victims, national-scope training and technical
assistance, and demonstration programs. Under the Victims of Crime Act
(VOCA), 97 percent of this money is allocated to States for the funding
of victim assistance and compensation programs. Three percent of the
Fund's annual collections must be spent for discretionary programs, and
under the Children's Justice Act, $1.5 million is allocated for
programs to improve the handling of child abuse cases in Indian
Country.
This year's planned scope of activities to benefit crime victims is
OVC's most comprehensive to date and includes the office's first major
demonstration project. Spurred on by the fast approaching millennium,
OVC seeks to create a blueprint for communities to build integrated,
inclusive environments where service providers work together in one
location to care for crime victims. It plans to offer communities the
information, training, tools, and technical assistance that they need
to create supportive, multi-disciplinary facilities designed especially
for victims. Appropriate to this goal, the theme of the program plan is
``Victim Services 2000: A Vision for the 21st Century.''
Last year, OVC launched several major programs:
The National Crime Victims Agenda, a project to (1) serve
as a guide for long-term action to improve victims' rights and services
in future years, and (2) update the 1982 President's Task Force Report
on Victims of Crime by describing the progress on victims' issues
during the past fourteen years;
The publication of bulletins describing promising
practices that are currently used by diverse victim service providers,
including law enforcement, prosecution, medical, and corrections
personnel;
Projects to expand the capacity of the Federal criminal
justice system and Indian Country to respond to crime victims; and
The National Victim Assistance Academy, which offers
comprehensive, cutting edge training presented by leaders in the field
to victim service providers.
Building on the achievements of past efforts and guided by
extensive input from its numerous constituent groups, OVC will fund the
following major FY96 initiatives:
The completion of the National Crime Victims Agenda
project and the publication of a long-term action plan for supporting
crime victims;
Victim Services 2000, a strategy to support communities in
implementing comprehensive, collaborative services for all crime
victims in a victim-centered environment that integrates many of the
promising practices identified by FY95 grantees;
An expanded National Victim Assistance Academy,
simultaneously conducted at three sites through an interactive video
hook-up, which will provide intensive education and training for policy
makers and practitioners, as well as a training of trainers seminar to
build expertise and promote leadership in the victim services field;
The new Training and Technical Assistance Center, which
will funnel resources to local, State, tribal, and Federal agencies to
strengthen their capacity to serve crime victims;
A major effort to improve the response of communities and
the juvenile justice system to victims of juvenile offenders and gang
violence; and
A comprehensive plan to expand victim-witness training in
the Federal system, including funding of full-time trainers for U.S.
Attorneys' Offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
demonstration projects to improve services to white-collar crime and
bank robbery victims, and major new initiatives in Indian Country to
improve the handling of child abuse and domestic violence cases.
Many programs in OVC's FY96 plan grew out of dozens of meetings
with constituent groups around the country and were developed in
partnership with other agencies. These include other bureaus in the
Office of Justice Programs (OJP); Department of Justice (DOJ) offices,
including the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, the Violence Against
Women Office, and the Office for Policy Development; as well as other
Federal agencies. For example, the TRIAD Program, which is a
partnership between older Americans and law enforcement personnel to
improve services to elderly crime victims, has been supported by OVC,
the Bureau of
[[Page 21288]]
Justice Assistance (BJA), and the Administration on Aging at the
Department of Health and Human Services. TRIAD was developed by the
American Association of Retired Persons, the International Association
of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs' Association and has
established over 260 local programs nationwide.
Among the many other examples of collaboration is the Attorney
General's Indian Country Justice Initiative, which funds comprehensive
services for two Indian tribes. It is a cooperative effort between the
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the Department of the
Interior, and various DOJ components, including the Criminal Division,
the Office of Tribal Justice, the Office of Policy Development, and
OVC, as well as other OJP bureaus.
In this plan, the discretionary programs are separated into five
major categories: The Vision, Voices from the Field, Building Vital
Capacity in Victim Services, VOCA Enhancements, and Victim Assistance
in Indian Country.
The first category--``The Vision''--exemplifies the
overall theme and includes the National Crime Victims Agenda project,
the demonstration initiative Victim Services 2000, and the National
Victim Assistance Academy. Other programs in this section are designed
to fill gaps in existing services and gather information on promising
practices that have not yet been identified and examined.
Programs included under the heading ``Voices from the
Field'' offer resources to fund projects that are generated from the
field and will have a national impact on improving services to crime
victims. They may include demonstration projects, training efforts, and
materials such as films, curricula, brochures, and interactive training
packages.
The third category--``Building Vital Capacity in Victim
Services''--includes other programs designed to expand the ability of
local, State, and Federal agencies to serve crime victims. Examples of
these programs are the Trainers Bureau, which provides national experts
to local communities and agencies, and the Community Crisis Response
Program, which makes teams of trained crisis responders immediately
available to assist communities in the wake of major violent incidents.
Programs under ``VOCA Enhancements'' direct discretionary
funds to improve the effectiveness of State victim compensation and
assistance programs, which receive the vast majority of Crime Victims
Fund monies each year. A mentoring program and training conferences are
included.
Finally, ``Victim Assistance in Indian Country'' (VAIC)
encompasses a host of programs designed to meet the needs of tribal
communities in working with crime victims and enhancing system
capacities. One major project supports over 30 direct service programs
on Indian reservations. Another, the Children's Justice Act
Discretionary Grant Program for Native Americans, makes direct grants
to tribes to improve their response to child abuse cases and supports
the development of related training materials.
Within each of the five categories, programs are designated as
competitive or non-competitive. Competitive programs are those for
which OVC is inviting proposals. Non-competitive programs include most
of the programs directed to support enhancements of services to Federal
crime victims, many continuations of current grants, collaborative
efforts in which OVC will participate but not award a new grant, and
specific programmatic activities that OVC will conduct internally.
This plan is a summary of the projects OVC plans to support during
the coming funding cycle. The competitive projects are open to public
and private not-for-profit organizations. Recent legislation has
provided OVC with the authority to fund demonstration projects, but OVC
is not authorized to support research, evaluation, or prevention
activities. Most competitive programs, unless clearly designated for
local, State, or regional purposes, must be national in scope.
Anticipated funding levels, which are listed for some programs for FY97
and future years, are not guaranteed but are contingent upon the amount
of funding that becomes available in those years for discretionary
purposes.
Application Process
A Program Announcement and Application Kit, which will be available
beginning May 20, 1996 will serve as a request for proposals. It will
contain detailed descriptions of competitive programs and complete
forms and instructions for developing an application. To receive a
Program Announcement and Application Kit, please call 202/307-5983 or
write to: Office for Victims of Crime, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite
200, NW, Washington, D.C. 20531.
Competitive Programs. The Program Announcement and Application Kit
will describe for each competitive program: the purpose of the program,
background, goal, program strategy, eligibility requirements, award
period, award amount, and application due date. Application due dates
will vary for different programs. A panel of experts will be
established for most competitive program areas to review and rank the
applications. Awards will be made to organizations and agencies
offering the greatest potential for achieving the programs' goals on
the basis of information provided in the applicants' proposals and
assessments of past performance on OVC/OJP grants. Funding decisions
will be made by the Director of OVC. All applications for competitive
programs are due July 15, 1996 except for the Field Generated/National
Impact Projects and the Action Partnerships with Professional
Organizations. Applications for these two projects are due September 1,
1996.
Non-Competitive Programs. OVC staff will contact applicants for
non-competitive programs to discuss application requirements and due
dates.
Solicitation of Concept Papers. OVC invites eligible public and
private not-for-profit agencies to submit concept papers for potential
funding in FY97. Agencies submitting outstanding concept papers will be
invited to submit complete proposals for funding consideration. Concept
papers will be accepted on two dates: October 1, 1996 and February 1,
1997.
We hope that the following program plan will generate creative and
comprehensive proposals from diverse applicants and will nurture
improved and expanded services needed to ensure justice and healing for
all crime victims.
Aileen Adams,
Director, Office for Victims of Crime.
Summary of Competitive Projects
To facilitate applications, competitive projects which are
described in various places throughout the program plan are together
below:
1. Victim Services 2000 ($200,000 in FY96 and substantial continuation
of funding in FY97-2000)
2. Victims of Gang Violence ($125,000 in FY96 and in FY97)
3. Juvenile Court Response to Victims of Juvenile Offenders ($150,000
in FY96 and in FY97)
4. School Demonstration Projects to Assist Victims and Witnesses
($200,000 in FY97)
5. Sexual Victimization of Youth Symposium ($50,000 in FY96)
6. Assisting Disabled Victims of Crime Symposium ($50,000 in FY96)
7. Victim Assistance for Stalking Victims ($75,000 in FY96 and in FY97)
8. Cultural Considerations in Assisting Victims of Sexual and Physical
[[Page 21289]]
Violence ($75,000 in FY96 and in FY97)
9. Restitution: Promising Practices ($100,000 in FY96)
10. Sexual Assault Curriculum and Training Project ($100,000 in FY96
and in FY97)
11. Field Generated National Impact Projects ($550,000 in FY96 and in
FY97)
12. Concept Papers for FY97 ($600,000 in FY97)
13. State and Regional Conference Support Initiative ($75,000 in FY96)
14. Innovative Federal Victim and Witness Practices ($100,000 in FY96)
15. Capacity Building Technical Assistance (up to $10,000 per site in
FY96)
16. Action Partnerships with Professional Organizations ($120,000 in
FY97)
17. Resource Materials for Victim Organizations ($125,000 in FY96)
18. OVC ``Help'' Series ($30,000 in FY97)
19. Regional Technical Assistance Meetings for State VOCA
Administrators ($25,000 in FY97)
20. Children's Advocacy Centers in Indian Country ($50,000 in FY96)
21. Topic-Specific Monographs ($75,000 in FY96)
I. The Vision
A. Comprehensive Initiatives
1. The National Crime Victims Agenda ($125,000)--Non-Competitive
The National Crime Victims Agenda report will be published in 1996.
The report will focus on promising practices in a variety of
disciplines and crime victim categories, and will encourage reforms
that build on the recommendations presented in the 1982 Final Report of
the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime. A funding priority for
OVC in 1997 is to support programs that implement key recommendations
of the Agenda report.
2. Victim Services 2000 ($200,000 in FY96 and Substantial Continuation
of Funding in FY97-2000)--Competitive
Victim Services 2000 will support the development of a
comprehensive victim service system in at least two select
communities--one in an urban setting and the other in a rural area. The
purpose of this initiative is to support comprehensive, collaborative
services for all crime victims in a victim-centered environment.
Demonstration sites will involve victim service practitioners, criminal
justice and local emergency response personnel, support groups, medical
and mental health providers, clergy, schools, youth, and youth workers
as active participants in the planning and implementation of their
programs. Sites also will be encouraged to develop linkages with the
media, professional educators, legislators and other elected leaders,
community leaders, the private sector, professional associations, and
others to improve services to victims. The integration of recently
developed technologies, special service settings, community-based
programs, appropriate State and local laws, interagency linkages, and
an internal assessment process will be critical to the success of these
Victim Services 2000 laboratories, which will function as training
sites for other communities.
The initiative will require three phases: community planning and
model development, component implementation, and training and
information dissemination. During the first phase, sites will conduct a
collaborative needs assessment and planning process, creating a model
for a comprehensive victim service environment in their communities and
a detailed plan for implementing the model. In subsequent years, they
will implement the plan by enhancing existing services, filling service
gaps, and integrating new promising programs and strategies into their
system of services. Once the demonstration sites are fully implemented,
they will assume two additional functions: to serve as a training
laboratory for victim service personnel from other communities and to
produce information useful to others wishing to replicate or adapt
their model.
The solicitation for the initiative will be directed toward
communities that have already made substantial progress in developing a
comprehensive and coordinated system of victim services. Applicants are
expected to collaborate with other relevant public and private agencies
that serve crime victims locally and document these relationships
through written interagency agreements and commitments to share
resources. First year funding will be in the amount of $100,000 for
each site. Based upon grantee performance and availability of future
funds, substantial funding for four subsequent years is anticipated.
3. National Victim Assistance Academy
In 1995, OVC initiated the National Victim Assistance Academy, the
first course of its kind to train victim practitioners and policy
makers. The Academy offered basic and advanced interdisciplinary victim
assistance training to students from across the country. In 1996, OVC
will expand the effort by weaving cutting edge and tested training
materials into a program that encourages excellence in leadership and
in daily practice. The Academy will offer specialized training topics,
basic and advanced instruction, and a train the trainer series to meet
the needs of victim service providers and criminal justice personnel at
local, tribal, State, and Federal levels. In addition, OVC will conduct
a program assessment and then craft a plan for building a
comprehensive, multi-faceted Academy that coordinates the best adult
education training technologies with OVC's resources and current
training programs.
National Victim Assistance Academy Programs ($207,000)--Non-
Competitive. OVC will provide second year funding for a five-day
national victim assistance seminar for 120 victim service providers
from the Federal, State, tribal, and local levels. The seminar will
originate from a university campus located in Washington, D.C., and the
instruction will be simultaneously broadcast to two additional
campuses--one located in Kansas and the other in California. Each site
will accommodate 40 students. In addition, the seminar faculty will
conduct a two and one half day Train the Trainers program in
Washington, D.C. for 30 victim service professionals who may serve as
future seminar faculty in OVC or State sponsored victim service
provider courses.
Train the Trainer Seminar Series ($450,000)--Non-Competitive.
Another major component of the Academy is a train the trainer seminar
series. Each year, several topics are identified for which there is an
evident shortage of qualified trainers to address the needs of the
field. For FY96, four topics have been identified to offer in this
series: Hate/Bias Crime, Victim Assistance in Community Corrections,
Responding to Staff Victimization in Correctional Agencies, and Death
Notification. The Train the Trainer Seminar Series is described in
greater detail below under ``Building Vital Capacity in Victim
Services, Comprehensive Initiatives.''
Victim Assistance Training Strategies ($25,000)--Non-Competitive.
This project will assess the various strategies used by OVC to offer
training to the field, and lay the framework for an expanded Academy
which will include many of those strategies as Academy components. This
project is described below under ``Building Vital Capacity in Victim
Services, Non-Competitive Projects.''
[[Page 21290]]
4. Comprehensive Initiative To Improve Services to Victims of Gang and
Other Juvenile Violence
In FY96, OVC will launch a multi-faceted initiative to address the
serious and growing problem of gang violence and its devastating impact
on individuals and communities. The initiative includes the following
component projects:
Victims of Gang Violence ($125,000 in FY96 and in FY97)--
Competitive. This project will develop technical assistance materials
to help victim service providers better serve victims of gang-related
crime. Due to the fear of retaliation, revenge, and intimidation that
commonly accompany gang violence, crime victims or their survivors are
often afraid to exercise certain basic rights such as appearing in
court, making an impact statement, pursuing restitution, or
participating in other case events. In addition, these victims are
often blamed for the violence or dismissed as contributing to the
crime. This project will identify and document the successful ways
agencies and communities are serving these victims and their families
and describe practical applications for criminal justice and victim
services staff. A package of technical assistance materials will be
developed.
Simultaneously, the grantee will work with the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention's (OJJDP) demonstration sites, which
are currently implementing that office's Comprehensive Community-Wide
Approach to Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Program, and
assist them in developing policies, procedures, and services that
address the needs of the victims of gang violence. It is anticipated
that this assistance process will aid the grantee in developing the
technical assistance package and also provide ample opportunity for
pilot-testing the materials.
Juvenile Court Response to Victims of Juvenile
Offenders ($150,000 in FY96 and in FY97)--Competitive. In 1995, OVC
funded three regional forums to assess the needs of victims of
juvenile offenders and to propose action steps to address these
needs. Although the recommendations generated by these forums are
not yet available, information learned in the assessment phase of
the project can serve as a starting point for focusing additional
resources on areas of identified need. One such area is information
and education on victim-related issues for juvenile court personnel
and probation staff.
The recipient of this grant will conduct a nationwide survey of
practices and programs of juvenile courts that address the needs of
crime victims. From information gathered by the survey and through a
general search for additional promising practices, the grantee will
develop a training and technical assistance package. The package should
cover such topics as victims' legal and procedural rights, victim
impact statements, restitution orders, and other programs and services
that target victims of juvenile offenders for services or involve them
in the court process. While the package will be directed primarily
toward an audience of juvenile court personnel and probation staff, it
also should provide useful information for victim service providers who
work with victims of juvenile offenders. A training event will pilot-
test the materials.
In FY97, court jurisdictions will be invited to submit applications
to receive intensive training and technical assistance from the
grantee. Applicants with extensive prior experience in providing
judicial education and training are encouraged to apply for this grant.
Symposium on Gang Violence ($25,000)--Non-Competitive. Together
with OJJDP, OVC will co-sponsor a one-day meeting of gang violence
victims and victim service providers in conjunction with a larger
conference on gang violence being held in June 1996. Participants will
explore the strategies that seem to work in their communities, the
current connections that exist among organizations serving victims of
gang violence, the value in bringing these groups together, and the
role that government can play in helping to reduce gang violence.
Funding will cover expenses for victims of gang violence and for
service providers to attend a planning session and the gang violence
conference.
School Demonstration Projects to Assist Victims and Witnesses
($200,000 In FY97)--Competitive. OVC plans to dedicate $200,000 to
support two demonstration programs located in schools to assist pre-
teen and teenage victims and witnesses of gang violence and other
juvenile crimes. The purpose of these projects is to establish
comprehensive programs for these young victims which can be replicated
in additional communities. To be eligible for the project, a school
should have or be willing to offer the following resources: an
acceptable course of study on victim issues, which includes material on
the impact of crime, presented in part by victims themselves; training
on peer support, crisis response, and mediation techniques; individual
and group counseling services; avenues for parental involvement;
liaison with local advocacy programs to support youth who must deal
with the court system; and support services for victimized teachers.
Teleconference for Teachers on Staff Victimization. In FY97, OVC
anticipates funding a teleconference for teachers on the topic of staff
victimization, that is, victimization in the school and elsewhere that
occurs as a consequence of their professional role.
B. Competitive Projects
1. Issue Symposia ($100,000)
OVC will fund two two-day symposia in the amount of $50,000 each on
important and emerging topics in the victims field. As a substantive
understanding of each topic is critical to the success of this program,
it is likely that separate awards will be made to applicant
organizations displaying the greatest depth of knowledge and experience
in each area. The purpose of the symposia is to stimulate discussion on
specific victim-related issues and to generate recommendations and
action plans for addressing the issues effectively. Between 15 and 20
experts in a given topic area will be invited to attend each event. The
symposium facilitator will survey the field for promising and model
practices, relevant research and/or evaluation findings, and available
statistics, and will provide this material to participants in advance
of the event. The agenda will include expert presentations, round-table
discussions, and the development of an action plan for the field that
outlines specific steps for outreach, training and technical
assistance, and public education. Specific recommendations for
practitioners also will be generated where appropriate. For each event,
the facilitator will report on the group's findings, recommendations,
and action plan. These highlights will be summarized in a short
monograph suitable for publication as an OVC bulletin. The symposia
topics are:
Sexual Victimization of Youth. National-scope studies such as Rape
in America have documented the prevalence of sexual violence in the
lives of youth. Failure to intervene during these formative years can
lead to long lasting mental health problems and vulnerability to
further victimization. Nonetheless, adolescent and pre-adolescent
victims of sexual violence remain a population underserved by victim
assistance professionals. The symposium ``Sexual Victimization of
Youth'' will focus on effective means of reaching and assisting young
victims.
Assisting Disabled Victims of Crime. Persons with physical and
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developmental disabilities face increased vulnerability to crime
victimization, and at the same time, remain a population acutely
underserved by victim assistance providers. Passage of the Americans
with Disabilities Act has heightened the visibility of the issue and
prompted thought about how service providers can best extend the reach
of their services to disabled victims. ``Assisting Disabled Victims of
Crime'' will explore issues of service accessibility and
appropriateness, as well as legal considerations arising from the law.
2. Victim Assistance for Stalking Victims ($75,000 in FY96 and in FY97)
Although almost every State has passed anti-stalking legislation
and developed a model code, communities are challenged with enforcing
the new laws. This project will build upon the model anti-stalking code
and recommendations developed by the National Criminal Justice
Association under grants from OVC, the National Institute of Justice
(NIJ), and BJA. The project will support a survey of promising
practices for effectively managing stalking cases in the criminal
justice system, with particular attention to protection and support for
victims. The grant recipient will produce a compendium of promising
practices in States and localities, with an in-depth focus on the case
management systems implemented at three model sites. The grantee will
examine strategies for coordination between victim assistance providers
and members of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement,
prosecutors, and judges. The grantee also will document innovative laws
and policies, relevant and reliable case law, and the use of technology
(e.g., special monitoring equipment) to protect victims. The grantee's
final compendium will describe key elements of a model system response
to stalking victims. Grant activities will cover two years with $75,000
available in FY96 and an additional $75,000 available for training and
technical assistance in FY97.
3. Cultural Considerations in Assisting Victims of Sexual and Physical
Violence ($75,000 in FY96 and in FY97)
Female victims of sexual and physical violence come from many
cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The diversity of this population
presents victim advocates and criminal justice professionals with
unique challenges in outreach and service delivery. Language barriers,
cultural stigmas attached to being sexually victimized or battered, and
lack of awareness of the availability of services often deprive women
and their children of critical victim assistance services and criminal
justice protections. This program will train domestic violence and
sexual assault victim advocates, law enforcement, and attorneys to be
more responsive to the female victims of diverse cultural and ethnic
backgrounds. A major portion of the training will be devoted to
implementation of the Violence Against Women provisions of the Violent
Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
4. Restitution: Promising Practices ($100,000)
Restitution is a direct and positive way to hold offenders
accountable for the harm caused by their offenses. With widespread
support from many victims and members of the general public,
restitution has increasingly become mandatory for offenders in both
juvenile and adult courts at the local, State, and Federal levels. Yet
many jurisdictions find that orders of restitution are extremely
difficult to enforce. Barriers to enforcement include inadequate
administrative policies and practices, as well as the indigence of some
offenders. This project, jointly sponsored by OVC and BJA, will
identify promising approaches used in the criminal and juvenile justice
systems to establish and enforce orders of restitution and to ensure
that victims receive the payments due them. Such approaches might
include the use of efficient, simple-to-use software programs to track
and manage restitution orders; procedures for assessing victim losses
to determine appropriate amounts of restitution to order; and
strategies for collecting restitution payments. The grantee will
produce a compendium of promising practices and accompanying training
and technical assistance materials to assist jurisdictions that wish to
implement them. In addition, limited technical assistance will be
provided to sites seeking to improve their capacity to carry out court-
ordered restitution.
5. Sexual Assault Curriculum and Training Project ($100,000 in FY96 and
in FY97)
OVC will fund a three phased project to develop comprehensive
training for rape crisis counselors and victim advocates who are
responsible for providing services and securing rights for adult
victims of sexual assault. In phase one of the project, the grantee
will conduct an extensive literature search and review and develop a
comprehensive training curriculum and train the trainer guidebook for
program managers and statewide coalition leaders. The curriculum will
present effective service delivery strategies, including crisis
counseling, support groups, criminal justice advocacy, outreach, and
referral services. Since the curriculum and guidebook will build upon
existing training curricula and will include standard core elements,
these products can be developed concurrently with the literature
review. Phase two of the project will focus on the delivery of training
to service providers and victim advocates at national, regional, and
statewide training events. In the final phase of the project, it is
anticipated that the grantee will present the training as part of the
train the trainer component of the OVC National Victim Assistance
Academy. In addition, the grantee will assess the training and make
recommendations for modifications and further dissemination of
materials. Highlights of the training program will be summarized in a
short monograph suitable for publication as an OVC bulletin.
Continuation funding in FY98 will be considered, depending upon the
success of the project.
C. Non-Competitive Projects
1. Law School Clinics as Resources Against Family Violence ($25,000)
In collaboration with the Violence Against Women Grants Office and
the American Bar Association, OVC will support regional training
conferences focusing on community responses to family violence. The
target audience of the conference series consists of victim advocates
and law school clinic personnel. The purpose of the grant is to
encourage law school clinics to develop or enhance clinical programs
that address family violence issues and to facilitate a recognition
among victim advocates of law schools as valuable resources. The
grantee will develop a monograph describing innovative services for
family violence victims which will be disseminated to law schools
nationwide.
2. Teleconference on Staff Victimization in Correctional Facilities
($50,000)
A two-hour teleconference on staff victimization in juvenile and
adult correctional facilities will be conducted in collaboration with
the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and OJJDP. The
teleconference, transmitted via satellite, will allow participants to
view the event ``live'' on a television or a large projection screen
and ask questions of the experts by telephone during the program. OVC,
OJJDP, and NIC staff will jointly plan the teleconference agenda. They
will competitively contract for both the
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production of short videotaped segments to highlight key elements of
the topic and the ``uplink'' transmission of the event. Sites will
register to serve as host sites, and each will designate a contact
person to coordinate the teleconference, duplicate camera-ready
materials for the participants, and submit participant evaluations to
OVC.
3. Domestic Violence Against Women Technical Assistance Program
Last year, OVC provided seed money so that customized, multi-
disciplinary training could be provided to jurisdictions seeking to
create a coordinated response to family violence. In 1996, OVC will
continue to work with the Violence Against Women Grants Office to
provide Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) grantees
technical assistance, including site visits for family violence teams
to observe innovative programs in operation.
4. Safe Kids/Safe Streets: Community Based Approaches To Intervening in
Child Abuse and Neglect ($100,000 in FY97)
OVC will join with other OJP Bureaus to support the Child Safe
Project, which will coordinate Federal, State, and local resources into
a comprehensive prevention and intervention program for child victims
and their families. This OJP-wide program will create systemic reforms
to improve services for abused children; provide training and technical
assistance support to practitioners who serve child victims and their
families; strengthen a continuum of family support services to assure
that assessment, counseling, and victim assistance services are
available; assure the uniformity of evaluation protocols across sites;
and provide prevention education and public information. OVC will
provide selected grantees with training, technical assistance, and
training materials on improving services for child victims. Assistance
will focus on expanding the availability of medical services to
sexually and physically abused children and mentoring or training
programs for communities wishing to establish a Children's Advocacy
Center. New technologies, use of specially trained nurse practitioners,
and coordination with facilities that are providing quality forensic
examinations and other medical services to child victims are some of
the approaches that will be utilized to improve medical services for
young victims.
5. Child Sexual Exploitation: Improving Investigations and Protecting
Victims ($189,000)
OVC and OJJDP will jointly support the continuation of a project
that has developed a model for linking criminal justice personnel
across jurisdictional boundaries and sources of victim assistance when
sexually exploited children or youth are identified. During this phase,
the grantee will: develop a ``promising practices'' report to document
varying approaches to multi-jurisdictional collaboration; organize a
conference, in conjunction with the 1997 National Symposium on Child
Sexual Abuse, to bring together existing multi-jurisdictional teams;
and develop a videotape and users' guide to showcase models for multi-
jurisdictional collaboration.
6. FBI Victim-Witness Programs ($100,000)
OVC will provide up to $100,000 to support one demonstration
victim-witness program in an FBI field office or resident agency. OVC
will work with the FBI's Victim-Witness Assistance Program to announce
the availability of the funding to field agencies. Applicant sites will
submit a proposed implementation plan and budget. The selected project
will identify, implement, and document promising practices for working
with crime victims. Information about the results of this demonstration
program will be distributed to other FBI field offices for possible
replication. OVC will provide funding for one year, with a possible
second year renewal.
7. U.S. Attorney Victim-Witness Program ($150,000)
OVC and BJA will provide joint second year funding to support a
demonstration victim-witness assistance program in the Eastern District
of Wisconsin U.S. Attorney's Office. The purpose of the program is to
improve the capability of U.S. Attorneys' Offices to respond to the
rights and needs of Federal crime victims. Funds provide for the hiring
of a victim-witness counselor advocate, a community drug victim
specialist, and a victim-witness paralegal assistant. OVC and the U.S.
Attorney's Office will compile the program's promising practices and
disseminate them to other U.S. Attorneys Offices for replication.
8. National Symposium on Child Sexual Abuse ($37,000)
OVC will support the participation of teams of Federal criminal
justice personnel nominated by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices to attend
the National Symposium on Child Sexual Abuse. OVC will also sponsor
workshops specific to the unique dynamics attendant to Federal sexual
abuse cases.
9. White-Collar Crime Victim Advocate Pilot Project ($100,000)
OVC will support a pilot project in the Northern District of
California U.S. Attorney's Office to improve services for white-collar
crime victims. The project will identify, implement, and document
promising practices for working with white-collar crime victims. Funds
will be used to hire a white-collar crime victim advocate who will aid
in identifying and recovering assets for victims. The advocate will
work under the direction of the Chief of the Economic Crimes Division
and will work closely with other components including the Asset
Forfeiture Division, criminal investigators, the Financial Litigation
Unit, U.S. Marshals, and the Victim-Witness Coordinator. Funds will
also provide for computer support and travel. As part of the project, a
representative of the U.S. Attorney's Office will participate in an ad-
hoc working group which will: (1) Identify and assess materials and
practices that could benefit white-collar crime victims; (2) produce a
resource kit that includes a victim pamphlet, victim handbook, and
videotape; and (3) create a Victim-Witness Coordinator guide to
assisting white-collar crime victims. Information about the results of
this demonstration program will be distributed to other U.S. Attorneys
Offices for possible replication.
10. U.S. Parole Commission Interagency Agreement ($54,000)
Through an interagency agreement with the U.S. Parole Commission,
OVC will fund a Victim-Witness Coordinator position to provide services
for victims and witnesses with respect to attendance at Federal parole
revocation hearings and notification of the results of those hearings.
The Victim-Witness Coordinator also will coordinate with the Federal
Bureau of Prisons when offenders are returned to prison to ensure that
victims of the original Federal offenses are notified of the offenders'
return to prison, any subsequent parole considerations, and the
offenders' eventual release. At the end of the first year of this
project, the Parole Commission will conduct an evaluation of the
effort, including a review of case files for victim and witness
appearance rates, and will survey victims, witnesses, and parole staff
through questionnaires or phone interviews. The results of this review
and survey may provide information
[[Page 21293]]
that can be used in State systems. The project might also document
promising practices for Federal cases in which post-release supervision
is provided by United States Probation Officers and in revocation
proceedings conducted by the Federal Courts.
11. Children's Advocacy Center Pilot Project ($95,000)
Through funds provided to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the
District of Columbia, OVC will support the establishment of a
Children's Advocacy Center demonstration site for Federal prosecutors
and other agencies. The Center will showcase interagency services in a
child-oriented environment. The multi-disciplinary Center will reduce
the trauma to children by implementing a joint interview/assessment
process among key agencies, thus minimizing the number of interviews.
Program materials such as forms, letters, memoranda of agreement,
policies, procedures, brochures, and informational materials for child
victims and their families will be compiled and shared with other sites
wishing to replicate or develop similar services for child victims.
12. International Victim Assistance Summit ($15,000)
OVC will provide funding to assist the National Organization for
Victim Assistance in organizing and implementing a summit on
international victim assistance issues involving expert leaders from
around the world.
II. Voices From the Field
A. Comprehensive Initiatives
1. Field Generated National Impact Projects ($550,000 in FY96 and in
FY97)--Competitive
This program is designed to give the field wide latitude in making
proposals to improve practices and enhance crime victims' access to
rights and services. OVC invites the submission of proposals for
training and technical assistance projects that: (1) Address an area of
ongoing or emerging need; (2) are national in scope or will have a
national impact; and (3) will provide products or materials that may be
easily adapted, replicated, and disseminated to practitioners in the
field. Proposals must be congruent with OVC's discretionary funding
authority to support demonstration, training, and technical assistance
projects that improve the response to and services for crime victims.
Activities outside the scope of OVC's funding authority include
prevention, treatment for perpetrators, research, evaluation, and other
activities not directly linked to assisting crime victims. Proposed
projects may range from $50,000 to $100,000. Consideration will be
given to projects that warrant multi-year funding based on project
design. However, each phase should be capable of standing alone.
Examples of the kinds of activities that can be supported include, but
are not limited to:
One to two day symposia on promising practices in a given
topic area. Products will include an inventory of practices and
programs; a list of expert trainers/practitioners; and symposia
proceedings, and suggested strategies for action.
Training programs for trainers and practitioners in a
given program area. Train the trainer programs using existing and
demonstrated successful curricula as well as the development of new
training materials are encouraged. Products will include a survey of
promising practices for new programs or an update of the curricula for
existing programs; development and pilot-testing of training curricula
and participant manuals; and plans to train with or directly
disseminate the training products.
Compendia of promising practices and program guidelines.
Products will include a survey of the field; inventory and
identification of promising approaches; identification of core
programmatic elements and development of model programs or practices
briefs; and publication of a short bulletin.
Training videotapes with instructional booklets, for use
by a trainer or as stand-alone training aids.
Innovative applications of technology, such as interactive
computerized training materials, or instruction and guidance in using
other emerging technologies to inform, assist, or improve services to
crime victims.
Demonstration projects built on existing innovative
programs that can serve as learning laboratories or production of
information that enables others to replicate promising policies,
practices, or entire programs.
Examples of topics might include, but are not limited to: victim
notification systems; training programs for judges, prosecutors, and
law enforcement officers; train the trainer programs using curricula
which have been demonstrated to be successful; victim assistance
programs tailored to meet the unique needs of campus, white-collar
crime, and bank robbery victims; and assistance practices that are
responsive to ``hidden'' or underserved victim populations.
Applicants for train the trainer projects must include the
curriculum they intend to use. Proposals involving collaboration
between public, not-for-profit, and private sector organizations are
encouraged.
OVC also is seeking to stimulate a response to crime victims from
diverse fields such as the religious community, private non-profit
agencies that link with the corporate community to address victim
issues (such as workplace violence), and partnerships between
organizations that result in expanded services for crime victims. In
order to draw diverse skill, experience, and knowledge from the range
of organizations that address crime victim issues, no more than two
proposals or more than $150,000 will be considered for award to any
single victim organization in a single year.
B. Competitive Programs
1. Solicitation of Concept Papers for FY97 ($600,000)
Innovative Training, Technical Assistance and Demonstration Projects
In FY96, OVC anticipates funding five or six of the highest ranking
applications submitted under ``Field Generated National Impact
Projects,'' which is described above. OVC is also inviting the
submission of concept papers on victim-related topics. OVC will review
and rank the papers, and invite the highest ranking applicants to
submit full proposals for FY97 funding consideration. Concept papers
will enable OVC to explore new ideas without burdening prospective
applicants, and also permit OVC to project more accurately the nature
and amount of future grant awards. To be considered for funding,
concept papers must address program areas within OVC's funding
authority. Please see ``Field Generated National Impact Projects''
above. The examples provided, which illustrate permissible activities,
are not intended to limit innovative ideas or approaches; the examples
should not be construed as the only areas of interest or topics that
will be funded. OVC's Program Announcement and Application Kit will
give further guidance on preparing and submitting concept papers, which
are due October 1, 1996 or February 1, 1997 for two cycles of review
and funding.
Special Focus: Assisting the Victims of Crime in the Adjudicative and
Administrative Aspects of Criminal, Civil, and Tribal Courts
OVC recognizes the central role courts play in ensuring the
delivery of justice, enhancing victims' perceptions that
[[Page 21294]]
justice has been done, and improving their sense of safety and redress.
In recent years, court personnel--judges, court administrators, and
clerks of court--have increasingly developed innovative strategies for
assisting the victims of crime in both adjudicative and administrative
aspects of criminal, civil, tribal, and juvenile courts. OVC seeks
concept papers from courts, court-related organizations, and other
agencies with relevant expertise to support activities that enhance or
demonstrate innovations in courts' responses to and activities with
victims of crime, and that can be replicated in other jurisdictions.
Such court activities can involve, but are not limited to: (1) The
development and delivery of education and training or curricula
development for court personnel, victim advocates, and victims, with
particular emphasis on increasing coordination with the prosecutor and
other components of the criminal justice system; (2) activities to
improve victims' access to justice, including the access of those
proceeding pro se in related civil/domestic relations matters; (3)
diagnostic services and referrals to appropriate community services;
(4) programs to increase the safety of victims and witnesses in cases
of stalking, threats, and intimidation and to reduce their exposure to
the offender and the offender's supporters throughout the trial period;
and (5) programs that ensure victims are kept informed of, prepared
for, and have the opportunity to be heard at the various stages of the
court process. Other issues of particular interest that proposed
projects might address are: the impact of the media in high profile
cases; gaining acceptance and understanding of the role of victim
advocates in the judicial system; and procedures that limit the trauma
of testimony by making accommodations to victims with special needs,
such as children and the disabled.
2. State and Regional Conference Support Initiative ($75,000)
In FY96, OVC will continue its successful Conference Support
Training Initiative. This comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to
training has provided an opportunity for nearly 10,000 victim
assistance providers, crime victims, law enforcement officials,
prosecutors, and allied professionals to attend cost-effective State,
regional, and national victim assistance conferences. Over the past
three years, OVC has co-sponsored 35 State and regional victim
assistance conferences, as well as tracks of victim assistance training
at four national conferences of allied professions. Through this
initiative, OVC will continue to fund State and regional training
events. Priority funding consideration will be given to States that
have not previously participated in this project. A portion of the
training workshops must be devoted to Federal crime victim issues.
These issues may include bank robbery, bias/hate crimes, white-collar
crime, and crimes occurring on Federal lands or in Indian Country.
3. Innovative Federal Victim and Witness Practices ($100,000)
OVC will entertain proposals for identifying promising practices in
addressing Federal victim and witness-related issues.
C. Non-Competitive Projects
1. Federal Crime Victim Assistance Fund ($75,000)
Through an interagency agreement with the Executive Office of U.S.
Attorneys, OVC will provide financial assistance to victims of Federal
crime when other resources are not available. OVC will respond to
requests from individual U.S. Attorneys' Offices for assistance in
meeting the direct and immediate needs of Federal crime victims.
2. District Specific Training ($80,000)
OVC will provide funding to Federal Districts to support training
conferences and seminars addressing Federal victims' rights issues and
compliance with the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness
Assistance. The purpose of this program is to allow U.S. Attorneys'
Offices to sponsor training events that meet local or regional needs.
3. Oklahoma City Federal Victim Assistance Program ($100,000 in FY96
and in FY97)
Through an interagency agreement with the Executive Office of U.S.
Attorneys, OVC will make funding available to aid victims of the Alfred
P. Murrah Federal building bombing. OVC will respond to requests from
the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Oklahoma for
financial assistance to support transportation to the trial in Denver,
Colorado, for temporary shelter, and for crisis counseling. OVC will
make an additional $100,000 available for this program in FY97.
III. Building Vital Capacity in Victim Services
A. Comprehensive Initiatives
1. OVC Resource Center ($350,000)--Non-Competitive
The OVC Resource Center is a national clearinghouse of information
concerning victim and witness assistance programs, victim compensation
programs, and organizations from the private sector that assist victims
and witnesses. It serves a broad constituency of individuals and
organizations with professional, academic, and advocacy-related
interests in the welfare of crime victims, including victim service
providers, law enforcement agencies, clergy, prosecutors, health care
practitioners, legislators, researchers, and victims. Key projects
anticipated during FY96 include the establishment and distribution of
an OVC newsletter, the development of new Internet/World Wide Web-based
resources, and extensive conference activity. This initiative is
supported jointly by OVC and BJA.
2. Training and Technical Assistance Center
In recent years, OVC has developed several new mechanisms to direct
training and technical assistance toward building the capacities of
victim service agencies, frequently in response to requests from
individual agencies for help in dealing with specific topics or
problems. The OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center will offer a
centralized access point for information about OVC's training and
technical assistance resources. It will develop and disseminate
training and technical assistance materials on topics of interest to
the field, and mobilize specialized teams to address these topics and
other identified areas of need. The Center also will assess and
evaluate the training and technical assistance provided by Center
components to ensure that high standards of quality are maintained.
During FY96, OVC will publish a Request for Proposal (RFP) to contract
services for FY97-2000.
The Training and Technical Assistance Center will include:
Capacity Building Technical Assistance--Competitive. OVC is
launching a technical assistance program designed to strengthen
community-based statewide and national victim assistance organizations,
coalitions, and support groups. There are currently over 8,000 local
victim service programs, hundreds of statewide coalitions, and nearly a
dozen national
[[Page 21295]]
victim organizations that have worked to make the criminal justice and
social service systems more responsive to the needs and rights of crime
victims. Although their accomplishments have been impressive, many
grassroots, volunteer-powered agencies need organizational development
assistance in order to ensure their continuation and nurture future
growth. Through this program, such agencies may request the assistance
of an expert or team of experts who can assess their current operations
and advise them on strengthening their organizational structure and
funding base, suggest strategies for networking and outreach, support
their capacity to seed new chapters or services, and provide leadership
and board development training. Interested organizations may apply to
OVC for Capacity Building Technical Assistance, following application
guidelines which will be described in the Program Announcement and
Application Kit. The five top-ranking applicants will receive up to
$10,000 in intensive, individualized technical assistance. This project
will be coordinated with OVC's organizational development resource kit
described below under the heading, ``Resource Materials for Victim
Organizations.''
Trainers Bureau ($165,000 in FY96)--Non-Competitive. The Trainers
Bureau is a mechanism for supporting cost-effective training and
technical assistance to victim assistance programs and other agencies
that deal with crime victims. Since its creation in 1994, the program
has responded to more than 80 requests for a broad range of assistance.
During FY96, OVC will publish a Request for Proposal (RFP) to contract
services for FY97-2000. It is anticipated that this program will
continue without interruption, and public and private not-for-profit
agencies can continue to request assistance by contacting OVC for
application instructions. BJA is collaborating with OVC in supporting
this program.
The Trainer's Bureau also will support a conference for OVC's
discretionary grantees that provides information on the best strategies
for developing and conducting effective training events, incorporates
new technologies, involves OVC grantees in summarizing their projects
and accomplishments, and focuses on OVC staff and grantee reciprocal
responsibilities. The purpose is to share information about all
projects, promote networking, and provide a forum to discuss future
activities that will improve the quality of OVC training and technical
assistance products and services.
Community Crisis Response (CCR) ($25,000)--Non-Competitive. Through
CCR, which was formerly called Immediate Response to Emerging Issues
(IREP), OVC will continue to provide rapid response to requests for
emergency training or technical assistance from communities and
Federal, State, and local agencies responding to a major crisis
involving multiple victims. Communities and agencies can continue to
request assistance by contacting OVC for application instructions.
Victim Assistance Partnerships and Strategies for the 1996
Olympics--Non-Competitive. OVC will provide support to public and
private partnerships in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding communities to
assist them in addressing the increased and special needs of people
victimized during the 1996 Olympic Games. The designated lead local
agency will convene a planning committee of Federal, State, and local
officials and victim advocates to develop a crisis response plan and
protocols and to facilitate memoranda of understanding among the
relevant agencies to carry out the plan.
Conference and Meeting Support ($80,000)--Non-Competitive. This
program will support logistics, planning, and travel-related costs for
OVC-sponsored conferences and meetings. These events are likely to
include:
Focus groups that highlight major emerging issues. One
topic OVC anticipates exploring through a focus group is victim
assistance from the religious community. Since many victims and
survivors seek counsel and support from their religious leaders,
members of the clergy have a tremendous potential to assist crime
victims. This focus group will recruit participants from the widest
possible diversity of religious training institutions. A project
advisory committee will be identified from staff of seminaries, bible
colleges, rabbinical schools, and clerical training institutions, as
well as from religious leaders who are involved in victim issues and
victim advocates. Additional focus groups on other topics also may be
convened.
Meetings with OVC's various constituent groups, including
State VOCA grantees.
Support for Regional Coordination Initiative activities.
Funding for unanticipated conferences and events that OVC
may wish to conduct in the course of the year.
3. Regional Coordination Initiative--Non-Competitive
This initiative is designed to promote networking and collaboration
among victim service professionals on a regional basis. It mobilizes
teams of Regional Field Coordinators (RFCs), selected from experienced
victim service providers, to develop and implement regional training
and technical assistance projects on victims issues. Each of four
regional teams plans and organizes a training or technical assistance
activity that their group will sponsor during the year. Activities are
selected based upon input gathered from victim service providers and
allied professionals throughout each region. Funding for team
activities will be provided through the Training and Technical
Assistance Center.
4. Train the Trainer Seminar Series ($450,000)--Non-Competitive
Hate/Bias Crime ($150,000 in FY96 and in FY97)
Victim Assistance in Community Corrections ($100,000)
Responding to Staff Victimization in Correctional Agencies ($100,000)
Death Notification ($100,000)
OVC will sponsor a series of training for trainers seminars using
curricula on topics of special interest that have already been
developed through previous OVC grants. Between two and four seminars
will be offered on each topic.
Using the curricula they have already developed, pilot-tested, and
delivered, the Education Development Center will offer training on
Hate/Bias Crime; the American Probation and Parole Association will
present seminars on Victim Assistance in Community Corrections; the
National Victim Center will offer training on Responding to Staff
Victimization in Correctional Agencies; and Mothers Against Drunk
Driving will provide seminars on Death Notification. Respective
grantees will: (1) Update the existing training package to produce
comprehensive and user-friendly instructor and participant training
manuals; (2) develop a plan for recruiting ``strategically placed''
individuals and supporting their attendance through scholarships at a
training seminar; (3) produce a plan and instruments for assessing the
impact of the training; (4) conduct train the trainer seminars; and (5)
prepare a final report that presents the project assessment and makes
recommendations for further improvements or training.
Since the focus of the project is to integrate the training
information into policies and procedures, the recruitment
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process is crucial to the project's success. Grantees should therefore
present a plan to attract certified trainers or individuals who are
strategically located within a national, State, or local training
academy or other system. Participating trainees must commit to
disseminating the information through in-service training in their
organizations, at State or local training academies, or via other means
that channel the information to allied professionals in community,
State, or national arenas.
5. TRIAD/Elder Abuse ($50,000 in FY96 and $200,000 in FY97)--Non-
Competitive
In 1994, OVC entered into a partnership with BJA and the
Administration on Aging at the Department of Health and Human Services
to support regional TRIAD conferences. These training conferences have
stimulated the growth of over 260 TRIAD programs in 44 States around
the country. TRIAD is a joint effort of the American Association of
Retired Persons, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and
National Sheriffs' Association to build a coordinated service response
to elderly crime victims. This successful training will be continued in
FY96 and FY97.
6. Reproduction and Distribution of Training Materials for Federal
Personnel ($80,000)--Non-Competitive
OVC will set aside funding for the reproduction and dissemination
of various training manuals and informational materials, including
monographs, videos, and the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and
Witness Assistance.
7. Automated Victim Assistance Case-Tracking/Notification System
($100,000)--Non-Competitive
OVC will support the development, testing, and use of a specialized
computer program that tracks victim, defendant, case, and service
agency information. The system would be designed to: send victims
timely notification of case proceedings and dispositions; provide
victim service referrals; generate victim-related statistics; and
ensure compliance with the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and
Witness Assistance. OVC will reimburse the Executive Office of U.S.
Attorneys for expenses incurred by their Management Information Systems
and/or by U.S. Attorneys' Offices.
B. Competitive Programs
1. Action Partnerships With Professional Organizations ($120,000 in
FY97--Amounts up to $15,000 per Grant Will Be Awarded Depending on the
Activities Pursued by Applicant Organizations)
OVC seeks to join with national professional and membership
organizations to support projects that provide information and training
to their membership for the purpose of improving their response to
crime victims. OVC is seeking proposals that specify techniques by
which applicant organizations will disseminate the information to their
membership and encourage its understanding, use, and integration into
the daily practice of those who work with crime victims. Organizations
of medical, mental health, legal, and criminal justice personnel, as
well as the clergy and other allied professionals, are invited to
propose one or more of the following activities: (1) Training tracks or
a series of workshops at national conferences; (2) and sharing
information through periodicals, special monographs or descriptions of
model practices, ``codes of ethics,'' membership mailings,
teleconferences, videotapes, new communication technologies, and other
avenues for reaching the range of professionals who assist crime
victims. OVC is particularly interested in projects that result not
only in information dissemination but in increased interaction between
the membership of two or more groups. This project is a new component
of OVC's Training and Technical Assistance Center.
2. Resource Materials for Victim Organizations ($125,000)
This project will support the development of a training and
resource kit designed to strengthen community-based statewide and
national victim organizations, coalitions, and support groups. Family
members of homicide victims and survivors of other violent crimes often
turn to self-help organizations for critical and long-term support
services, including peer support, criminal justice advocacy, and
referrals. Self-help groups, typically staffed primarily or even solely
by volunteers--many of whom are survivors--have continual and pressing
needs for training and technical assistance on a variety of topics.
The resource kit will be used to provide training and technical
assistance that strengthens community-based statewide and national
victim assistance organizations, coalitions, and support groups. The
kit will cover such topics as: advocacy within the criminal and
juvenile justice systems; working in the legislative, political, and
media arenas; fund-raising and management techniques for volunteer
organizations; strategies for networking; ways to strengthen
organizational structure; techniques for leadership and board
development; and outreach to underserved and minority populations. The
grantee will identify an advisory committee of representatives of the
major support groups for family members of homicide victims and
survivors of other violent crimes, who will help shape the contents of
the kit. The materials will be pilot-tested in several different
settings. After they have been revised, they will be printed and
disseminated to groups nationwide. OVC anticipates funding a second
phase of this project which will provide funding to several support
groups to use the training and resource kit with paid and volunteer
staff members.
3. OVC ``Help'' Series ($30,000 in FY97)
OVC will fund the development of a packet of crime-specific
brochures that succinctly capture the best known information on a
variety of crime-related topics and identify national resources and 800
numbers. The packet will complement the OVC Resource Center display;
accompany responses to victims' letters, as appropriate; and serve as
general public awareness material. Individual brochures will address
the topics of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, drunk
driving, and child abuse, with an edition specially tailored for
children (ages 6-11 and 12-16 years).
C. Non-Competitive Projects
1. Regional Seminars for Establishing Community and Institutional
Crisis Response Teams ($100,000 in FY97)
OVC will provide continuation funding to organize, conduct, and
assess a series of three regional training seminars on establishing
community and institutional crisis response teams. The regional
training will assist participants in preparing a community or
institutional crisis response plan that is flexible enough to
appropriately address many possible crime-related crises. The plan must
address both chronic crises, such as multiple victimizations on one
college campus, and acute crises, such as hostage situations. The
training also will assist in identifying key professionals to serve on
the crisis response team.
[[Page 21297]]
2. Victim Assistance Training Strategies ($25,000)
As presented in 1995, the National Victim Assistance Academy
consisted of a one week (40 hour), intensive block of training provided
to approximately 40 victim service providers. In an effort to ensure
that OVC is pursuing the most effective approach to building a training
academy, this project will assess the basic elements of an effective
academy, including: relevant target population, training practices and
methodologies, technological pathways, and the relation of the academy
to existing or potential State and national accreditation processes for
victim service personnel. Options in all of these areas will be
examined, as well as their respective cost implications. With input
from OVC on the office's current training priorities and issues related
to content, training sites, and number of participants, a
recommendation report will be produced that can guide the process of
building a multi-faceted Victim Assistance Academy that will enhance
the quality of victim services in future years.
3. Resources for National Crime Victims Rights Week, 1997 ($30,000)
Each year since 1982, National Crime Victims Rights Week (NCVRW)
has been formally designated and commemorated at the Federal level
during the month of April. NCVRW provides the nation the opportunity to
acknowledge the plight of crime victims and to recognize the numerous
reforms that have been instituted to advance their rights and respond
to their unique needs. This project will support collaborative efforts
between OVC and victim service organizations to make materials
available to victims service providers, advocates, elected leaders, and
the general public to assist in the commemoration of the national
event.
4. Children's Advocacy Center Mentoring Program ($50,000)
Children's Advocacy Centers (CAC) are assisting communities across
the country in improving the handling of child victim cases by creating
special child-friendly environments, adjusting criminal justice
procedures to the needs and abilities of children, and adopting multi-
disciplinary approaches. In FY95, OVC joined with OJJDP and the
National Children's Advocacy Network to produce a video illustrating
``best medical practices'' for medical examinations; to conduct a
conference to facilitate shared resources between CACs and family
violence programs; and to support a specialized training track on
family violence at the National Symposium on Child Sexual Abuse. In
FY96, OVC will continue this joint effort with OJJDP by supporting a
mentoring program that enables communities to connect with existing
CACs and receive ongoing assistance in establishing or improving CACs
or multi-disciplinary teams in their own communities.
5. Battered Women's Justice Project ($90,000)
In FY95, OVC funded the Battered Women's Justice Project to analyze
the Full-Faith and Credit provisions of the Violence Against Women Act
and provide: (1) An in-depth State-by-State analysis of enforcement
efforts; and (2) training and technical support for State and Federal
prosecutors to implement these provisions. OVC is working closely with
the Violence Against Women Office and the Violence Against Women Grants
Office on this program and plans to continue this jointly funded effort
in FY96.
6. Domestic Violence In Kentucky: Model Law Enforcement Response
($20,000)
OVC has worked closely with the Community Oriented Policing
Services Office (COPS) and the Violence Against Women Grants Office to
establish a demonstration program in Kentucky to implement the Full-
Faith and Credit provisions of the Violence Against Women Act. This
program is both an intra-state and inter-state enforcement effort.
7. Office of Legal Education Victim Rights and Legal Issues Instructor
($100,000)
OVC will support an attorney instructor who will draft litigation
series chapters and course material and present classroom instruction
on Federal victims' rights legislation, case law and policy, and
prosecutors' duties and responsibilities to Federal crime victims. OVC
will make funding available through an interagency agreement with the
Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys.
8. Federal Prosecutor and Victim-Witness Coordinator Travel ($200,000)
OVC will provide funding to allow victim-witness coordinators and
prosecutors from U.S. Attorneys' Offices to attend various training
conferences. These funds, to be made available through an interagency
agreement with the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys, will cover
travel-related expenses.
9. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center ($125,000)
OVC will continue to support victim assistance training to law
enforcement officers from over 70 Federal agencies. This agreement will
provide funding for a trainer to present both basic and advanced
courses at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
10. FBI Agreement ($273,000)
Through an interagency agreement with the FBI, OVC will support
skill development training of Victim-Witness Coordinators at the
investigative level. The agreement will provide for training for FBI
Victim-Witness Coordinators and fund a full-time trainer at the FBI
Academy.
11. Federal Interagency Agreements ($100,000)
OVC will make funding available to various Federal agencies to
enhance their capacities for responding to victim and witness needs.
OVC will use funds to support requests for training or production and
distribution of informational materials.
12. Federal Travel ($130,000)
OVC will provide funding to allow non-U.S. Attorney Federal
criminal justice personnel to both attend and train at OVC-sponsored
training sessions.
13. Developing and Marketing of Products ($50,000 in FY96 and $110,000
in FY97)
OVC is developing a minimum of 35 monographs and publications to
disseminate descriptions of promising practices, that is, innovative
and outstanding service strategies and programs that address the needs
of crime victims. In addition, OVC will update the civil legal remedies
bulletin, which informs victims of ways to pursue recovery and justice
through civil procedures. The updated version will address current
State laws and improved procedures and practices. Other products that
will be reproduced and disseminated include the National Bias Crimes
Training Guides, elder abuse training materials, and a guidebook for
communities on responding to sexual abuse.
IV. VOCA Enhancements
A. Non-Competitive Programs
1. National Technical Assistance Conference for State VOCA Victim
Compensation and Victim Assistance Administrators ($100,000)
In FY96, OVC will provide funding to expand and enhance its support
of
[[Page 21298]]
national-scope training and technical assistance for State VOCA victim
compensation and assistance administrators. Grant awards will be made
to the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and the
National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards (NACVCB)
jointly to plan and conduct a national training and technical
assistance meeting. The meeting will bring VOCA victim compensation and
assistance administrators together to receive guidance and technical
assistance to advance their administration of the Federal VOCA grant
programs. The grantees will work together to develop the conference
agenda, identify presenters, and manage other conference activities. A
major purpose of the grant is to foster ongoing collaboration and
coordination among compensation and assistance programs. Compensation
and assistance administrators throughout the country will be consulted
by the grantees concerning conference dates, presenters, and agenda.
2. Mentor Program for State VOCA Victim Compensation and Assistance
Programs ($50,000)
OVC will continue support for a newly established mentoring program
to provide for on-site, expert assistance for State VOCA victim
compensation and assistance programs. Participating ``mentors'' are
drawn from a pool of VOCA administrators who have demonstrated
proficiency in a range of program management and operational areas.
Technical assistance is customized to meet the specific needs of VOCA
victim compensation and assistance administrators. OVC will make
$50,000 available to continue in this effort. Approved on-site
assistance will be short-term, generally lasting between one and three
days.
B. Competitive Program
1. Regional Technical Assistance Meetings for State VOCA Administrators
($25,000 in FY97)
In FY97, OVC will continue to support regional training and
technical assistance meetings for State VOCA compensation and
assistance administrators. The purpose of this initiative is to fund a
number of regional State VOCA administrators' meetings to address
training and information needs. These meetings may focus exclusively on
victim assistance or victim compensation, or on a combination of the
two. Federal funds will be used to support coordination, materials,
meeting space, consultants, and other costs associated with planning,
delivering, and assessing each meeting.
V. Victim Assistance in Indian Country
A. Comprehensive Initiatives
1. Victim Assistance in Indian Country Promising Practices ($25,000)--
Non-Competitive
OVC will provide funding to the National Institute of Justice to
assess the efficacy of VAIC programs.
B. Competitive Programs
1. Children's Advocacy Centers in Indian Country ($50,000)
OVC will provide funding to assist two tribes in establishing
Children's Advocacy Centers to serve as demonstration sites. In
creating child-focused, multi-disciplinary settings, the centers will
allow for a coordinated strategy to meet the needs of child victims and
the criminal justice system. OVC will make funding available through
OJJDP under a cooperative agreement with regional Children's Advocacy
Centers.
2. Topic-Specific Monographs ($75,000)
OVC will make funds available for the development of bulletins,
fact sheets, and monographs on issues relevant to Native American child
victims. Topics will include jurisdictional issues, child interviewing
techniques, reporting procedures, child protection teams, psychological
evaluations, cultural sensitivity, and tribal-Federal coordination.
C. Non-Competitive Programs
1. Victim Assistance in Indian Country ($767,000)
OVC will make funding available to 18 States to support on-
reservation victim assistance programs in Indian country. OVC currently
funds 32 such programs, enabling tribal communities under Federal
jurisdiction to establish domestic violence shelters, crisis counseling
programs, court advocacy networks, and other victim services.
2. Children's Justice Act Discretionary Grant Program for Native
Americans ($717,000)
OVC will provide third year funding to continue projects designed
to improve the investigation and prosecution of child physical and
sexual abuse cases in tribal communities. The programs have helped to
establish special tribal child abuse prosecution units, develop
interdisciplinary child abuse protocols, revise tribal legal codes,
sponsor training, and support a variety of other initiatives designed
to aid in the handling of child abuse cases.
3. Training and Technical Assistance for Children's Justice Act
Grantees ($200,000)
OVC will award continued funding to the National Indian Justice
Center (NIJC) to provide training and technical assistance to tribes
and tribal organizations in improving the handling of child physical
and sexual abuse cases. NIJC will assess the needs of new Children's
Justice Act grantees; develop plans to meet those needs; provide on-
site and telephonic technical assistance to both new and continuation
grantees; and produce a monograph which describes promising practices
that have been implemented to assist child victims in Indian Country.
4. Tribal Court Appointed Special Advocate Programs ($50,000)
OVC will support the continuation of Court Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA) programs in Indian Country. The programs will enable
tribal court systems to assign advocates to represent the best
interests of Native American children. Funding will be made available
through OJJDP under a cooperative agreement with the National CASA
Association.
5. Attorney General's Indian Country Justice Initiative ($273,000)
OVC will make funding available to support the Attorney General's
Indian Country Justice Initiative at the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico
and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana. This interagency
initiative, which funds comprehensive services for two Indian tribes,
is a collaborative effort between the Administrative Office of the U.S.
Courts, the Department of the Interior, and various DOJ components,
including the Criminal Division, the Office of Tribal Justice, the
Office of Policy Development, and OVC, as well as other OJP bureaus.
OVC will support Children's Justice Act and CASA projects, as well as
victim-witness programs, at each site. OVC will work closely with the
DOJ Criminal Division to implement these projects.
6. Tribal and Federal Judges Training ($50,000)
Through an interagency agreement with the Federal Judicial Center
and DOJ's Office of Policy Development, OVC will support a program to
educate tribal and Federal judges on the handling of child sexual abuse
cases in Indian country. The program will provide legal education on
Federal procedural law involving the Federal
[[Page 21299]]
Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures, and the
Major Crimes Act; issues of prosecutorial discretion; and relevant
tribal law regarding child sexual abuse. Funding also will support the
development of a program manual for tribal and Federal judges.
[FR Doc. 96-11485 Filed 5-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P
