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Federal Prisoners and COVID-19: Background and Authorities to Grant Release [Updated April 2, 2020]
From the Document: "On March 18, 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal asking them to release federal prisoners who might be at risk of serious illness due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and to reduce the intake of new prisoners to reduce overcrowding. The ACLU called on BOP to utilize authorities granted to it, such as compassionate release and home confinement for elderly offenders, to reduce the number of at-risk prisoners in the federal prison system. The ACLU also asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to direct the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to release from custody any individuals who are at risk of serious illness related to COVID-19, such as those who are elderly and/or have chronic health conditions. Multiple Members of Congress have additionally urged DOJ and its BOP to take steps 'to reduce the incarcerated population and guard against potential exposure to coronavirus,' and legislation has been introduced that would require the release of some prisoners during a national emergency relating to a communicable disease."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan; Foster, Michael A. (Legislative attorney)
2020-04-02
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Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program [Updated January 30, 2020]
From the Document: "The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program was created by Title I of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322, 'the 1994 Crime Act'). COPS grants are managed by the COPS Office, which was created in 1994 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to oversee the COPS program. The mission of the COPS Office is to advance the practice of community policing through information sharing and grant resources. According to the COPS Office, it awards grants to 'hire community policing professionals, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2020-01-30
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Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program [Updated January 30, 2020]
From the Document: "The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program is a Department of Justice (DOJ) formula grant program. The JAG program allocates funds to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, America Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands (collectively referred to as 'states' hereinafter) for a variety of state and local criminal justice initiatives. The program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2020-01-28
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Department of Justice's Role in Investigating and Prosecuting Hate Crimes [September 17, 2019]
From the Document: "In the aftermath of the shooting at an El Paso, TX, Walmart, where the shooter told authorities that he was targeting 'Mexicans' and an online post attributed to him decried the 'Hispanic invasion of Texas,' the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has opened an investigation into whether the shooting was a hate crime, and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas has stated that federal hate crime charges might be brought against the shooter. This and other similar incidents have raised questions about how the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigates and prosecutes hate crimes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2019-09-17
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Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program [Updates May 22, 2019]
From the Document: "The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program is a Department of Justice (DOJ) formula grant program. The JAG program allocates funds to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, America Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands (collectively referred to as 'states' hereinafter) for a variety of state and local criminal justice initiatives.The program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2019-05-22
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Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program [Updated May 21, 2019]
From the Document: "The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program was created by Title I of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322, 'the 1994 Crime Act'). COPS grants are managed by the COPS Office, which was created in 1994 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to oversee the COPS program. The mission of the COPS Office is to advance the practice of community policing through information sharing and grant resources. According to the COPS Office, it awards grants to 'hire community policing professionals, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2019-05-21
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Prisoners' Eligibility for Pell Grants: Issues for Congress [May 20, 2019]
From the Summary: "Under Department of Education (ED) regulations, any student who is 'serving a criminal sentence in a federal or state penitentiary, prison, jail, reformatory, work farm, or other similar correctional institution' is not eligible to receive a Pell Grant. However, in 2015 ED used its authority under the Higher Education Act (HEA) to create the Second Chance Pell Experiment to determine if access to Pell Grants would increase the enrollment of incarcerated individuals in high-quality postsecondary correctional education programs. Under the experiment, participating institutions of higher education, in partnership with federal and/or state correctional institutions, award Pell Grants to students who are otherwise Pell-eligible except for being incarcerated in a federal or state institution. The experiment is expected to conclude in 2020."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; James, Nathan
2019-05-20
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First Step Act of 2018: An Overview [March 4, 2019]
From the Document: "On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-391). The act was the culmination of several years of congressional debate about what Congress might do to reduce the size of the federal prison population while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety. [...] This report provides an overview of the provisions of the First Step Act. The act has three major components: (1) correctional reform via the establishment of a risk and needs assessment system at BOP [Bureau of Prisons], (2) sentencing reform that involved changes to penalties for some federal offenses, and (3) the reauthorization of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-199). The act also contains a series of other criminal justice-related provisions that include, for example, changes to the way good time credits are calculated for federal prisoners, prohibiting the use of restraints on pregnant inmates, expanding the market for products made by the Federal Prison Industries, and requiring BOP to aid prisoners with obtaining identification before they are released."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2019-03-04
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Public Trust and Law Enforcement-- A Discussion for Policymakers [Updated December 13, 2018]
"Several high-profile incidents where the police have apparently used excessive force against citizens have generated interest in what role Congress could play in facilitating efforts to build trust between the police and the people they serve. This report provides a brief overview of the federal government's role in police-community relations. Public confidence in the police declined in 2014 and 2015 after several high-profile incidents in which men of color were killed during confrontations with the police. Confidence in the police has rebounded in recent years and is now back to the historical average. However, certain groups, such as Hispanics, blacks, people under the age of 35, and individuals with liberal political leanings say they have less confidence in the police than whites, people over the age of 35, and people with conservative political leanings."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan; Finklea, Kristin; Keegan, Natalie . . .
2018-12-13
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Public Health and Other Related Provisions in P.L 115-271, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act [December 3, 2018]
"On October 24, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed into law H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (P.L. 115-271; SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, or the SUPPORT Act). The final agreement on the bill was approved by the House 393-8 on September 28, 2018, and cleared by the Senate by a vote of 98-1 on October 3, 2018. Over the past several years, there has been growing concern among the public and lawmakers in the United States about rising drug overdose deaths. Opioid overdose deaths, in particular, have increased significantly in the past 15 years. In 2015, an estimated 33,091 Americans died of opioid-related overdoses. Provisional data for 2017 estimate 49,068 deaths involving opioids, representing a fourfold increase over 2002 during the beginning of the epidemic. In October of 2017, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-; Duff, Johnathan H.; Bradley, David H. . . .
2018-12-03
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What Role Might the Federal Government Play in Law Enforcement Reform? [November 16, 2018]
"Over the past few years, several high-profile police-involved shootings and alleged instances of excessive force have generated congressional interest in state and local policing. After declining in both 2014 and 2015, confidence in law enforcement has rebounded to historical norms, but Gallup poll data indicate that confidence varies by race, ethnicity, ideology (i.e., liberal, moderate, and conservative), and age. Congressional interest in policing revolves around confidence and accountability. What role should Congress play in facilitating efforts to bolster confidence in the police? Should Congress seek to improve law enforcement's accountability regarding the excessive use-of-force?These questions are bounded by limits of congressional authority."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan; Harrington, Ben
2018-11-16
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Risk and Needs Assessment in the Federal Prison System [July 10, 2018]
"The number of people incarcerated in federal prisons increased dramatically over the past three decades. While the number of inmates in the federal prison system has decreased since FY2013, the federal prison population remains substantially larger than it was three decades ago. Concerns about both the economic and social consequences of the country's reliance on incarceration have led to calls for reforms to the nation's criminal justice system, including improving the federal prison system's ability to rehabilitate incarcerated offenders by better assessing their risk for recidivism and addressing their criminogenic needs. 'Criminogenic needs,' are factors that contribute to criminal behavior that can be changed and/or addressed through interventions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2018-07-10
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Recent Violent Crime Trends in the United States [June 20, 2018]
"Media accounts of increasing violent crime rates, especially homicides, in some cities raise broad concerns about decreasing levels of public safety. This report provides an analysis of changes in violent crime since 1960, with a focus on changes from 2014 to 2016 in violent crime and homicide rates in the 48 largest cities in the United States for which violent crime and homicide data were submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2018-06-20
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Arming Teachers as a Response to School Shootings [March 13, 2018]
"In the wake of the February 14, 2018, shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, President Trump endorsed a proposal to arm teachers as a way to potentially thwart school shootings. The President's endorsement has generated debate about whether this policy option would make schools safer. Proponents argue that arming educators provides a deterrent effect and that armed teachers could respond to an active shooter quicker than police. Opponents argue that teachers do not want the responsibility of countering active shooters; they raise questions about whether teachers can receive enough training to make them effective in an active shooter situation; and they argue that allowing firearms on school grounds could create other problems, such as police mistaking armed school personnel for assailants."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2018-03-13
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FY2018 Appropriations for the Department of Justice [October 12, 2017]
"The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) appropriated $28.962 billion for DOJ [Department of Justice]. The act provided $2.713 billion for the U.S. Marshals [USMS], $9.006 billion for the FBI, $2.103 billion for the DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration], $1.259 billion for the ATF [ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives], and $7.142 billion for the BOP [Bureau of Prisons]. The remaining funding (approximately $6.739 billion) was for DOJ's other offices, such as the U.S. Attorneys offices, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and the Attorney General's office. The Trump Administration requests $28.205 billion for DOJ for FY2018. This amount is 2.6% less than the FY2017-enacted appropriation. The Administration proposes reductions for several DOJ accounts, including a $232 million (-2.6%) reduction for the FBI, a $340 million (-26.6%) reduction for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, and a $21 million (-8.3%) reduction for Juvenile Justice Programs. While the Administration's FY2018 budget request includes several reductions for DOJ accounts, it also includes several increases, including an additional $22 million (1.1%) for the Office of the United States Attorneys, an $82 million (5.6%) increase for the USMS's Federal Prisoner Detention account, a $76 million (1.1%) increase for BOP's Salaries and Expenses account, and a $61 million (2.9%) increase for the DEA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2017-10-12
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FY2018 Appropriations for Department of Justice Grant Programs [July 18, 2017]
"Each year, Congress provides funding for a variety of grant programs through the Department of Justice (DOJ). These programs are used to fund state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations for a variety of criminal justice-related purposes, such as efforts to combat violence against women, reduce backlogs of DNA evidence, support community policing, assist crime victims, promote prisoner reentry, and improve the functioning of the juvenile justice system. Congress funds these programs through five accounts in the annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations act: Violence Against Women Programs; Research, Evaluation, and Statistics; State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance; Juvenile Justice Programs; and Community Oriented Policing Services."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2017-07-18
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FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice [May 30, 2017]
"The Obama Administration's FY2017 DOJ [Department of Justice] budget request included proposals to increase funding for existing programs and fund new programs that sought to address several issues that rose to national prominence recently, such as concerns about gun violence in cities across the country, the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve, violent extremism and 'home-grown' terrorism, preparing inmates to return to society after incarceration, cybersecurity, and an increase in heroin abuse and overdose-related deaths. The FY2017 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations (S. 2837) would have provided a total of $29.246 billion for DOJ, while the House committee-reported CJS appropriations bill (H.R. 5393) would have provided a total of $29.437 billion for DOJ. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) appropriates $28.962 billion for DOJ, an amount that is 0.4% less than the FY2016 appropriation and 2.9% less than what the Obama Administration requested. The act includes $2.713 billion for the U.S. Marshals, $9.006 billion for the FBI, $2.103 billion for the DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration], $1.259 billion for the ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives], and $7.142 billion for the BOP [Bureau of Prisons]. The remaining funding (approximately $6.793 billion) would be for DOJ's other offices, such as the U.S. Attorneys offices, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Attorney General's office, along with supporting the other functions noted above."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2017-05-30
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FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice Grant Programs [May 30, 2017]
"The Obama Administration's FY2017 request for DOJ's [Department of Justice] grant accounts included proposals to change the funding levels of several DOJ grant programs. First, the Obama Administration proposed to transfer $326 million from the Crime Victims Fund to the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It also proposed to eliminate funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (-$210 million), and reduce funding for other programs, such as the National Criminal History Improvement program (-$23 million), and DNA backlog reduction initiatives (-$20 million). However, the Obama Administration proposed increases for grants to encourage arrests in domestic violence cases and enforcement of protection orders (+$11 million), grants authorized under the Second Chance Act (+$32 million), and programs for children exposed to violence (+$15 million). It also proposed funding a variety of new programs and initiatives, such as the Byrne Incentive Grant program ($10 million), the Byrne Competitive Grant program ($15 million), and the Violence Reduction Network ($5 million). Finally, it proposed restoring funding to the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (+$30 million), which was eliminated in FY2014. Congress provided a total of $2.320 billion for DOJ's five grant accounts, an amount that is 6.7% less than the FY2016 appropriation and 1.8% less than the Administration's request. Funding for three of the five grant accounts decreased for FY2017, the exceptions being Violence Against Women Programs (+$2 million) and the Community Oriented Policing Services (+$10 million). However, the increase in funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services account is largely attributable to Congress moving funding for the Regional Information Sharing System from the Research, Evaluation, and Statistics account to the Community Oriented Policing Services account."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2017-05-30
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Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program: In Brief [January 23, 2017]
"The Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program provides three different types of benefits to public safety officers and their survivors: death, disability, and education benefits. The PSOB program is administered by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA's), PSOB Office. The PSOB death benefit is a mandatory program, and the disability and education benefits are discretionary programs. As such, Congress appropriates 'such sums as are necessary' each fiscal year to fund the PSOB death benefit program while appropriating separate amounts for both the disability and education benefits programs. The PSOB program provides a one-time lump sum death benefit to eligible survivors of public safety officers whose deaths are the direct and proximate result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty or from certain line-of-duty heart attacks, strokes, and vascular ruptures. The PSOB program provides a one-time lump sum disability benefit to public safety officers who have been permanently and totally disabled by a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty, if the injury permanently prevents the officer from performing any gainful work. The PSOB program also provides assistance for higher education expenses (e.g., tuition and fees, books, supplies, and room and board) to spouses and children of public safety officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. Educational assistance is available to the spouse and children of a public safety officer after the PSOB death or disability claim has been approved and awarded."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2017-01-23
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Apparent First in U.S. Law Enforcement Use of Unmanned Ground Vehicles [July 26, 2016]
"On the night of July 7, 2016, Micah Johnson opened fire on law enforcement officers who were observing a protest against police-involved shootings in Dallas, TX. Johnson killed five officers and wounded seven. Johnson was later killed by an explosive device deployed by a bomb disposal robot (also known as an 'unmanned ground vehicle,' or 'UGV'). While the tactic is being hailed by some as an innovative way to tackle a dangerous threat and a way to save officers' lives, the Dallas Police Department (DPD) use of a robot to kill an active shooter has raised questions about what this might mean for how police use force in the future."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-07-26
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Police Shootings and Federal Support for Law Enforcement Safety [July 19, 2016]
"The recent shooting deaths of police officers in Dallas, TX, and Baton Rouge, LA, have served as a reminder of the danger law enforcement officers can face while serving the public. While these attacks have heightened attention on deaths suffered by police officers in the line of duty, data indicate that the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty has generally decreased over the past three decades. However, the number of officers killed in ambush situations has remained fairly steady. Annually, on average, nine law enforcement officers have died in ambush situations between 1979 and 2014."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-07-19
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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) [June 13, 2016]
"This report tracks and describes actions taken by the Administration and Congress to provide FY2017 appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) accounts. It also provides an overview of enacted FY2016 appropriations for agencies and bureaus funded as part of annual CJS appropriations. The amounts in this report reflect only new appropriations. Therefore, the amounts do not include any rescissions of unobligated or de-obligated balances that may be counted as offsets to newly enacted appropriations, nor do they include any scorekeeping adjustments (such as the balance on the Crime Victims Fund). The FY2016-enacted appropriations were taken from the text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113) and the joint explanatory statement to accompany the act, printed in the December 17, 2015, Congressional Record. The Administration's FY2017 requested amounts were taken from each department's and agency's respective budget justification and the report to accompany S. 2837 (S.Rept. 114-239). The Senate Committee-reported amounts were taken from S.Rept. 114-239. The House Committee-reported amounts were taken from H.Rept. 114-605."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-06-13
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FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice [June 9, 2016]
"The mission of the Department of Justice (DOJ) is to 'enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.' DOJ provides legal advice and opinions, upon request, to the President and executive branch department heads. DOJ prosecutes individuals accused of violating federal laws and it represents the U.S. government in court. The department enforces federal criminal and civil laws, including antitrust, civil rights, environmental, and tax laws. DOJ, through agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), investigates organized and violent crime, illegal drugs, and gun and explosives violations. The department, through the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), protects the federal judiciary, apprehends fugitives, and detains individuals who are not granted pretrial release. DOJ's Bureau of Prisons (BOP) incarcerates individuals convicted of violating federal laws. The department also provides grants and training to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-06-09
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FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice Grant Programs [June 9, 2016]
"Each year Congress provides funding for a variety of grant programs through the Department of Justice (DOJ). These programs provide funding to state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations for a variety of criminal justice-related purposes, such as programs to combat violence against women, reduce backlogs of DNA evidence, support community policing efforts, assist crime victims, promote prisoner reentry efforts, and improve the functioning of the juvenile justice system. Congress funds these programs through five accounts in the annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations act: Violence Against Women Programs; Research, Evaluation, and Statistics; State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance; Juvenile Justice Programs; and Community Oriented Policing Services. This report provides an overview of congressional actions to fund DOJ's grant programs through these accounts for FY2017. The report also provides information on FY2016 appropriations for DOJ's grant programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-06-09
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Federal Prison Population Buildup: Options for Congress [May 20, 2016]
This report discusses policy options for congress regarding federal prison population buildup. "Since the early 1980s, there has been a historically unprecedented increase in the federal prison population. The total number of inmates under the Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) jurisdiction increased from approximately 25,000 in FY1980 [Fiscal Year] to over 205,000 in FY2015. […] Should Congress choose to consider policy options to address the issues resulting from the growth in the federal prison population, policymakers could choose options such as increasing the capacity of the federal prison system by building more prisons; investing in rehabilitative programming (e.g., substance abuse treatment or educational programs) as a way of keeping inmates constructively occupied and potentially reducing recidivism after inmates are released; or placing more inmates in private prisons. Policymakers might also consider whether they want to revise some of the policy changes over the past three decades that have contributed to the steadily increasing number of offenders being incarcerated. For example, Congress could consider options such as (1) modifying mandatory minimum penalties, (2) expanding the use of Residential Reentry Centers, (3) placing more offenders on probation, (4) reinstating parole for federal inmates, (5) expanding the amount of good time credit an inmate can earn, and (6) repealing federal criminal statutes for some offenses. Congress is currently considering legislation (e.g., S. 2123, H.R. 3713) that would put into effect some of the policy options discussed in this report, including expanding the 'safety valve' for some low-level offenders, allowing inmates to earn additional good time credit as a part of a risk"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-05-20
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Public Trust and Law Enforcement - A Brief Discussion for Policymakers [March 22, 2016]
"Events over the past several years involving conflict between the police and citizens have generated interest in what role Congress could play in facilitating efforts to build trust between law enforcement and the people they serve while promoting effective crime reduction. This report provides a brief overview of police-community relations and how the federal government might be able to promote more accountability and better relationships between citizens and law enforcement. Gallup poll data show that, overall, Americans are confident in the police; but, confidence in the police varies according to race, place of residence, and other factors. In 2014, less than 50% of Americans favorably rated the honesty and ethics of police, the lowest percentage since 1998. If they conclude that low public ratings of the police are at least partially attributable to police policies, Congress may decide to address state and local law enforcement policies and practices they believe erode public trust in law enforcement. Federalism limits the amount of influence Congress can have over state and local law enforcement policy. Regardless, the federal government might choose to promote better law enforcement-community relations and accountability through (1) federal efforts to collect and disseminate data on the use of force by law enforcement, (2) statutes that allow the federal government to investigate instances of alleged police misconduct, and (3) the influence the Department of Justice (DOJ) has on state and local policing through its role as an enforcer, policy leader, convener, and funder of law enforcement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan; Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Finklea, Kristin M. . . .
2016-03-22
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Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) [March 7, 2016]
"This report tracks and describes actions taken by the Administration and Congress to provide FY2017 appropriations for the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) accounts. It also provides an overview of FY2016 appropriations for agencies and bureaus funded as part of annual CJS appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-03-07
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Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program: Fact Sheet [February 2, 2016]
"People with mental illness comprise a significant proportion of the population involved with the criminal justice system. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that at midyear 2005, over half of state prison and local jail inmates had a mental health problem. Mental health courts were developed to respond to the large number of people in the criminal justice systems with mental illness. The federal government provides funding to support mental health courts across the country through the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration program. The purpose of the program is to increase public safety by facilitating collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, mental health treatment, and substance abuse systems to increase access to treatment for offenders with mental illness. Authorized funding for this program expired at the end of FY2014, although, Congress has continued to appropriate funding for the program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-02-02
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Body Armor for Law Enforcement Officers: In Brief [January 28, 2016]
From the Summary: "Firearms are one of the leading causes of deaths for law enforcement officers feloniously killed in the line of duty. Since FY1999, Congress has provided funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to help them purchase armor vests for their officers. The Matching Grant Program for Law Enforcement Armor Vests (hereinafter, 'BPV program') provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments to purchase armor vests for use by law enforcement officers and court officers. The BPV program was first authorized by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-181). It has been subsequently reauthorized four times. The most recent reauthorization expired in FY2012. Between FY1999 and FY2012, annual appropriations for the program generally ranged been between $25 million and $30 million. However, over the past four fiscal years, annual appropriations for the program were less than $23 million."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2016-01-28
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Is Violent Crime in the United States Increasing? [October 29, 2015]
"On August 31, 2015, the New York Times ran an article with the headline 'Murder Rates Rising Sharply in Many U.S. Cities.' The story highlighted double-digit percentage increases in homicide rates in several cities, and came on the heels of reports from other media outlets of recent spikes in violent crime in cities across the country. Accounts of rising violent crime rates in some cities have generated speculation about whether the United States is in the midst of a new crime wave. Overall, homicide and violent crime rates have been trending downward for more than two decades, and both rates are at historic lows. An analysis comparing 2014 and 2015 homicide data from the nation's 60 most populous cities suggests that violent crime is not increasing. Overall, reported homicides were up 16% in 2015, but a majority of cities (44 of 60) have not seen a statistically significant increase in homicides. The general consensus is that it is too early to draw any conclusions about the reversal of long-term trends. Also, even if homicide and violent crime rates do increase this year, it may not portend a break in the long-term trend. Even though both rates have been on a downward trend since 1990, there were years where either the homicide rate or violent crime rate increased. […] The recent discussion about the increases in violent crime in some cities might raise the question of whether there is a need for more 'real time' nationwide crime statistics. More frequent and consistent crime data might be able to provide greater insight into crime trends. However, there are logistical issues involved with collecting and reporting timely and accurate crime statistics from the nation's approximately 18,000 law enforcement agencies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2015-10-29
