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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEBJA
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1997202/307-0703

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT COMMITS OVER $1.5 MILLION

TO 17 STATES TO EVALUATING LOCAL INITIATIVES

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- To find out what works and share the information, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is providing funds to 17 states to evaluate local programs that receive federal funds through the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program. These 15 evaluation awards--one which will support a 3-state study--range from $25,000 to $150,000.

"It is incumbent upon us as federal officials to determine the impact of the initiatives that receive funding through our programs," said BJA Director Nancy Gist. "These independent evaluations will give other jurisdictions the opportunity to learn from others and replicate the most successful programs."

Each of the grantees will be required to document their evaluation in a final report that will present the methodology used, findings, and lessons learned about integrating evaluation results into model program development. Upon completion, the reports will be highlighted at upcoming Office of Justice Programs National Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation Conferences.

The initiatives being funded include an evaluation of a Therapeutic Community Program for Sex Offenders in a Colorado prison; an effort to determine the impact of 35 "Hot Spots" community initiatives in Maryland; and a combined effort on behalf of Montana, Idaho, and Alaska to evaluate nine detention alternative programs in those states. Each of the funded initiatives will last between 18 and 36 months.

Each of the states interested in participating in the program submitted a10-page concept paper describing how it intended to perform the evaluation and report results. BJA is funding 15 of the 28 proposals it received.

The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program was established by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-690). Byrne formula grant funding is awarded to and administered by an agency designated by the Governor in each state. The state sets priorities for these funds within authorized purpose areas and makes subawards to state and local agencies. The agencies that administer the Byrne program in each state and subgrantees that agreed to work as partners with those agencies were eligible to apply for awards under this program.

A list of states receiving awards, contacts, and the amounts that will be awarded is attached. For additional information about BJA or its programs, visit its Internet web site at: https://ojp.gov/bja

For information on OJP and its programs, visit its web site at: https://ojp.gov

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BJA 98-016

For additional information, contact Doug Johnson at 202/616-3559

FY 1997 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EVALUATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

STATE AMOUNT CONTACT PHONE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
California $132,985 Dennis Fisher 916/327-5668 Impact Evaluation of Operation Revitalization in San Francisco
Colorado $150,000 Kim English 303/239-4453 Impact Evaluation of Therapeutic Community Program for Sex Offenders in Prison
Delaware $ 89,791 Arthur Garrison 302/577-3448 Evaluation of four demonstration programs operating in the state
Florida $146,498 Clayton Wilder 904/488-8016 Comprehensive evaluation to determine impact of Byrne funds through two different approaches
Iowa $ 50,000 Kurt Smith 515/281-3788 Impact Evaluation of the Polk County Drug Court
Maryland $150,000 Terry Walsh Roberts 410/321-3521 Process Evaluation of Maryland's 35 "Hot Spots" Community Initiatives
Massachusetts $ 76,000 Susan Foster 617/727-6300 Evaluation of the Essex County District Attorney's Office's Life Literacy Program
Montana

Alaska

Idaho

$ 25,471 Cathy Kendall 406/444-4722 Evaluation of nine separate Detention Alternative Programs to compare outcomes and determine success of different approaches
New York $149,711 Margaret Chretien 518/457-0500 Process Evaluation of the Youth Court Program
North Carolina $ 37,536 James Klopovic 919/571-4736 Impact Evaluation of Juvenile Day Treatment Centers

STATE
AMOUNT CONTACT PHONE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Ohio $ 74,591 Richard Mukisa 614/466-7782 Impact Evaluation of four Byrne-funded programs in Mahoning County
Oregon $150,000 Beverlee Venell 503/378-3720 Impact Evaluation of 16 Juvenile Delinquency Programs operational in primary and secondary schools
Pennsylvania $100,000 Phil Renninger 717/787-5152 Impact and Process Evaluations of restrictive immediate sanctions and Philadelphia Drug Court programs
Utah $ 99,000 S. Camille Anthony 801/538-1060 Evaluation of a juvenile drug court, non-residential sex offender treatment program, and Salt Lake Electronic Diversion and Work program
Wisconsin $150,000 Stephen Grohmann 608/266-7185 Evaluation of treatment programs in two jails and employment reentry programs in three jails

Total of Awards: $1,581,583

December 19, 1997