NCJ Number
160532
Date Published
1995
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Criminal Justice Planning Agency is the administering agency for the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Formula Grant Program, and this CNMI State Annual Report covers activities funded under the program during 1994.
Abstract
Since its implementation in 1987, the Formula Grant Program has funded the criminal justice system within the CNMI. In 1994, the program funded three action projects out of 23 authorized purpose areas under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, as amended. The Interagency Financial Crimes and Drug Enforcement Task Force Program is designed to enhance integrated interdiction, investigation, and prosecution activities. This program is a joint effort by the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Finance, and the Office of the Attorney General. The task force functions through a memorandum of understanding and has an oversight committee comprised of participating agency department heads. The CNMI's Criminal Justice Information System is established to perform activities for the Criminal History Records Improvement Program. This program is intended to automate the CNMI's criminal records and link criminal justice systems via a computer network system. Further, the program is designed to identify, track, and report convicted felons and to create a fingerprint base criminal history record. The Improving the Operational Effectiveness of the Court Process Program aims to provide specialized training for the Office of the Public Defender. This program will enable Public Defender staff to attend special training in the defense of drug cases. Goals, objectives, and accomplishments of the three funded programs are described. Data on crystal methamphetamine "ice" and marijuana seizures and arrests between 1989 and 1994 are tabulated. 1 table