NCJ Number
68725
Journal
Judges' Journal Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1980) Pages: 8-11
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE IMPACT OF LEAA'S AID TO STATE COURTS IS DISCUSSED, AND A FEDERAL RESPONSE TO ANTICIPATED REDUCTIONS IN LEAA'S AID TO STATE COURTS IS SUGGESTED.
Abstract
LEAA'S IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS FOR STATE COURTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH NATIONAL GRANTS AND BLOCK GRANTS. NATIONAL GRANTS FOR STATE COURT REFORM HAVE CREATED AND SUPPORTED NATIONAL-LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST ALL STATE COURT SYSTEMS. BLOCK GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO THE 50 STATES FOR THEIR USE IN IMPROVING THEIR COURT SYSTEMS. STATE JUDICIAL COUNCILS, JUDICIAL PLANNING COMMITTEES, STATE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, AND JUDICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE AMONG THE VALUABLE ADDITIONS TO STATE JUDICIAL SYSTEMS STARTED BY FEDERAL FUNDS. IN MOST CASES, STATES HAVE ASSUMED FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS STARTED WITH FEDERAL FUNDS. IF SUGGESTIONS FOR A DRASTIC CUTBACK IN LEAA APPROPRIATION IN FISCAL 1981 AND FOR THEIR ELIMINATION IN FISCAL 1982 ARE FOLLOWED, THE ISSUE FOR COURT REFORMERS IS WHETHER ANY CONTINUED FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR STATE COURTS WILL BE PROVIDED AT ALL. THE STATES' EXPERIENCE WITH PAST FEDERAL PROGRAMS FOR COURT IMPROVEMENT CLEARLY INDICATES NEED FOR A SPECIALIZED TREATMENT OF COURT NEEDS. THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS MAKES IT UNSATISFACTORY TO CHANNEL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR STATE COURT IMPROVEMENT THROUGH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE HEFLIN-KASTENMEIER BILL NOW PENDING BEFORE THE SENATE AND HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEES, FURNISHES AN IDEAL VEHICLE FOR RESTRUCTURING FEDERAL INTEREST IN STATE COURT IMPROVEMENT. THE BILL WILL CREATE A STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE WITH THOSE MOST CLOSELY INVOLVED IN STATE COURT OPERATIONS PARTICIPATING DIRECTLY IN DETERMINING POLICIES AND PRIORITIES. THE COST OF THE PROGRAM CAN BE REDUCED IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC URGENCY, BUT THE INSTITUTE'S CONTINUED EXISTENCE WOULD PROVIDE A NEEDED CONTINUITY TO THE FEDERAL EFFORT TO IMPROVE STATE COURTS. NINE REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.