LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION - OPTIONS FOR REAUTHORIZATION, 1979

• NCJ Number: 58090
• Author(s): E A AMBRUST; D G DELONEY; R M MUSELL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 58 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY DESCRIBES THREE ALTERNATIVES FOR LEAA REAUTHORIZATION IN FISCAL 1980, PROVIDES DATA ON COMING TRENDS IN THE U.S., AND DESCRIBES LEAA'S FUNCTION IN IMPROVING CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

Abstract

IN CONFORMITY WITH CONGRESSTIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PRACTICE, THIS STUDY DESCRIBES THE ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED AND GIVES THEIR IMPACT ON THE STATE-BY-STATE ALLOCATION OF BUDGET FUNDS, BUT OFFERS NO RECOMMENDATIONS. AN OVERVIEW OF CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES DESCRIBES CRIME TRENDS IN 1977 AND ESTIMATES OF FUTURE LEVELS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. LEAA'S ROLE IN ASSISTING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PERFORM CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSIBILITIES IS OUTLINED IN DETAIL. THE PRESENT (1979) LEAA AUTHORIZATION WILL EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30, 1979. THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL (INTRODUCED AS S 241 AND HR 2061) WOULD REORGANIZE LEAA AND STREAMLINE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND WOULD INCLUDE LEVEL OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE ALLOCATION OF FORMULA FUNDS TO STATES. THE REORGANIZATION WOULD FEATURE DIVIDING THE RESEARCH AND STATISTICS PROGRAM INTO TWO SEPARATE OFFICES EACH HAVING GREATER INDEPENDENCE. THE SECOND OPTION CONSIDERED IS MODELED ON THE BILL INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOHN CONYERS (MICH.). IT WOULD RESTRUCTURE THE CURRENT PROGRAM AND CONCENTRATE ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS INTO FIVE AREAS, COMMUNITY ANTICRIME EFFORTS, ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL IMPRISONMENT, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROGRAMS, WHITE COLLAR CRIME, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND COORDINATION AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS (10 PERCENT OF TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS). THE THIRD OPTION IS THE MOST DRASTIC AND WOULD PHASE OUT LEAA IN THREE YEARS, CONTINUING A RESEARCH, STATISTICS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS AND INCLUDING DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS DIRECTLY FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- AS IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S NATIONAL PRIORITY GRANT PROGRAM. THE APPENDIX TABULATES THE EFFECT OF THREE METHODS FOR ALLOCATING LEAA FORMULA FUNDS. THESE ARE THE ADMINISTRATION FORMULA WITH AND WITHOUT LIMITS AND A HYPOTHETICAL FORMULA. THE ADMINISTRATION FORMULA WEIGHS POPULATION, INDEX OFFENSES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPENDITURES, AND TAX EFFORT. THE LIMITS WOULD BE 100 PERCENT TO 110 PERCENT OF THE EXISTING POPULATION FORMULA. THE HYPOTHETICAL FORMULA CONSIDERS ONLY POPULATION AGED 14 TO 20 AND THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED. TABLES AND GRAPHICAL FIGURES ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (TWB)