STATE OF THE STATES ON CRIME AND JUSTICE - A REPORT OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING ADMINISTRATORS, MAY 1976

• NCJ Number: 43021
• Author(s): J ROBERTS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 77 pages
• Corporate Author: National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA)
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE 'SAFE STREETS PROGRAM,' ENACTED BY CONGRESS IN 1968 AND ADMINISTERED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BY LEAA, WAS THE FIRST MAJOR BLOC GRANT PROGRAM OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

Abstract

IT ALSO WAS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THIS REPORT REVIEWS THE MULTITUDE OF PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE STATES AND TERRITORIES IN CARRYING OUT THEIR REPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE SAFE STREETS ACT. IT IS ALSO A REPORT OF THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL SPA CONFERENCE. THE REPORT PRESENTS A PICTURE OF SPA EFFORTS TO REDUCE CRIME AND IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION AND QUALITY OF JUSTICE. IT PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF COMMON APPROACHES ADOPTED BY SPAS, INCLUDING DESCRIPTIONS OF MANY OF THE EFFORTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. IN COMPILING THIS REPORT, THE NATIONAL SPA CONFERENCE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, DEVELOPED AND ASMINISTERED A QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH WAS SENT TO EACH SPA DIRECTOR IN JUNE,1975. THIS SURVEY INCLUDED 114 QUESTIONS ADDRESSING ABROAD RANGE OF SPA ACTIVITIES. RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED FROM 53 OF THE 55 SPAS. SURVEY FINDINGS REVEALED THAT STATE PLANNING AGENCIES ARE BECOMING MORE INVOLVED IN STATEWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND BUDGETING ACTIVITIES, AND ARE BEING RECOGNIZED AS AGENTS OF CHANGE. IN ADDITION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CAPABILITIES OF SPA STAFF HAD STEADILY INCREASED OVER THE YEARS AND THAT STATE AND LOCAL COVERNMENTS WERE ASSUMING THE COSTS OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS INITIATES WITH SAFE STREETS MONIES. HOWEVER, APPROPRIATIONS WERE DECLINING WHILE INFLATION AND THE RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE REPONSIBILITIES WERE RISING, AND THE CONTINUITY OF THE BLOC GRANT CONCEPT HAD BEEN ERODED THROUGH LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE STRENGTHENING AND REAUTHORIZATION OF TH BLOC GRANT APPROACH FOR FIVE YEARS; PERMITTING STATES TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT COMPREHENSIVE MULTI-YEAR PLANS, TOGETHER WITH ANNUAL UPDATE DOCUMENTATION; CHARGING LEAA WITH IMPLEMENTING A MORE RATIONAL, EFFECTIVE, AND EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR DISCRETIONARY AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES; AND REQUIRING LEAA TO CONCENTRATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEANINGFUL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EVALUATION CAPABILITIES. APPENDED MATERIAL INCLUDES TABULAR DATA ON THE LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR STATE PLANNING AGENCIES, THE COMPOSITION OF STATE SUPERVISORY BOARDS, AND LEAA APPROPRIATIONS, ALLOCATIONS, AND EXPENDITURES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW