Created in 1984 by the Justice Assistance Act, the Office of
Justice Programs (OJP) works within its established partnership
arrangements with federal, state, and local agencies and national
and community-based organizations to develop, operate, and
evaluate a wide range of criminal and juvenile justice programs. 
Dedicated to comprehensive approaches, OJP's mission is to
provide federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to
prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist crime
victims.  The Agency strives to make the nation's criminal and
juvenile justice systems more efficient and effective.
 
OJP is headed by an Assistant Attorney General who, by statute
and delegation of authority from the Attorney General, guides,
with the OJP Bureaus, the development of OJP policy and
priorities (in concert with those established by the President
and the Attorney General); promotes coordination among the five
OJP Bureaus and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
Program Offices and the OJP Executive Office for Weed and Seed
(described below); and provides agency-wide administrative and
financial management support.

The OJP Bureaus
The OJP Bureaus develop, test, and evaluate promising approaches
to address crime, violence, drugs, criminal and juvenile justice
system improvements, and the needs of crime victims.  Findings
and other information are disseminated to state and local units
of government, criminal justice practitioners, the media, the
public, and to other countries, as well.  While operating within
the framework of their respective statutory mandates, each of the
OJP Bureaus coordinates efforts in program design, development,
and implementation to maximize the impact on the reduction of
crime and violence.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) implements national and
multi-state programs, provides training and technical assistance,
and establishes demonstration programs to assist state and local
governments and community groups in:  reducing crime, enforcing
state and local drug laws, and improving the functioning of the
criminal justice system.  Areas of emphasis include anti-drug and
violent crime reduction activities, community-based prevention
strategies, and comprehensive approaches to crime and violence.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is the nation's primary
source for criminal justice statistical information.  As the
statistical arm of the Department of Justice, BJS is responsible
for the collection, analysis, publication, and dissemination of
timely and accurate statistical information on crime, criminal
offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems
at all levels of government.  These objective and critical data
and analyses are used by key policy and decision makers at the
federal, state, and local levels in their efforts toward
combating crime and ensuring more just and efficient
case-processing and offender handling.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the primary federal
sponsor of research in crime and criminal justice and of
evaluations of programs to reduce crime.  NIJ's mandate gives it
other important missions, including developing and applying new
technologies to enhance the capabilities and effectiveness of law
enforcement and criminal justice agencies nationwide;
establishing model programs to reduce crime and improve criminal
justice operations, evaluating their effectiveness, developing
information about innovative approaches, and disseminating
research findings and other information to policymakers and
practitioners in criminal justice and related fields; and
sponsoring training and technical assistance to meet criminal
justice needs.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
is dedicated to providing national leadership, direction,
coordination, and resources to prevent, treat, and control
juvenile delinquency; improve the effectiveness and fairness of
the juvenile justice system; address the problem of missing and
exploited children; and thereby contribute to developing the full
potential of America's most valuable resource - its youth.  OJJDP
implements this mission through its Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention Act Title II, Part A, Concentration of
Federal Efforts Program, which includes support for the
Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (see Appendix), a Part B Formula Grants Program, Part
C Special Emphasis Discretionary Grants and the activities of the
National Institute for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, Part D Gang Programs, Part E State Challenge Grant
Programs, Part G Mentoring Programs, Title IV Missing and
Exploited Children Program, Title V Prevention Incentive Grants
Program, and programs funded and administered under the Victims
of Child Abuse Act.

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) was created by the Victims
of Crime Act, as amended, to help ensure justice and healing for
our nation's crime victims.  As the chief advocate for America's
crime victims, OVC provides funding for crucial victim services,
supports training for diverse professionals who work with crime
victims, and develops projects to enhance victims' rights and
services.  OVC administers two formula grants to states and many
discretionary grants designed to benefit crime victims.  These
programs are funded by the Crime Victims Fund, which is derived
from the fines, penalty assessments, and bail forfeitures paid by
federal criminal offenders -- not from tax dollars.

The OJP 
Program Offices
The Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS) is dedicated to
building stronger, safer communities through the Weed and Seed
strategy, a community-based, multi-disciplinary approach to
combating crime.  

The goals of Weed and Seed are simple and ambitious:  "weed"
violence, drug trafficking, and drug-related crime from
high-crime neighborhoods, and "seed" neighborhoods with social
services and economic revitalization, providing a safe and
healthy environment for citizens to live, work, and raise their
families.  Under the leadership of the U.S. Attorneys, in April
1998, 147 communities were officially recognized sites.  In 1992,
the Department of Justice developed a process to designate these
Weed and Seed sites as "Officially Recognized" at the federal
level.  Official Recognition provides communities instituting the
strategy primarily through local resources with added technical
assistance and incentives.  (For more information, see
Comprehensive Community-Based Initiatives.)

OJP Crime Act Program Offices
The Office of Justice Programs administers several programs
authorized by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
of 1994 (VCCLEA).  Three OJP Program Offices administer policies
related to corresponding Crime Act grants.  They are:  the OJP
Drug Courts Program Office; the OJP Corrections Program Office;
and the OJP Violence Against Women Grants Office.

The OJP Drug Courts Program Office supports the development and
implementation of effective Drug Court programming at the state,
local, and tribal level.  The Office coordinates the Drug Court
activities of OJP's five component Bureaus and administers the
Drug Courts Discretionary Grant Program as authorized by Title V
of the VCCLEA.  The Office strives to strengthen existing Drug
Courts and develop new Drug Courts, encouraging them to provide
continuing judicial supervision, mandatory periodic testing for
substance abuse among clients, substance abuse treatment,
offender supervision, management and aftercare, combined with
appropriate sanctions for failure to comply with program
requirements.  In addition, the Office works closely with
agencies and organizations involved in the areas of justice and
drug abuse recovery and also develops and delivers appropriate
technical assistance, training, and research findings in order to
enhance the effectiveness and operation of both existing and new
Drug Courts.

The OJP Corrections Program Office implements and supports those
portions of the VCCLEA which relate directly to penal
institutions.  The Office works to promote coordination between
all OJP Bureaus responsible for correctional initiatives and
works to form partnerships with other federal criminal justice
related agencies including, but not limited to, the Federal
Bureau of Prisons and the National Institute of Corrections. 
Partnerships also are sought with professional associations
representing state government, adult and juvenile corrections,
and local jails.  Two sections of the Crime Act provide grants to
states, through the year 2000, for the construction, development,
expansion, modification, operation and improvement of
correctional facilities for the incarceration of adult and
juvenile offenders.  To qualify for these grants, states must
make certain assurances including comprehensive planning, to
include the involvement of and shared resources with local
government; incarceration of violent offenders; truth in
sentencing; and recognition of the rights and needs of victims of
crime and of incarcerated veterans.  Another section of the
VCCLEA promotes alternative methods of punishment for youthful
offenders, including early diversion and intervention.  A fourth
section seeks to promote healthy parenting by allowing children
to live in structured environments with their offender-parents,
who are assigned to community correctional placements.  A final
section funds residential substance abuse treatment within state
correctional institutions.

The Violence Against Women Grants Office administers the
Department of Justice's formula and discretionary grant programs
authorized by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.  The
program assists the nation's criminal justice system in
responding to the needs and concerns of women who have been, or
potentially could be, victimized by violence.  Grant programs
emphasize enhanced delivery of services to women victimized by
violence; strengthen outreach efforts to minorities and disabled
women; and provide Indian tribal governments with funds to
develop and strengthen the tribal justice system's response to
violent crimes committed against Native American women, through a
discretionary grant program.  In addition, the Office provides
technical assistance to state and tribal government officials in
planning innovative and effective criminal justice responses to
violent crimes committed against women.  This office works
closely with the Violence Against Women Office, another OJP
component, which is responsible for Department-wide coordination
of this issue.

Evaluation
Each of the OJP Crime Act Program Offices has allocated a
percentage of its available funds -- up to 5 percent -- to fund
evaluation of new programs.  For each program area, the National
Institute of Justice (NIJ) is developing a multi-year research
and evaluation strategy.  The strategy includes a planning
conference that brings together researchers and practitioners to
survey the state of knowledge and propose research topics and
strategies appropriate to programmatic innovations supported by
each Office.  For each, a special research and evaluation
solicitation is being announced.  NIJ is not attempting to
evaluate every program funded, nor is it focusing these funds on
large national evaluations.  Rather, the Institute is developing
evolving research and evaluation strategies to guide the
implementation of these programs.

A Department of Justice Response Center has been created to
direct assistance to the public on requirements for receiving
funds offered through the VCCLEA legislation as well as to
provide general information related to OJP program activities. 
The toll free telephone number for the Response Center is
800-421-6770 or, locally, it may be reached by dialing
202-307-1480.

The Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (OCPA) is a key
point of contact for all of OJP.  OCPA is responsible for
ensuring effective communications with Congress, the news media
and the public.  OCPA works with members of Congress,
Congressional committees, and Congressional staff on legislation,
policies, and issues affecting OJP, its Bureaus and Program
Offices, as well as the criminal justice community.  It is
responsible for tracking legislation, responding to Congressional
requests, and providing guidance to the Department regarding
pending legislation.  OCPA also works with the news media to keep
them informed about OJP programs and activities.  The telephone
number for OCPA is 
202-307-0703.

Office of Justice Programs American Indian and Alaskan Native
Affairs Desk
To enhance the response of the Department of Justice to inform
American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) tribes about funded
programs or those that could be developed, an American Indian and
Alaskan Native Affairs Desk has been established in OJP.  Using
culture as a resource, along with human and material resources,
OJP is strengthening the opportunities for AI/AN tribes to: 
enhance their indigenous methods for handling social problems and
intra-familial conflicts; perpetuate their culture by engaging
members and others in culturally appropriate activities; apply
approaches and techniques that are meaningful to the people being
served; and enhance the cultural perspective of members by using
and drawing upon the strengths of the Indian culture.  Through
the transfer of funds and provision of technical assistance, OJP
has become a partner in empowering AI/AN communities to improve
the quality of life for their people and to build strong and
healthy communities.

Comprehensive
Community-Based 
Initiatives
Several initiatives of the Office of Justice Programs are
addressing crime and violence through comprehensive,
community-based efforts.  These programs share goals such as
recognizing the importance of community involvement in grant
development and implementation, and local coordination; and the
need to combine crime abatement and crime prevention efforts. 
Another important aspect of these programs is the attempt to
maximize the impact of existing resources through integrating
national, state, and local resources of both the public and
private sectors.

Weed and Seed
One of the longest-running community-based programs is Operation
Weed and Seed.  Initiated in 1991, Weed and Seed has received
broad-based, bipartisan support since its inception.  

The Weed and Seed strategy consists of four elements:  1)
Coordinated Law Enforcement to "weed" crime, drug, and gang
activity; 
2) Community Oriented Policing to serve as a bridge between the
"weeding" (law enforcement) and "seeding" efforts (crime
prevention and neighborhood restoration); 3) Prevention,
Intervention, and Treatment to increase the availability and
coordination of human services -- such as drug and crime
prevention programs, educational opportunities, drug treatment,
family services, and recreational activities for youth; and 4)
Neighborhood Restoration to revitalize distressed neighborhoods
and improve the quality of life for Weed and Seed residents
through economic development, job opportunities, improved housing
conditions, and increased access to affordable housing.

As of April 1998, there were 147 officially recognized Weed and
Seed sites.  Awarding Official Recognition is a means by which
the federal government can honor and assist communities
implementing the strategy independent of Justice Department Weed
and Seed funding.  Several federal agencies have given preference
in their discretionary grant programs to Officially Recognized
Weed and Seed communities and are encouraging state block grant
agencies to provide assistance to these sites as well.  In
addition, all Weed and Seed sites, funded and unfunded, are
eligible for a wide range of training and technical assistance
services.  For further information, contact Steve Rickman,
Director, Executive Office for Weed and Seed, at 202-616-1152.

PACT
Expanding upon the underlying strategy of Operation Weed and Seed
is an intergovernmental initiative, Pulling America's Cities
Together (PACT).  The U.S. Departments of Education, Health and
Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and
Justice, as well as the Office of National Drug Control Policy,
initially launched this effort as a component of the
Interdepartmental Task Force on Violence.  Through PACT,
collaborating federal government agencies foster and support the
development of broad-based, fully coordinated local jurisdictions
and statewide initiatives to secure community safety.  OJP's
Bureau of Justice Assistance has provided specific support to
PACT-designated cities through its Comprehensive Communities
Program.  For further information about PACT, contact Mary Breen,
Office of the Assistant Attorney General, OJP, at 202-616-0289.

EZs/ECs
Both Weed and Seed sites and PACT cities are eligible for
priority consideration for additional discretionary grant federal
funding under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development's- administered Empowerment Zones (EZs) and
Enterprise Communities (ECs).  The planning process involved in
EZs, similar in many ways to that of Weed and Seed and PACT,
produces a coordinated strategy to use federal tax initiatives,
deregulation, federal program waivers, and flexible federal
program funding to encourage economic self-sufficiency in
communities.  ECs highlight tax incentives, flexible block
grants, and waivers/flexibility with existing federal resources.

SafeFutures
OJP's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
program, SafeFutures:  Partnerships to Reduce Youth Violence and
Delinquency, complements other OJP community-based initiatives in
its focus on a strategy that is comprehensive and that draws upon
multi-agency resources, federal, state, and local, public and
private.  The strategy includes the development of a continuum of
care for all youth, with a particular emphasis on delinquent
youth, through prevention and intervention activities, including
a range of graduated sanctions and treatment services.  Five
sites (three urban, one rural, and one tribal government) are
being funded.  Two of the four urban/rural sites will be in
jurisdictions designated as Empowerment Zones/Enterprise
Communities.  For further information, contact OJJDP's Special
Emphasis Division at 202-307-5914.

Training and Technical Assistance Available From OJP Bureaus and
Offices
Training to disseminate the results of proven programs and
state-of-the-art practices and technical assistance to help
address specific information and assessment of needs are
effective means of building the capacity of state and local
criminal justice agencies to prevent and control crime.  Often,
local jurisdictions are able to replicate a successful
demonstration program solely as a result of committed local
leaders receiving technical assistance or training in a proven
new approach.

The OJP agencies' training and technical assistance are designed
in accordance with their specific mandates.  For example, BJA
provides a wide array of training and technical assistance
programs to provide criminal justice practitioners with
information on state-of-the-art, effective programs and practices
and to address new criminal justice issues.  Criminal and
juvenile justice practitioners, government officials, social
service providers, representatives from community organizations,
victim advocates, youth, and others involved in crime prevention
and control can benefit from BJA's training and technical
assistance programs.

The OJJDP Training and Technical Assistance Division seeks to
strengthen the essential components of the juvenile justice
system including juvenile courts and court personnel, law
enforcement, detention and corrections, the network of youth
service providers, and child advocacy organizations by providing
training, technical assistance, and state-of-the-art information
on trends, new approaches, and innovative techniques.  To carry
out its mission, the Division:

n  Analyzes the training needs of professionals and volunteers
working in the juvenile justice system, and develops and
implements curriculums to meet these needs.

n  Conducts training programs and technical assistance for
federal, state, and local governments; private agencies;
professionals; volunteers; and others who serve the juvenile
justice system, including law enforcement, the judiciary,
corrections, education, and community organizations.

n  Provides needs assessments for community planning concerning
gang and drug problems in order to develop effective intervention
strategies.

The Training, Dissemination, and Technical Assistance Division
assists the OJJDP State Relations and Assistance Division and
Special Emphasis Division in implementing the OJJDP state formula
grant programs and national-scope program replications by
providing structured training and technical assistance.

The Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS) provides training
and technical assistance to both funded and unfunded Weed and
Seed communities in an attempt to strengthen program
implementation and strategy development, as well as increase
information sharing among the sites nationwide.  Examples of
assistance which attempt to meet the broad needs of the program
include a national Weed and Seed training conference held
annually and the monthly publication of In-Sites, the Weed and
Seed newsletter, which enjoys a readership of over 2,500
nationally.  To meet the specific needs of the Weed and Seed
sites -- such as conducting community needs assessment, enhancing
community policing, and strengthening job training or other
economic development efforts -- organizations specializing in
these areas, and additional training and technical assistance
funds, are made available.

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) training and technical
assistance activities are intended to expand and enhance the
coordination and delivery of services to crime victims; improve
the criminal justice and social services system response to
victims of crime; and support the development and distribution of
policies, procedures and protocols in the treatment and handling
of crime victims by Native American tribes, state and local
governments, and private non-profit organizations.  OVC also
provides funding to respond to critical incidences of mass
victimization, to disseminate information and products to the
field, and to support statewide training efforts.  A special
emphasis area of OVC's training and technical assistance is
outreach to Native American populations and rural communities.

OJP agencies can customize their training and technical
assistance to meet the specific needs of a state or local
community.  They also can address a broad array of topics,
examples of which are described in the following sections.  For
additional information about available training and technical
assistance, please contact the DOJ Response Center at
800-421-6770 or the number listed after a specific training or
technical assistance program.

Innovative Law Enforcement
n  The National Law Enforcement Policy Center develops and
disseminates model policies for state and local law enforcement
agencies and conducts training on policy development and
implementation.  Limited training is available on a regional
basis from BJA.  For further information, contact BJA at
202-514-6278.

n  Training in Anti-Drug Activities and Cultural Differences
Involving Illegal Aliens seeks to enable law enforcement officers
to investigate drug smuggling and illegal sales more effectively
and to be more aware of the cultural differences of the various
ethnic groups in the communities they serve.  Conducted through a
collaborative effort between the International Association of
Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, the training is available regionally on a limited basis
in 1995 through BJA.

n  Clandestine Laboratory Training and Certification is designed
to reduce the risks to law enforcement officers and their teams
who investigate and dismantle clandestine drug-manufacturing
laboratories.  Limited regional training is available in 1995
through BJA.

n  The Technical Assistance and Training to State and Local
Criminal Justice Agencies Program responds to requests from state
and local governments for help in implementing effective
improvements to their criminal justice systems consistent with
state and federal priorities.  This technical assistance and
training is available through BJA.

n  The Law Enforcement Training/Technical Assistance for
State/Local Law Enforcement Agencies provides nationwide training
and technical assistance for the purpose of improving law
enforcement's ability to prevent and respond to serious juvenile
crime.  The contract provides training on a regional basis and
planning and support requested to meet specific local technical
assistance requests.  This program is supported by OJJDP funds.

n  The Training in Cultural Differences for Law Enforcement and
Juvenile Justice Officers is intended to improve the
effectiveness of police and other juvenile justice agency
personnel who work with minority group suspects and offenders. 
It further helps to improve the policies governing police and
juvenile court and corrections personnel handling of minority
youth in the purview of the juvenile justice system.  This
program is available through OJJDP.

Crime and 
Drug Abuse Prevention
n  Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Training Centers in
Arizona, California, Illinois, North Carolina, and Virginia train
law enforcement officers to teach the DARE curriculum. 
Originally designed to instruct children in the sixth, seventh,
and eighth grades in the skills needed to recognize and resist
the overt and subtle pressures that lead them to experiment with
drugs and alcohol, DARE has expanded to all grades and offers
instruction in nonviolent dispute resolution and kidnaping
awareness.  The training is provided through BJA.

n  Through the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign,
administered by the National Crime Prevention Council, workshops
for national, state co-sponsored, and local technical assistance
and training are held on a variety of topics.  For example, drug
demand-reduction workshops are conducted for police chiefs and
sheriffs.  Other workshop topics include planning and managing
prevention programs.  The training is available through BJA.

n  The Community Drug Abuse Prevention Initiatives Program
provides training and technical assistance in the reduction of
crime, violence, and the demand for drugs, to citizens, community
organizations, and governmental policymakers.  The training and
technical assistance are available on a limited basis through
BJA.

n  The Landlord Training Program teaches law enforcement
professionals how to train property owners in techniques to
prevent drug activity from occurring in their rental properties. 
Limited training is available on a regional basis through BJA.

n  The National Night Out crime and drug prevention campaign,
administered by the National Association of Town Watch, provides
information, materials, and technical assistance to develop
neighborhood partnerships and community-based activities to
reduce crime, violence, and substance abuse.  Assistance is
available through BJA.

n  The Prevention of Delinquency Through Child-Centered,
Community-Based Policing Program is a model developed by the New
Haven Police Department and the Child Study Center at Yale
Medical School.  This child-focused community-based policing
program is designed to help children and families cope with the
stress caused by exposure to violence.  Components of the
training focus on enabling police officers to mitigate
traumatized children's sometimes deviant reactions to violence,
such as acceptance of violence as unavoidable or even as
appropriate problem-solving behavior.  OJJDP supports the
partnership as a host site for jurisdictions interested in
replicating the essential elements of this program.

n  The Community Anti-Drug Abuse Technical Assistance Voucher
Project allows neighborhood groups to purchase inexpensively
technical assistance for anti-drug abuse projects serving
high-risk youth.  Vouchers ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 are
disbursed by the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
(NCNE) to community-based grassroots organizations that meet
program criteria.  NCNE also serves as a clearinghouse for
information on community anti-drug initiatives.  The program is
available through OJJDP.

n  The goal of the Congress of National Black Churches Program is
to raise public awareness and mobilize communities to address the
problem of drug abuse in targeted communities across the nation. 
The program works to summon, focus, and coordinate church,
public, and community leadership to launch local anti-drug
campaigns.  Anti-drug efforts are underway at 35 sites, with
10-15 additional sites to be added in the near future.  This is
an OJJDP-sponsored program.

Youth, Gangs, and Firearms
n  Police Operations Leading to Improved Child and Youth Services
(POLICY) has two components:  
(1) introducing law enforcement executives to management
strategies to integrate juvenile services into the mainstream of
their operations; and (2) helping mid-level managers build on
these strategies by demonstrating step-by-step methods to improve
police productivity in the juvenile justice area.  These services
are available through OJJDP.

n  Gang and Drug POLICY is an intensive workshop for teams of
community policymakers.  The workshop demonstrates a cooperative
interagency process to develop a concrete plan for improving the
gang and drug prevention, intervention, and suppression
strategies in their jurisdictions.  The workshop is available
through OJJDP.

n  The Targeted Outreach With a Gang Prevention and Intervention
Component and the National Office of Boys and Girls Clubs provide
training and technical assistance to local Boys and Girls Clubs
in how to prevent youth from entering gangs and how to intervene
with gang members in the early stages of gang involvement by
diverting them from gang activities into more constructive
programs.  This program is available through OJJDP.

n  The National School Safety Center provides training and
technical assistance and develops and disseminates resources to
help school administrators, law enforcement personnel, judges,
and legislators respond to school safety issues.  It operates a
national clearinghouse for school crime-related information and
has developed a comprehensive public information campaign. 
Services of this program are funded by OJJDP.  For further
information, contact the Center at 805-373-9977.

n  The Innovative Firearms Program works with local jurisdictions
to develop a program to reduce firearms crimes by juvenile gangs
through improved enforcement of firearms laws and other laws and
regulations, such as tax and business laws, that are used to
control firearms sales.  This is a BJA-sponsored program.

n  The National Gang Assessment and Resource Center serves as a
resource for state and local jurisdictions through the
collection, analyses, and exchange of information regarding
gang-related statistics, legislation, research, and promising
program strategies.  OJJDP sponsors this program.

Prosecution and Adjudication
n  The Model State Drug Control Statutes Program promotes the
nationwide implementation of the updated model state statutes and
provides comprehensive and intensive technical assistance.  The
statutes strengthen the capability of states to investigate,
apprehend, prosecute, and punish drug offenders and organizations
that traffic in illegal drugs and narcotics.  Written materials
are available on request from BJA.

n  The Court Performance Standards Training and Technical
Assistance Program provides training and technical assistance to
demonstration sites, evaluation of the impact of Trial Court
Performance Standards, and implementation of a national strategy
to encourage the adoption of these standards.  Assistance is
available to demonstration sites through BJA.

n  The Technical Assistance to State Courts Program assists
courts that request help in dealing with specific problems in
areas such as case processing, case backlog, family violence,
protective orders, and sentencing.  Limited assistance is
available through BJA.

n  The Drug Court Resource Center identifies, collects, and
analyzes information on guiding principles and operational
approaches for local drug court models.  A technical assistance
clearinghouse responds to requests for information, helps to
identify site problems, provides referrals, and facilitates site
visits.  For further information, contact the OJP Drug Courts
Program Office at 202-616-5001.

n  The program for Assessment and Enhancement of Indigent Defense
Services is designed to help state and local indigent defense
organizations improve their handling of drug and criminal cases. 
State training programs focus on defense issues, the development
and use of diversion programs, and the use of alternative
sentencing.  Limited services are available in 1995 through BJA.

n  The program Arson and Explosives Investigation and Training
for Prosecutors is being developed by a federal consortium made
up of BJA, the Federal Emergency Management Administration's U.S.
Fire Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and
Firearms.  State and local prosecutors are able to attend a 5-day
basic arson and explosives course conducted at four to six
regional sites a year; and a 5-day advanced course will be
conducted twice a year.  The training is available through BJA.

n  Child Abuse Prosecution Training and Technical Assistance aims
to improve the quality of child-abuse prosecution by assisting
elected and appointed prosecutors at the federal, state, and
local levels.  The center's services to prosecutors include the
provision of training, technical assistance, and publications in
the subject area.  Workshops, conferences, and informational
materials made possible by this program benefit law enforcement,
social workers, therapists, and other personnel handling
child-abuse cases, in addition to prosecutors.  The program is
available through OJJDP.

n  The Investigation and Prosecution of Parental Abduction Cases
Projects works to improve the skills and effectiveness of local
prosecutors and investigators in handling cases involving
non-custodial parents who abduct their children.  The project
identifies the legal and social issues in these cases, analyzes
and summarizes existing research in this area, and educates local
prosecutors and law enforcement agencies concerning significant
aspects of the prosecution and management of parental abduction
cases.  Two documents have been prepared through this project: 
Investigation and Prosecution of Parental Abduction Handbook and
a Training Curriculum for Prosecutors.  The program is available
through OJJDP.

n  The Juvenile Court Training Program provides support to the
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges to provide
basic and specialized training to judges on developments in
juvenile and family case law and available options for sentencing
and treatment.  Areas of special emphasis include drug testing,
gangs and violence, and intermediate sanctions.  The program is
available through OJJDP.

n  The National Juvenile Prosecution Center promotes greater
district attorney involvement in the juvenile justice system and
helps them develop appropriate policies for managing and
prosecuting juvenile cases.  The project provides policy
development workshops for chief prosecutors and for juvenile unit
chiefs in district attorney offices.  The program is available
through OJJDP.

n  The National Network of Children's Advocacy Centers provides
assistance to local Children's Advocacy Centers involved in the
investigation and prosecution of child abuse.  Fifteen sites
nationwide will receive funds to develop and implement training
programs, provide technical assistance, and advance information
sharing.  The program is available through OJJDP.

n  The Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program
(SHOCAP) provides training and technical assistance to
jurisdictions that wish to adopt comprehensive, collaborative
approaches for identifying serious and chronic juvenile
offenders, establishing a case management process for them, and
developing effective interventions.  Programs involve cooperation
and information-sharing among the community, schools, law
enforcement, the juvenile court, juvenile corrections, and social
service agencies.  Services are available through OJJDP.

Violence Against Women 
and Children
n  The STOP Violence Against Women Technical Assistance Project
assists the multidisciplinary state teams planning the allocation
of the S T O P (Services Training Officers Prosecutors)
formula grants authorized through the Violence Against Women Act
of 1994.  Hosted visits to selected sites that have successfully
implemented a coordinated and integrated approach to violent
crimes against women are arranged for team members.  The
technical assistance is supported by OJP's Violence Against Women
Grants Office and the Office for Victims of Crime.  The Violence
Against Women Grants Office also supports technical assistance to
Indian tribal governments that receive grants through the S T
O P Violence Against Women discretionary grants program.  The
assistance available includes site visits by grantees to
promising programs currently addressing the needs of Indian women
who have been victims of violence and strategies to enhance the
implementation and effectiveness of the projects funded to stop
violence against Indian women.  For further information, contact
the Violence Against Women Grants Office at 202-307-6026.

n  The Violence Against Women Training and Technical Assistance
Project provides federal leadership to a consortium of
court-related, prosecutorial, and victim service organizations to
implement a systems approach to spouse abuse, child abuse, elder
abuse, sexual assault, and stalking.  These services are
available through BJA.

n  The Child Abuse and Exploitation Investigative Techniques
Program demonstrates state-of-the-art approaches for law
enforcement officers in building a case against individuals
charged with child abuse, sexual exploitation, or child
abduction.  The program is available through OJJDP.

n  The Juvenile/Family Court Training Program provides training
and technical assistance to juvenile and family court judges and
other juvenile court and justice system personnel.  The training
emphasizes a family-based approach to dealing with the problems
of children in trouble and helps improve juvenile and family
dynamics in relation to problems such as substance abuse and its
effect on children.  These services are available through OJJDP.

Crime Victims
n  Immediate Response to Emerging Problems provides training and
short-term technical assistance in victim assistance to
communities coping with incidents resulting in multiple crime
victims, such as serial rapes, terrorist bombings, or widespread
street violence.  The services are available through OVC.

n  The Trainers Bureau makes expert consulting services available
to agencies on request in order to provide customized training
and technical assistance on the range of victim issues.  For
further information, please contact OVC at 
202-514-6444.

n  The District Specific Training Program provides funding for
U.S. Attorneys to improve the response to federal crime victims
through multidisciplinary training efforts.  The program is
operated by OVC.

n  Annual Conferences on Child Sexual Abuse are conducted for
teams nominated by U.S. Attorneys and victim assistance personnel
in the federal system.  The conferences are sponsored by OVC.

n  Train-the-Trainers sessions addressing high priority victim
issues are sponsored by OVC.  Seminars covering general or
specific topics are offered to criminal justice personnel and
others who interact with victims.  Sessions dealing with victim
assistance for federal law enforcement agencies are conducted in
collaboration with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. 
For further information, please contact OVC at 202-514-6444.

n  Regional Training Seminars for crime victim practitioners and
allied professionals working with crime victims focus on topics
of particular interest and concern to victim service providers at
the state and local levels.  For further information, please
contact OVC at 202-514-6444.

n  The Regional Coordination Initiative creates partnerships
between OVC and victim service providers at the local and
regional levels.  Individual trainers and technical assistance
providers in the victims field are identified and with support
from OVC and their employer agency, create professional networks
and conduct innovative regional training events.  For further
information, please contact OVC at 202-514-6444.

n  The Conference Support Training Initiative makes funding
available to support state, regional and national
multidisciplinary training conferences.  OVC's goal is to enhance
the quality and breadth of training available at the state, local
and regional levels by providing supplemental funding to cover
travel expenses for trainers, the cost of training materials and
audio visual equipment, and assisting in identifying training
topics.  For further information, please contact OVC at
202-307-5947.

n  The National Victim Assistance Academy is designed to provide
a foundation level course of study for victim services
professionals who work with crime victims.  The 45-hour course of
study is accredited through California State University, Fresno,
and is held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 
The Training Academy is sponsored by OVC.  For further
information, please contact OVC at 202-514-6444.

n  The Project to Expand and Improve Juvenile Restitution
Programs works to upgrade the development of juvenile restitution
programs nationwide and advance the implementation of new
programs through this grant.  OJJDP developed the program based
on the practitioner recommendations received during a workshop
conducted for that purpose.  The grantee is developing a training
and technical assistance strategy, training materials, and
materials on program models and components.  Specific restitution
program components to be addressed include community service,
victim reparation, victim-offender mediation, offender employment
and supervision, employment development, and any program elements
accentuating community protection, accountability, and offender
competency development.  This is an OJJDP-sponsored program.

Corrections
n  The OJP Corrections Program Office provides technical
assistance to states and local governments engaging in:  
1) comprehensive criminal justice planning; 2) sentencing reform;
3) the Crime Act grant application process; and 4) the
implementation of funded programs.  This technical assistance
takes the form of responses to specific inquiries; focus groups;
local, regional and national workshops; on-site expert
consultation/advice, and specific problem solving, as required. 
For further information, contact the OJP Corrections Program
Office at 202-307-3914.

n  The National Consortium of TASC (Treatment Alternatives to
Street Crime) Program supports correctional options sites and
jurisdictions interested in developing linkages between drug
treatment and the criminal justice system.  TASC support is
provided primarily to correctional options sites, with limited
availability to others.  The TASC Consortium is supported by BJA
funding.

n  The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) provides
assistance in developing and operating intensive supervision
programs and methods and approaches for mobilizing community
involvement and support for correctional options programs. 
APPA's efforts are supported by BJA funding.

n  The Sentencing Project provides assistance in developing and
implementing various defense-based sentencing initiatives.  The
information provided includes case studies of successful
programs.  The assistance is available through BJA.

n  The American Corrections Association (ACA) presents regional
training sessions on correctional options and provides technical
assistance and training to support the Federal Surplus Property
Program.  These efforts are supported by BJA funding.

n  The National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) is
conducting a study of structured sentencing practices and
experiences nationwide.  It will provide follow-up technical
assistance on structured sentencing.  This assistance is
available through BJA.

n  The Telecommunications to Support Correctional Options Project
funds the development of informational and training videos, a
national satellite teleconference on correctional options, and
other telecommunications products, such as telephone training
conferences, computer bulletin boards, or regional
teleconferences through BJA.

n  The Transitional and Aftercare Services Project provides
technical assistance resource materials and support to strengthen
transitional and aftercare services available to ex-offenders
returning to the community.  The project also supports the design
of community-based intervention services for drug dependent
offenders.

n  The Prosecutor and Public Defender Training Program continues
to provide assistance to prosecutors and public defenders to
promote a greater understanding of the issues that influence the
development, implementation, and successful operation of
correctional options.  This assistance is available through BJA.

n  The "Girl Scouts Beyond Bars" Program provides limited
assistance to adult correctional institutions, major youth
service organizations (Girl Scouts or otherwise), and other
collaborating community organizations interested in developing a
comprehensive, inmate parent-
child visitation program.  This assistance is available through
NIJ.

n  Training for Juvenile Corrections and Detention Staff offers a
core curriculum for juvenile corrections and detention
administrators and mid-level management personnel.  Courses are
delivered on-site at the National Institute of Corrections
Academy in Longmont, Colorado, as well as regionally.  This
program is available through OJJDP.

n  The Training for Juvenile Detention Center Care-Givers Project
provides detention center line personnel with training specific
to their needs.  New curriculum materials are being developed
along with a Desktop Guide to Detention.  The project is
available through OJJDP.

Multijurisdictional Initiatives, Task Forces and Complex
Financial Investigations
n  The Multi-Agency Response Training Project supports the
Organized Crime/ Narcotics program, Financial Investigation
(FINVEST) projects, and multi-agency task forces funded at the
state and local levels.  Regional training is available through
BJA.

n  Since 1994, Multijurisdictional Weed and Seed Sites have been
allowed to apply for discretionary grant funding. 
Multijurisdictional sites contain multiple target neighborhoods
or areas located in two or more jurisdictions.

n  Asset Forfeiture Training for Prosecutors and Financial
Investigators facilitates the effective implementation of state
forfeiture statutes.  Forfeiture ethics, policy, and management
are addressed.  Although training courses are no longer
available, state and local agencies may obtain copies of a model
curriculum and video from BJA to be used to conduct training
within states.

Research, Evaluation, Information Systems, and Technology
n  The BJA-State Reporting and Evaluation Program provides
technical assistance and training on the performance, monitoring,
assessment, and evaluation of state criminal justice programs. 
The services are available through BJA.

n  The Operational Systems Support Training and Technical
Assistance Program strives to improve general knowledge and
understanding of criminal justice information management, while
enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state and local
practitioners through technology.  The (SEARCH Group) National
Criminal Justice Computer Laboratory and Training Center conducts
in-house, hands-on training, as well as regional outreach
training throughout the United States.  The services are
available through BJA.

n  OJJDP's Technical Assistance Support Program for state
agencies implementing the Part B Formula Grants Program makes
technical assistance available to states in developing their
research, training, and evaluation capacity.

n  The NIJ National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology
Center in Rockville, MD, provides criminal justice professionals
with information on available technology, on guidelines/standards
for these technologies, and technical assistance in implementing
these technologies.  The Center compiles and computerizes
information on which manufacturers are producing law enforcement
related products and what those products are; what equipment law
enforcement agencies are using; and which agencies have special
equipment or expertise that can be utilized on an as needed
basis.  This program is expanding dramatically under the
Technology Information Network (TIN) which will link this Center
to the Regional Centers in Rome, NY; Charleston, SC; Denver, CO;
El Segundo, CA; and the Border Research and Technology Center in
San Diego, CA.

The NIJ Office of Law Enforcement Commercialization (OLETC) at
the National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) in Wheeling, WV,
is focused on moving technologies out of the federal and national
laboratories to industry for development and manufacture and
finally, moving them out as affordable, useful technologies for
law enforcement.  The Office allows industries interested in
entering the law enforcement market to access technologies
developed in the Departments of Defense, Energy, and other
federal research and development agencies and facilitates the
transfer of promising technologies to industry for law
enforcement.

The NIJ Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) at the
National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg,
MD, develops performance standards for law enforcement related
equipment.  Law enforcement at every level, but especially at the
state and local level, look to this program to provide the
standards and testing information they need to make wise
equipment investments.  For further information about the
Centers, contact NIJ at 202-307-2942.

Other Types of Specialized Programs 
Operating under broad mandates that allow them to respond
effectively to the needs of the criminal justice community, the
OJP agencies address a broad range of criminal justice issues
through their programs and special initiatives.  The following
information describes some of these special initiatives.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  Supported by
OJJDP, this Center serves as a national clearinghouse and
resource center.  It uses the latest in advanced computer
technology to assist in the timely collection and dissemination
of information on missing children cases.  The Center's research
and demonstration programs focus on data collection, improving
the response to and recovery of missing children, the
psychological impact of abductions on children and families,
reunification of missing children with their families, and
behavioral analysis of child molesters and abductors.  For
further information, please contact the Center at 703-235-3900
or, toll free 800-843-5678.  The Center's Web address is
www.missingkids.org.

Regional Information Sharing System (RISS) Program.  Each of six
regional projects funded by BJA offers information sharing and
data analysis on criminal activity, telecommunications and
investigative support, and specialized equipment sharing.  Member
agencies can receive training in the use of specialized
investigative equipment; analytical and surveillance methods; and
techniques for investigating narcotics trafficking, organized
crime, white-collar crime, and terrorism.  They also can receive
technical assistance on the use of information-sharing services. 
Representatives from state and local law enforcement and
prosecutorial agencies from all 50 states are members of and
receive services from the six regional projects.  Representatives
of federal agencies may participate as a member of a RISS project
for the region in which they work.  Extensive training and
technical assistance are available to member agencies upon
request.  For further information, please contact BJA at
202-514-5943.

White-Collar Crime Center.  This center, supported by BJA, takes
the lead in and provides support for multi-state investigations
of white collar crimes, including but not limited to: 
investment, telemarketing, securities, and health care fraud;
boiler room operations; and advanced fee loans.  The Center
maintains a database on white-collar crimes that can be accessed
by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  For
further information, please contact BJA at 202-514-6278.

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program.  Financial benefits are
awarded to the eligible spouses, children, and parents of
federal, state, and local public safety officers (comprising law
enforcement officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical
technicians) killed in the line of duty or to officers
permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.  This
program is administered by BJA.  For further information, please
contact BJA at 
202-307-0635.

Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Program.  This
program, administered by BJA, assists states and local units of
government to respond to law enforcement emergencies.  Awards
have been made to law enforcement agencies in the aftermath of
earthquakes and floods, in emergencies such as long-term
confrontations or standoffs between law enforcement officials and
criminal offenders, and in serial murder and arson cases.  For
further information, please contact BJA at 202-307-0635.

Denial of Federal Benefits.  OJP operates a Denial of Federal
Benefits Clearinghouse to receive notices from state and federal
courts of sentences that include the denial of federal benefits
as the result of a conviction for possession of or trafficking in
drugs.  This information is transmitted to the General Services
Administration for inclusion in its Debarment List and to other
federal agencies.  A related program maintains a listing of
persons convicted of felonies involving Defense Department
contracts.  OJP also assists federal, state, and local agencies
with implementation of Denial of Federal Benefits projects.  A
national public awareness campaign has been launched to educate
the public, particularly college students, about the consequences
of a conviction for illegal drug possession, use, or
distribution.  Those consequences can include the denial of
federal benefits.  For further information, please contact BJA at
202-307-1065.

Publications 
and Products
All OJP agencies publish a series of documents to share
information on "best practices" and innovative programs with
state and local policymakers, criminal justice practitioners, and
the general public.  The documents and other communications
products of the OJP agencies are as varied as the topics they
cover, ranging from fact sheets to comprehensive research
reports, and including videotapes, databases, and electronic
products.

BJA publications focus on the development and implementation of
programs related to crime and violence prevention and reduction,
community policing and mobilization, and criminal justice system
improvement.  The BJA publication series includes Program Briefs,
Implementation Manuals, Training Manuals, Monographs, Focus on
What Works, Special Analyses, Bulletins, Fact Sheets, Literature
Reviews, Topical Searches, Topical Bibliographies, and Custom
Searches.  These publications are supplemented by various other
publications by BJA grantees.

BJS publishes a series of statistical and analytical reports on
crime, offenders, and crime victims.  BJS's publications include
Crime Data Briefs, Selected Findings, Bulletins, Special Reports,
Technical Reports, Discussion Papers, and other reports.  BJS
also publishes major reference documents, which include the
Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics and national reports on
crime, justice, and drugs.

NIJ's publication series reflects its mandate to put research,
development, and evaluation findings into the hands of those who
can put them to active use.  NIJ publications include Research
Reports, Issues and Practices in Criminal Justice, Research in
Briefs, Research in Actions, NIJ Updates, Evaluation Bulletins,
Program Focus Reports, Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM)
Reports, Perspectives on Policing, the NIJ Catalog, and the
National Institute of Justice Journal.

OJJDP publications also focus on program development and
implementation as well as research related to the prevention of
delinquency, crimes against children, and improvement of the
juvenile justice system.  Publications include Bulletins,
Summaries, and Juvenile Justice, a magazine on research, program,
and training initiatives of interest to the juvenile justice
community.  Other publications are produced through OJJDP
grantees.

OVC develops and disseminates a variety of informational
materials to victims of crime and those who serve them. 
Videotapes, for example, have been created to help victims
understand the criminal justice process and obtain compensation
to reimburse expenses related to their victimization, and to show
children what to expect when they must testify in federal court. 
Other videotapes will be created to help victim service providers
deal sensitively with issues of cultural diversity and to help
parole board members understand the needs and rights of crime
victims that are affected by paroling decisions.  OVC also
publishes information pamphlets, training curricula, program
manuals, and bulletins regarding particular aspects of crime
victimization and the rights and services due to federal crime
victims.

Each of the OJP agencies periodically issues a publications list
with a complete listing of available documents.  The OJP agencies
distribute their publications through the National Criminal
Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), established by NIJ in 1971. 
NCJRS currently has 2,577 titles available for distribution and
sends approximately 5.3 million copies of publications yearly to
federal, state, and local criminal justice professionals,
researchers, community organizations, and others interested in
criminal justice information and resources.  In addition,
grantees of the OJP agencies distribute agency-funded
publications that they produce.

New publications are announced in OJP agency subscription
publications such as the NIJ Catalog and OJJDP's Juvenile Justice
magazine.  The following is a sample of the titles of
publications related to violence and victimization, community
policing, law enforcement, gangs, prison and jail populations,
corrections, intermediate sanctions, violent juvenile offenders,
and drugs and crime.

n  Civil Legal Remedies (OVC).

n  Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic
Juvenile Offenders (OJJDP).

n  Guide to Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious,
Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders (OJJDP).

n  Costs of Crime to Victims (BJS).

n  Family Life, Delinquency, and Crime:  
A Policymaker's Guide (OJJDP).

n  Family Violence:  Interventions for the Justice System (BJA).

n  Prevention Works (OJJDP).

n  The Kansas City Gun Experiment (NIJ).

n  Innovative Community Partnerships:  Working Together for
Change (OJJDP).

n  Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse - Later Criminal
Consequences (NIJ) 

n  Matrix of Community-Based Initiatives (OJJDP).

n  Partnerships To Prevent Youth Violence (BJA).

n  Violence Against Women (BJS).

n  Victim Programs To Serve Native Americans (OVC).

n  Understanding Community Policing:  
A Framework for Action (BJA).

n  Weapon-related Victimization in Selected Inner-City Highschool
Samples (NIJ).

n  Reducing Youth Gun Violence:  
A Summary of Programs and Initiatives (OJJDP).

n  Prosecuting Gangs:  A National Assessment (NIJ).

n  Fraud Victimization -- The Extent, the Targets, the Effects
(NIJ).

For further information about OJP publications, contact the
National Criminal Justice Reference Service at 800-851-3420.

Financial Assistance
All OJP agencies award grants and contracts or enter into
cooperative agreements to implement programs, provide technical
assistance and training, conduct research and evaluations, and/or
collect and analyze data to carry out their mandates.  Grants are
awarded in two forms:  formula/block and discretionary.  Formula
grants are awarded to the states, which, in turn, subaward the
funds to state and/or local agencies.  Discretionary funds are
awarded directly to state and local agencies and private
organizations by the directors of the OJP agencies.  This section
describes both types of grant programs.

Formula Grant Programs
BJA, OJJDP, OVC, the OJP Corrections Program Office, and the OJP
Violence Against Women Grants Office provide funding through
formula grants awarded to the states and/or Indian tribal
governments on the basis of population or other
legislatively-mandated criteria.  These formula grant programs,
described in the following subsections, are administered by State
Planning Agencies (for BJA), Criminal Justice Councils (for
OJJDP), and State Agencies designated by the governor (for OVC). 
For additional information, contact the Department of Justice
Response Center:  800-421-6770 or 202-307-1480.

Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance
Formula Grant Program
The BJA-administered Byrne Formula Grant Program provides funds
to assist states and units of local government in controlling and
preventing drug-abuse, crime, and violence and in improving the
functioning of the criminal justice system.

Each state is required to develop a statewide drug control and
violent crime strategy as part of its application for formula
grant funds.  Strategies are developed in consultation with state
and local criminal justice officials and are coordinated with the
treatment and prevention block grant programs.

Although not legislatively mandated, BJA has strongly encouraged
the states to establish a Drug and Violent Crime Policy Board to
serve as a forum for communication and to develop the strategy
for and facilitate the coordination of drug and crime control
activities within the state.  Nearly 80 percent of the states
have established such boards.  States are encouraged to include
U.S. Attorneys as members on these boards.

BJA's statute provides 26 legislatively authorized purpose areas
under which programs may be funded.  Sufficient variety and
flexibility exist within and among the purpose areas, which are
listed in the Appendix, to enable each state to fund those
activities appropriate to its needs and unique policy
environment.  In addition, Congress has enacted the following
three mandates that place requirements on the Formula Grant
Program:

n  Criminal Records Improvement.  Each state is required to use
at least 5 percent of its award to improve criminal history
records.

n  Reporting Alien Convictions.  Each state is required to inform
the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) of convicted
aliens and provide requested records.

n  Testing Sex Offenders for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV).  Each state must have and enforce a law that requires
certain sex offenders to be tested for HIV at the victim's
request.  Ten percent of a state's formula grant will be withheld
if a state fails to comply with this provision.

Byrne formula grant funds are distributed to the states by a
formula consisting of a $500,000 base or .25 percent of the
appropriated funds, whichever is greater.  The 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to
participate in the program, and all have received formula grant
awards since FY 1987.  For further information, contact the BJA
State and Local Assistance Division at 202-514-6638.

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Formula Grants
Program
The OJJDP-administered Formula Grants Program, authorized by the
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, assists
participating states in preventing and controlling delinquency
and improving the juvenile justice system.  This program includes
four core requirements:  the deinstitutionalization of status
offenders (juveniles who have committed acts such as truancy or
running away from home that would not be illegal for adults); the
separation of juveniles and adults in secure facilities; the
removal of juveniles from jails and police lockups; and reduction
of the number of securely detained and confined minority
juveniles where such youth are overrepresented in secure
facilities.

Eligible jurisdictions include the 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern
Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the Republic of Palau.  Each
jurisdiction receives a statutorily defined minimum allocation
with the balance of the funds allocated on the basis of each
jurisdiction's population under the age of 18.  For further
information, contact the OJJDP State Relations and Assistance
Division at 202-616-3660.

Juvenile Justice State Challenge Grants
OJJDP awards annual grants to states under the Part E State
Challenge Activities Program.  These funds are used to address
one or more of 10 challenge activities designed to address
specific system reform or improvement objectives.  For further
information, contact the OJJDP State Relations and Assistance
Division at 
202-616-3660.

Crime Victim Compensation Program
OVC awards annual grants to states to supplement state
compensation program efforts to provide reimbursement for
out-of-pocket costs incurred by crime victims such as lost wages,
funeral, medical and mental health counseling expenses.  As
provided by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), each state is
entitled to receive funding sources in the preceding fiscal year. 
Only states and territories with eligible compensation programs
may apply for this funding.  For further information, please
contact OVC at 202-307-5947.

Crime Victim Assistance
The VOCA victim assistance grant program supports state efforts
to fund local victim services programs that provide direct
services to crime victims such as crisis counseling, shelter,
court advocacy, transportation and other critical services. 
Funding provided by OVC is awarded to states to pass through to
public and private non-profit organizations such as domestic
violence shelters, rape crisis centers, child abuse treatment
programs, and survivor of homicide victim programs.  The program
goals are to support services which immediately respond to the
emotional and physical needs of crime victims, assist the primary
and secondary victims of crime in understanding the dynamics of
victimization and in stabilizing their lives after a
victimization, encourage victim cooperation and participation in
the criminal justice system, and offer an immediate measure of
safety to crime victims.  Every state and recognized territory
participates in the victim assistance grant program.  For further
information, contact the OVC State Compensation and Assistance
Division at 202-307-5947.

OJP Corrections Program Office Formula Grant Programs
The OJP Corrections Program Office awards formula grants to
states and states organized as multi-state compacts to construct,
develop, expand, modify, operate, or improve correctional
facilities, including boot camp facilities and other alternative
correctional facilities to ensure that prison cell space is
available for the confinement of violent offenders, and to
implement truth in sentencing laws for sentencing violent
offenders.  Fifty percent of the appropriated funds are used for
Truth in Sentencing Incentive Grants.  To be eligible to apply
for these funds, states must have laws that require a person
convicted of violent crimes to serve at least 85 percent of the
sentence imposed.  The other half of the funds support the
Violent Offender Incarceration Grant Program and are made
available to all eligible states using a formula based on violent
crimes reported by the states.  Federal funds may be used for up
to 75 percent of total project costs.  States are required to
have a comprehensive correctional plan and to involve local units
of government in the program.

In addition, under Section 20201, "Punishment of Young
Offenders," of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
of 1994, the OJP Corrections Program Office is authorized to
implement a formula grant program to increase the capability of
states and local governments to provide alternative sanctions for
young offenders as well as to promote reduced recidivism, crime
prevention, and assistance to victims.

The OJP Corrections Program Office also is authorized to award
formula grants to state correctional facilities for residential
substance abuse treatment programs.  Inmates must be incarcerated
in state and local correctional and detention facilities for a
period of time sufficient to permit substance abuse treatment. 
State aftercare services must involve the coordination of the
correctional facility treatment program with other human services
and rehabilitation programs, such as educational and job training
programs, parole supervision programs, halfway house programs,
and participation in self-help and peer group programs that may
aid in rehabilitation of individuals in the substance abuse
treatment programs.  For further information, contact the DOJ
Response Center at 800-421-6770.

OJP Violence Against Women Grants Office Formula Grant Programs
The OJP Violence Against Women Grants Office awards formula
grants for law enforcement, prosecution and victim services to
reduce violence against women.  Funds granted to qualified states
are further subgranted by the states to agencies and programs
including, but not limited to, state agencies; public or private
nonprofit organizations; units of local government; Indian tribal
governments; nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services programs;
and legal services programs for victims, to carry out programs
and projects specified in the Violence Against Women Act.

States that receive Violence Against Women formula grant funds
are required by statute to engage in a multidisciplinary planning
process involving law enforcement; prosecution; non-profit,
non-governmental victim service providers, including domestic
violence and sexual assault coalitions; key criminal justice
practitioners; and community leaders to develop a coordinated and
integrated strategy to address violence against women.  Funds may
be used to support the following broad purpose areas including: 
1) training for law enforcement officers and prosecutors to
identify and respond more effectively to violent crimes against
women; 2) developing, training, or expanding special units of law
enforcement officers and prosecutors to respond to violent crimes
against women; 
3) developing and improving data collection and communications
systems linking police, prosecutors, and courts, or to identify
and track arrests, protection orders, violations of protection
orders; 4) creating or enhancing victim services programs and
programs addressing stalking; and 5) developing and enhancing
programs which focus on the special needs of Indian tribes in
addressing violent crimes.  For further information, contact the
DOJ Response Center at 
800-421-6770.

Discretionary Grant Programs
All of the OJP agencies administer Discretionary Grant Programs,
described in the following sections.  Each Bureau develops and
publishes an annual program plan that describes its planned
discretionary grant activities.  In addition to reflecting
Administration priorities and Congressional mandates, the plans
incorporate input from national, state, and local officials and
criminal justice practitioners.

The OJP agencies publish announcements about their funding plans
in the Federal Register and conduct bulk mailings of application
kits and program plans to targeted audiences.  Some provide
assistance in completing and submitting applications through
published guidelines for writing grant proposals or through
reference services.  The plans encourage applicants to forge
partnerships with social service, education, and other
non-criminal justice agencies to improve the effectiveness of
their services, reduce wasteful duplication, and identify new and
innovative approaches to tough crime-related problems.  The plans
also provide information on training and technical assistance
available to state and local jurisdictions.  The FY 1998 Program
Plans for all OJP discretionary grant programs have been
published as one document and are available upon request.  For
additional information and copies of the OJP program plans,
contact the Department of Justice Response Center:  800-421-6770
or 202-307-1480.

Bureau of Justice Assistance Discretionary Grant Programs
Through its Discretionary Grant Program, BJA develops and tests
the effectiveness of innovative and promising programs to help
local communities fight crime and violence or improve the
functioning of state and local criminal justice systems.  BJA's
demonstration programs are designed to test the effectiveness of
programs that, in view of previous research or experience, are
likely to be successful in more than one jurisdiction.  BJA also
funds programs that are national or multi-state in scope and
provides technical assistance and training to help state and
local agencies adopt innovative crime- and violence-control and
criminal justice system improvement programs.

Priorities for the Discretionary Grant Program reflect a balance
of Administration priorities, needs expressed by state and local
criminal justice practitioners, and Congressional mandates.  The
statewide drug control and violent crime strategies submitted
annually by the states serve as an important source of
information on needs at the state and local levels.  Input also
is obtained directly from practitioners and community
representatives, as well as through staff contacts with criminal
justice practitioners and associations.

Emphasis continues to be placed on the development and
implementation of comprehensive approaches to crime,
neighborhood-based programs with active citizen involvement,
violence prevention and control initiatives with an emphasis on
youth handgun violence, and improving the ability of the criminal
justice system to remove serious and violent offenders from our
communities.  Discretionary grants are awarded directly to public
and private agencies and private nonprofit organizations.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Discretionary Grant Programs
OJJDP's Discretionary Grant Program is designed to address
juvenile offending and victimization through an array of targeted
programs and activities.  One primary method of achieving this
goal is through implementation of OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy
to Address Serious, Violent, and Chronic Delinquency.  The
Strategy, resulting from OJJDP's review of statistics, research,
and evaluation, focuses on promising approaches to strengthen the
family; support core institutions; and provide a system of
delinquency prevention, intervention, and treatment services. 
Its implementation at the state and local level requires that all
sectors of the community participate in determining local needs
for delinquency prevention and treatment and in formulating
programs to meet those needs.

OJJDP provides discretionary funds directly to public and private
nonprofit agencies, professional organizations, and individuals
through its Special Emphasis Program and National Institute for
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for the following
types of programs:

n  Delinquency Prevention and Intervention programs focus on
children and firearms, family strengthening, media violence,
law-related education, youth health and mental health problems,
youth employment, leadership skills, mentoring, drug abuse
prevention and education, hate crimes, truancy and dropout
prevention, and conflict resolution.

n  Public Safety and Law Enforcement Programs provide training
for law enforcement, prosecutors, probation and parole workers,
and juvenile detention and corrections personnel, gang programs,
firearms interdiction, and waiver studies.

n  Community-Based Alternatives provide alternative programs for
juvenile female offenders, School Safety Centers, juvenile
restitution, and community service, Native American juvenile
programs, and the Child Advocacy Center for abused children.

n  Improvements to the Juvenile Justice System programs emphasize
conditions of confinement, telecommunications assistance,
technical assistance to juvenile courts, education and literacy
programs for juvenile offenders, sex offender programs,
performance-based standards, and due process.

n  Missing, Exploited, and Abused Children Programs provide
funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children and a variety of research, evaluation, training and
technical assistance, and community-based programs for missing
and exploited children.  These programs also support permanency
planning, court appointed special advocates, prosecutor training,
model dependency courts, and children's advocacy centers.

n  OJJDP's Title V Program of Incentive Grants for Local
Delinquency Prevention Programs funds local jurisdictions in each
state, through the state agency that administers the Formula
Grants Program, to implement local delinquency prevention plans. 
These plans, formulated by community planning teams, must address
a continuum of delinquency prevention programs.  OJJDP supports
this program through training in the principles of risk focused
prevention and risk and resource assessment and through extensive
technical assistance.  Local jurisdictions receive funds for a
3-year period and must provide a 50 percent matching
contribution.

Office for Victims of Crime Discretionary Grant Programs
The purpose of OVC's Discretionary Grant Program is to improve
the quality and enhance the availability of victim services.  To
accomplish this purpose, OVC funds projects to identify
innovative and promising crime victim programs across the country
that are located in private, community-based, and public
agencies, as well as in all components and levels of the criminal
justice system.  OVC disseminates information about these
promising practices and promotes their replication nationwide.

OVC also funds discretionary programs to provide training and
technical assistance to service providers who interact with crime
victims.  These professionals include law enforcement,
prosecutors, judges, probation and parole officers, and
corrections officials who work within state and federal criminal
justice systems.  They also include mental health professionals,
doctors and nurses, the clergy, and others who regularly work
with crime victims.  OVC supports flexible training and technical
assistance resources that offer customized services to agencies
on request, as well as regional and national training events on
special topics of interest to those who provide services to crime
victims.

In addition, OVC reaches out to special victim populations and to
victims of particular types of crime.  Among these are the
elderly and minority victims, child victims of sexual
exploitation, victims of hate and bias crimes, and victims who
reside in remote areas where access to services may be limited. 
A number of these programs assist Native American crime victims. 
For example, funding is available to assist tribal communities
with victim services through the Victim Assistance in Indian
Country (VAIC) Program.  These funds help states establish
on-reservation victim assistance programs in areas of Indian
country that have had limited or no victim services.  The
Children's Justice Act (CJA) Discretionary Grant Program for
Native Americans provides funding directly to Indian tribes for
improving their investigations and prosecutions of child physical
and sexual abuse cases and for coordinating with U.S. Attorneys'
offices.

Other OVC programs and areas of focus include services for
specific victim populations:

n  A training project for multijurisdictional coordination of
child pornography and juvenile prostitution victims;

n  Resource packages for children required to testify in federal
court;

n  Training for military criminal justice personnel;

n  Support for grieving children;

n  Victim services in correctional programs;

n  Services for victims of bias crimes; and

n  Cross-cultural victim services training.

National Institute of Justice Discretionary Grant Programs
In selecting research, evaluation, and other projects, NIJ
emphasizes those that best meet the needs of the criminal justice
system and whose results can be put to practical use in the
field.  A systematic process of surveys, focus groups, and other
assessments, conducted among the various components of the
criminal justice field, is used to shape research priorities. 
NIJ also conducts research in cooperation with other federal
government agencies, awards visiting fellowships and other grants
to enhance the skills of researchers and practitioners, and
conducts in-house research.

NIJ's current research priorities are outlined in its Research
Prospectus which is published annually.

Priority Areas.  In recent years, NIJ-sponsored research has
emphasized building knowledge related to reducing violent crime
and drug-related crime, reducing the consequences of crime for
victims, including child victims, and developing crime prevention
strategies and tactics, especially those based in the community. 
The use of firearms by juveniles recently has been given special
emphasis.  NIJ has been promoting criminal justice effectiveness
particularly through research and evaluation projects in
community policing and in alternative sanctions that meet the
need for sentencing flexibility while ensuring accountability of
offenders.  NIJ also promotes effectiveness through the
development and application of technology to criminal justice
problems.  Development of less-than-lethal weapons for law
enforcement and corrections, and better forensic tools for
investigators and prosecutors are NIJ priorities in science and
technology.  Creating a base of knowledge related to more
recently emerging issues, such as environmental crime and
computer crime, also is a priority.  Long-term research aimed at
understanding the roots of crime is a major NIJ project.

Getting Information to the Field.  To bring research findings to
the people who can put them to use, NIJ has a communications
program that uses a variety of information-dissemination methods
and formats, including publications, videotapes, and conferences
and seminars series.  NIJ is adopting the most advanced
information technologies (including the Internet) for
communication.  NIJ, working with seven other federal agencies,
took the lead in developing the Partnerships Against Violence
Network (PAVNET), which makes available, in electronic and hard
copy, information on more than 600 promising anti-violence
programs now under way throughout the country.  PAVNET also
includes information on sources for technical assistance and
potential funding to support anti-violence programs.  The Web
address is www.pavnet.org.

In association with the other OJP Bureaus, NIJ operates the
National Criminal Justice Reference Service, the world's largest
source of criminal justice information.  It maintains a database
of more than 145,000 items, provides responses to queries about
criminal justice matters, and offers research and referral
assistance.  NCJRS' Web address is www.ncjrs.org.

Making a Difference.  NIJ research has made a difference in
understanding and practice in several areas through:

n  The development of body armor that has saved the lives of many
police officers.

n  Basic research on career criminals that led to the development
of special police and prosecutor units to deal with repeat
offenders.

n  Research that confirmed the links between use of drugs by
offenders and their level of criminal activity.

n  Development of model legislation for use by the states in
drafting laws against stalking.

n  Strengthening the criminal investigation process through
advances in DNA "fingerprinting" technology.

n  Bringing to light evidence that intensive, proactive
enforcement emphasizing firearms seizures can reduce gun-related
crime.

n  Documenting the extent to which firearms have become a
familiar part of the lives of juvenile males in certain high-risk
urban areas.

n  Revealing that people who are victimized by abuse in childhood
have a greater tendency than nonvictims to become involved in
crime later in life

Bureau of Justice Statistics Statistical 
and Discretionary Grant Programs
Statistical Series and Programs
The BJS criminal justice statistical program describes the
characteristics and consequences of over 40 million criminal
victimizations; the operations and activities of about 50,000
agencies, offices, courts, and institutions nationwide which
define the infrastructure of the justice system; and the
approximately 5 million adults, on an average day, subject to the
care, custody, or control of criminal justice authorities.

From more than two dozen major data collection series, BJS
publishes and distributes reports nationwide on criminal
victimization, populations under correctional supervision,
federal criminal offenders and case processing, criminal justice
expenditures and employment, felony convictions, pretrial release
practices, prosecutorial practices and policies, and the
administration of law enforcement agencies and correctional
facilities.  Major surveys and statistical series include:

n  National Crime Victimization Survey;

n  Law Enforcement Management and Administration Statistics;

n  National Pretrial Reporting Program;

n  National Judicial Reporting Program;

n  National Prosecutors Survey;

n  National Prisoner Statistics;

n  Survey of State Prison Inmates and Survey of Jail Inmates;

n  Survey of Adults on Probation; and

n  Census of State and Federal Prisons and Census of Jails.

BJS offers technical and financial support to agencies
responsible for statistical activities in each state.  BJS also
administers the Criminal Records Data Quality Program, which
supports nationwide improvement and sharing of criminal history
records and information.

National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP)
NCHIP implements the grant provisions of the Brady Handgun
Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act) and the National Child
Protection Act of 1993 to assist states in automating criminal
history record systems and improving the accuracy, completeness
and availability of criminal history records.  NCHIP is not only
strengthening the nation's capabilities to identify felons who
attempt to purchase firearms but also is beginning the process of
building a national system (National Instant Criminal Background
Check System) which will permit identifying persons other than
felons who are ineligible to purchase firearms.  At the same
time, the NCHIP program is helping to advance the efforts of the
National Child Protection Act to expand the role of criminal
history records in protecting children, the elderly, and the
disabled from abuse.

NCHIP awards are made to every state, with preference given to
states with the lowest percent of current records in computerized
criminal history files.  An award also is being made to conduct a
long term evaluation of the joint impact of the NCHIP program and
the use of the 5% set-aside of Byrne formula funds which is
required to be expended for improving criminal justice records. 
Exploratory efforts also are being undertaken to identify issues
and implement procedures to interface between criminal record
systems and databases holding information on other categories of
individuals who are prohibited from purchasing a firearm under
federal or state statute.  This program is being implemented by
the Bureau of Justice Statistics.  For further information,
contact the DOJ Response Center at 1-800-421-6770.

The OJP Weed and Seed Discretionary Grant Program
Under the leadership of local U.S. Attorneys, over 75 communities
in more than 22 states are implementing comprehensive strategies
to "weed" criminal activity from defined, high-crime
neighborhoods and "seed" these neighborhoods with coordinated
prevention efforts and economic opportunity.  As of April 1998,
147 communities were officially recognized sites.  Awarding
Official Recognition is a means by which the federal government
can honor and assist communities implementing the strategy
independent of Justice Department Weed and Seed funding. 
Communities must first develop the Weed and Seed strategy and
apply for Official Recognition before being eligible to compete
for discretionary grant funding.  For further information,
contact the Executive Office for Weed and Seed at 202-616-1152.

The OJP Drug Courts Program Office Discretionary Grant Programs
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
authorizes discretionary grants, contracts, cooperative
agreements, and other assistance to implement drug court programs
that combine intensive probation supervision and mandatory drug
testing and treatment for young, nonviolent drug offenders. 
Under the terms of the statute, violent offenders are excluded
from participation in Drug Courts funded under the program.  For
further information, contact the DOJ Response Center at
800-421-6770.

The OJP Corrections Program Office Discretionary Grant Programs
The Correctional Facilities/Boot Camps program provides funds for
state and local governments to construct, develop, expand,
modify, operate or improve correctional facilities, including
boot camps and other alternative correctional facilities that
free traditional prison and jail space for confinement of violent
offenders.  States or multi-state compacts are eligible to apply
for funding.  The FY 1995 appropriation for discretionary grants
is solely for boot camp planning, development and
construction-related costs.  For further information, contact the
DOJ Response Center at 
800-421-6770.

The OJP Violence Against Women Grants Office Discretionary Grant
Programs
The Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grant Program provides funds
to develop and strengthen law enforcement and prosecutorial
strategies to combat violent crimes against women, and develop
and strengthen victims services in cases involving violent crimes
against women.  While the Violence Against Women Act authorizes
the Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grant Program as a formula
grant program, four percent of the FY 1995 appropriated funds are
available for Indian tribal governments through a discretionary
program.  For further information, contact the DOJ Response
Center at 800-421-6770.

Accessing Information
As part of their mandates to assist state and local criminal
justice agencies and to disseminate timely information on
criminal justice issues, the OJP agencies have established
various means for the public to access the valuable resources
they offer.  The following describes the primary means of
accessing OJP information.

Department of Justice Response Center.  (Telephone numbers: 
800-421-6770; 
202-307-1480) The Response Center was established in 1993 as an
outreach service to encourage as many jurisdictions as possible
to apply for grants.  It continues to offer assistance to grant
applicants as well as to those seeking information related to OJP
programs and activities, including legislative, programmatic, and
funding-related issues concerning the Violent Crime Control and
Law Enforcement Act of 1994.  Jurisdictions that are new to the
process of completing grant applications can obtain help in
filling out the forms and in finding answers to technical
questions by calling the toll-free telephone number listed above. 
Information specialists in the Response Center receive training
on the technical elements of grant applications and have direct
access to program managers.

The Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (OCPA). 
(Telephone number:  
202-307-0703) OCPA is a key point of contact for OJP.  Primary
responsibilities of this Office include working with the news
media and the public to keep them informed about OJP programs and
activities; and working with Congressional members, committees,
and staff on legislation, policies and issues affecting OJP, its
Bureaus and Program Offices, as well as the criminal justice
community.

Clearinghouses.  (Telephone numbers:  
800-851-3420; 301-519-5500) All five OJP Bureaus operate
clearinghouses through which they distribute agency publications,
prepare responses to specific information requests, offer
database searches, and provide information about federal funding. 
Users can obtain reliable, comprehensive, and current information
about the latest criminal and juvenile justice studies and
projects from around the world.  The clearinghouses are
administered by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service
(NCJRS), which serves more than 100,000 criminal and juvenile
justice researchers and professionals, making it the world's
largest criminal justice information network.

NCJRS receives and fills requests for information through the
mail, by telephone, by fax, and on the Internet.  Through its
World Wide Web site, NCJRS users have access to fully-searchable,
full-text documents from OJP and other criminal justice
resources. The Web address is www.ncjrs.org.  Trained information
specialists respond to requests by providing statistics or
referrals, conducting custom searches, supplying appropriate
publications, and providing access to library resources.  Staff
members answer questions about agency-specific programs,
publications, or special initiatives and upcoming funding
opportunities.  Their areas of expertise include community
policing, crime prevention, domestic violence, and drug education
and prevention; juvenile issues such as juvenile violence,
delinquency prevention, school crime, and missing and exploited
children; and victim issues such as victim rights, victim
services, domestic violence, child or elder abuse, rape and
sexual assault, and bias-related violence.  NCJRS welcomes
personal visits to its Research and Information Center, which
contains more than 130,000criminal justice publications and
reports for user reference needs.  In addition, the Center has
access to databases and publication holdings from other agencies
and organizations.

The Drugs and Crime Clearinghouse, funded by the Office of
National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and administered by BJS,
responds to policymakers' urgent needs for current data about
illegal drugs, drug law violations, drug-related crime, and the
impact of drugs, and drug-using offenders on the criminal justice
system.  The Clearinghouse disseminates BJS and other
drug-related crime documents published by the U.S. Department of
Justice, maintains a library and database, produces topical fact
sheets and selected bibliographies, and responds to telephone and
mail requests for information.

Partnerships Against Violence Network (PAVNET).  PAVNET, an
initiative launched by an unprecedented coalition of federal
agencies, is an automated resource designed to facilitate the
development of comprehensive approaches to reducing violence. 
The goal of PAVNET is to integrate information on the wide range
of strategies and resources currently available and to remove the
barriers that communities face in sharing information about
proven and promising programs that combat violence and empower
communities to protect families and children.  A central
repository for information on programs, sources of funding, and
technical assistance providers, PAVNET can be accessed via the
Web at www.pavnet.org.  Information also is available in the form
of printed resource guides.  PAVNET is a joint effort of the
Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services,
Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor.  For further
information, contact the National Criminal Justice Reference
Service at 
800-851-3420 or 301-519-5500.

Weed and Seed In-Sites Newsletter.  With a readership of 2,500
nationally, the Weed and Seed In-Sites newsletter is published
and distributed monthly by EOWS.  The newsletter plays a critical
role in informing readers of what is working to improve public
safety and the quality of life in Weed and Seed sites around the
nation.  The newsletter also provides information on current
policy and program changes, thus improving communication between
the Department of Justice and field contacts and service
providers.  By gathering and disseminating information which is
useful to the sites - such as the "Weed and Seed Resource
Library," "What's Working," and a "Calendar of Events" of
conferences and meetings relevant to program development -
overall strategy and program implementation is strengthened.

Statistical Data.  Data from BJS and OJJDP also are available
from the National Archive of Criminal Data at the University of
Michigan and from the Computerized Index to Data Sources, a
database of the activities of state criminal justice agencies
operated by the Justice Research and Statistics Association.

These access points for information on OJP activities can be
reached by the following means:

DOJ Response Center
Telephone 800-421-6770
          202-307-1480


Office of Congressional and 
Public Affairs
Telephone 202-307-0703


NIJ/National Criminal Justice 
Reference Service
Telephone 800-851-3420
          
Mail      NCJRS
          P.O. Box 6000
          Rockville, MD 20850
          
Justice        http://www.ncjrs.org
Information
Center

Internet  look@ncjrs.org
Email


Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse
Telephone 800-638-8736
          301-519-5500


Office for Victims of Crime 
Resource Center
Telephone 800-627-6872
          301-519-5500


BJS Clearinghouse
Telephone 800-732-3277
          301-519-5500


BJA Clearinghouse
Telephone 800-688-4252
          301-519-5500


PAVNET
World Wide     http://www.pavnet.org
Web       


Weed and Seed In-Sites Newsletter
Telephone 202-616-1152


Drugs & Crime Clearinghouse
Telephone 800-666-3332
          301-519-5500


National Archive of 
Criminal Justice Data
Telephone 800-999-0960


Computerized Index of 
State Projects and Reports
Telephone 202-624-8560


Criminal Justice 
Information Systems Clearinghouse
Telephone 916-392-2550

The information in this Resource Guide highlights only some of the
activities of the OJP agencies. Other information sources include the
agencies’ annual reports, program plans, and grant application kits.
Interested parties can obtain more information about how OJP and state and
local entities and Indian tribal governments can work together by directly
contacting the following offices:

Office of Justice Programs
Laurie Robinson
Assistant Attorney General
810 Seventh St, NW
Washington, DC 20531
202-307-5933

Bureau of Justice Assistance
Nancy Gist
Director
202-514-6278

Bureau of Justice Statistics
Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D.
Director
202-307-0765
National Institute of Justice
Jeremy Travis
Director
202-307-2942

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Shay Bilchik
Administrator
202-307-5911

Office for Victims of Crime
Reginald L. Robinson
Acting Director
202-307-5983

Executive Office for Weed and Seed
Steve Rickman
Director
202-616-1152

Violence Against Women Office
Bonnie Campbell
Director
202-616-8894

Violence Against Women Grants Office
Kathy Schwartz
Administrator
202-307-6026

Corrections Program Office
Larry Meachum
Director
202-307-3914

Drug Courts Program Office
Marilyn Roberts
Director
202-616-5001
American Indian and Alaskan Native Affairs Desk
Norena Henry
Director
202-616-9053

Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
Harri Kramer
Director
202-307-0703

 U.S. Department of Justice Response Center: 800-421-6770 or 202-307-1480.


 Appendix

                      BJA Formula Grant Purpose Areas

  1. Demand Reduction Education
  2. Multijurisdictional Task Forces
  3. Domestic Sources of Controlled and Illegal Drugs
  4. Community and Neighborhood Crime Prevention Programs
  5. Property Crime
  6. Organized and White-Collar Crime
  7. Improved Police Effectiveness and Antiterrorism
  8. Prosecuting Career Criminals
  9. Financial Investigation
 10. Drug Court Programs
 11. Correctional Resources
 12. Prison Industry
 13. Treatment
 14. Victim and Witness Assistance
 15. Improved Technology
 16. Criminal Justice Information Systems
 17. Innovative Programs in Enforcement, Prosecution, and Adjudication
 18. Drug Trafficking in Public Housing
 19. Domestic and Family Violence
 20. Evaluation
 21. Alternatives to Detention
 22. Urban Enforcement
 23. Driving While Intoxicated Prosecution*
 24. Binder System for Certain Violent Juveniles*
 25. Anti-Gang Programs*
 26. DNA Analysis*
 27. Litigation Processing of Death Penalty Federal Habeas Corpus Petitions

* indicates new purposes authorized by the Violent Crime Control Act of
1994.

 Additional Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act OJP-Administered
                                   Grant

State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP)

Under this program, states are reimbursed for costs they incur for
incarcerating illegal criminal aliens. In spring 1998, 49 states and 200
localities received funds totaling over $492 million to help pay the costs
of incarcerating undocumented aliens who have committed serious crimes in
the United States and have been convicted of felony or misdemeanor
offenses. Eligible applicants include states and localities that exercise
authority with respect to the incarceration of an undocumented criminal
alien. SCAAP funding is based on information provided by each applicant on
the number and costs of housing criminal aliens for the fiscal year. The
Bureau of Justice Assistance is the administering agency.

    Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Section 206 of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDP
Act) of 1974, as amended, establishes the Coordinating Council on Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention as an independent organization in the
Executive Branch of the Federal Government. The primary function of the
Council is to coordinate all federal juvenile delinquency programs, all
federal programs and activities that detain or care for unaccompanied
juveniles, and all federal programs relating to missing and exploited
children. The Council meets at least quarterly and is chaired by the
Attorney General. The Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) serves as Vice-Chairman.

The Council is comprised of nine ex officio members (Attorney General,
Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, and Housing and
Urban Development; Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention; the Director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, the President of the Corporation for National Service; and the
Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Service), any other officers
of federal agencies who hold significant decision-making authority as the
President may designate, and nine non-federal members who are practitioners
in the field of juvenile justice.

The nine non-federal members are appointed without regard to political
affiliation. Three members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, three by the Majority Leader of the Senate, and three by
the President. Each appointing authority appoints members for one, two, and
three year terms and has authority to fill vacancies arising during a term,
only for the remainder of such term. Members can hold over after a term
expires until a successor is appointed. The practitioner members of the
Council make recommendations regarding the development of objectives,
priorities, and the OJJDP Administrator’s long-term plan and the
implementation of overall policy and strategy to carry out the plan.

Council Responsibilities

   * The Council reviews the programs and practices of federal agencies and
     reports on the degree to which federal agency funds are used for
     purposes which are consistent or inconsistent with the mandates of the
     JJDP Act regarding deinstitutionalization of status offenders,
     separation of juveniles from adults in institutions, and removal of
     juveniles from adult jails and lockups.

   * The Council reviews the reasons why federal agencies take juveniles
     into custody and makes recommendations regarding how to improve
     federal practices and facilities for holding juveniles in custody.

   * The Council makes recommendations on joint funding proposals among
     Council members.

   * The Council makes recommendations to the President and the Congress,
     at least annually, on coordination of overall policy and development
     of objectives and priorities for all federal juvenile delinquency
     programs and activities.

   * The Council also makes annual recommendations to the President and
     Congress on federal programs and activities that detain or care for
     unaccompanied juveniles and examines how federal programs can be
     coordinated with state and local programs to better serve at-risk
     youth.