Since 1984, the Office of Justice Programs has provided federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, improve the criminal and juvenile justice systems, increase knowledge about crime and related issues, and assist crime victims. OJP is headed by an Assistant Attorney General who is responsible for overall management and oversight of OJP. The AAG sets policy, ensures that OJP policies and programs reflect the priorities of the President, the Attorney General, and the Congress, directs the work of five program offices, and coordinates the work of OJP and its bureaus.

OJP BUREAUS AND OFFICES

Five bureaus, established by statute, administer funding, training, and technical assistance:

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) provides funding, training, and technical assistance to state and local governments to combat violent and drug-related crime and help improve the criminal justice system. It administers the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants, State Criminal Alien Assistance, Public Safety Officers' Benefits, Regional Information Sharing Systems, and other grant programs.
• The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is the principal criminal justice statistical agency in the nation. BJS collects and analyzes statistical data on crime, criminal offenders, crime victims, and the operations of justice systems at all levels of government. It also provides financial and technical support to state governments in developing state capabilities in criminal justice statistics, improving criminal history records, and implementing crime identification technology systems.
• The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the principal research and development agency in the Department of Justice. NIJ supports research and development programs, conducts demonstrations of innovative approaches to improve criminal justice, develops and tests new criminal justice technologies, evaluates the effectiveness of justice programs, and disseminates research findings to practitioners and policymakers. NIJ also provides primary support for the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, a clearinghouse of criminal justice-related publications, articles, videotapes, and online information.
• The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides federal leadership in preventing and controlling juvenile crime and improving the juvenile justice system at the state and local levels. OJJDP provides grants and contracts to states, local communities, and Indian tribes to help them improve their juvenile justice systems and sponsors innovative research, demonstration, evaluation, statistics, and technical assistance and training programs to improve the nation's understanding of and response to juvenile violence and delinquency. OJJDP also administers the Missing and Exploited Children's program, four programs funded under the Victims of Child Abuse Act, and the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
• The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) provides federal leadership in assisting victims of crime and their families. OVC administers two grant programs created by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA). The Victim Assistance Program awards grants to states to support programs that provide direct assistance to crime victims. The Victim Compensation Program provides funding to state programs that compensate crime victims for medical and other unreimbursed expenses resulting from a violent crime. OVC also sponsors training for federal, state, and local criminal justice officials and other professionals to help improve their response to crime victims and their families.

Three offices administer major programs authorized by the 1994 Crime Act:

• The Corrections Program Office (CPO) administers two major grant programs and provides technical assistance to state and local governments to help them with the implementation of the Crime Act's corrections-related programs.
• The Drug Courts Program Office (DCPO) administers the Crime Act's discretionary drug courts grant program. This program provides support for the development, implementation, and improvement of drug courts through grants to local and state governments, courts, and tribal governments, and through technical assistance and training.
• The Violence Against Women Office (VAWO) administers programs designed to help detect, prevent, and stop violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. VAWO administers formula and discretionary grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act, part of the 1994 Crime Act. In FY 1998, these grant programs were administered by the Violence Against Women Grants Office, which merged with the Violence Against Women Office in March 1999. VAWO also coordinates the Department's initiatives relating to violence against women, including research and public education.

The following offices are also located within OJP:

• The Office of State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support (OSLDPS) is responsible for enhancing the capability of state and local jurisdictions to prepare for and respond to incidents of domestic terrorism involving chemical and biological agents, radiological and explosive devices, and other weapons of mass destruction. It awards grants for equipment and provides training and technical assistance for state and local first responders.
• The Office of the Police Corps and Law Enforcement Education (OPCLEE), which in November 1998 transferred to OJP from the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), provides college educational assistance to students who commit to public service in law enforcement and scholarships, with no service commitment, for dependents of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.
• The American Indian and Alaskan Native Affairs Office (AI/AN) improves outreach to federally recognized Indian tribes. AI/AN works to enhance OJP's response to Indian tribes by coordinating funding, training, and technical assistance and providing information about available OJP resources.
• The Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS) coordinates the Weed and Seed strategy, a community-based, multi-disciplinary approach to combating crime. EOWS works closely with United States Attorneys to implement Operation Weed and Seed in communities throughout the country.

Six offices within OJP provide agency-wide support. They are the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (OCPA), the Office of General Counsel (OGC), the Office of Administration (OA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the Office of Budget and Management Services (OBMS), and the Office of the Comptroller (OC).

TYPES OF FUNDING AVAILABLE THROUGH OJP

OJP's funding programs are divided into two main categories: formula grants and discretionary grants. Formula grants are awarded to state and local governments based on a predetermined formula that might be based upon a jurisdiction's crime rate, population, or other factors. For a complete description of OJP's formula grant programs, see page 7. States are generally required to pass a significant portion of formula awards through to local agencies and organizations in the form of subgrants.

Discretionary grants are awarded on a competitive basis to public and private agencies and private non-profit organizations. In addition, certain discretionary programs, such as funding to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the National Crime Prevention Council, are awarded on a noncompetitive basis, consistent with congressional earmarks.

In FY 1999, OJP will implement the Grants Management System (GMS), a new paperless grant system. The new system will automate and streamline the entire grant process from application to notification. Grant offices will use a standardized grant award package and the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs will use a standardized grant notification form for notifying members of Congress and state officials. These letters and forms will be automatically generated and transmitted electronically to all appropriate individuals.

OJP PUBLICATIONS

OJP provides up-to-date information on funding and training and technical assistance opportunities through three standing publications. In the spring of each year, OJP publishes its Annual Report to Congress, which documents OJP priorities and highlights programs funded by OJP in the preceding fiscal year. OJP also publishes an annual Program Plan, which includes descriptions of all funding and training and technical assistance programs available through the bureaus and program offices. OJP At-a-Glance is issued quarterly. It provides brief descriptions of all of OJP's bureaus' and offices' funding opportunities, listing the amount of funding available, who can apply, and the status of program regulations, guidelines, reports, and application kits.

CONTACTING OJP

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 can be reached at 202/307-0703.

OJP also maintains a Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov. In addition to general information about OJP and its bureaus, the Website includes downloadable versions of many OJP publications and application kits, as well as useful links to selected criminal justice Websites. Each bureau and office's Website includes an e-mail address where you can write with questions about the office. Another source of information about OJP and COPS funding opportunities is the Department of Justice Response Center. The Response Center can be reached at 1-800/421-6770. (In the Washington, DC metropolitan area, call 202/307-1480.)

For questions on financial management, current grantees can call the Office of the Comptroller Customer Service Hotline at 1-800/458-0786.

For ordering and other information about OJP publications, contact the National Criminal Justice Reference Service at 1-800/851-3420 or on the Internet at www.ncjrs.org. You may also call one of the OJP clearinghouses listed below:

BJA Clearinghouse BJS Clearinghouse

1-800/688-4252 1-800/732-3277

Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse National Victims Resource Center

1-800/638-8736 1-800/627-6872

For inquiries about specific OJP programs, interested parties can contact the following OJP offices directly:

Bureau of Justice Assistance

202/514-6278

Bureau of Justice Statistics

202/307-0765

National Institute of Justice

202/307-2942

Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention

202/307-5911

Office for Victims of Crime

202/307-5983

Violence Against Women Office

202/616-8894

Executive Office for Weed and Seed

202/616-1152

Drug Courts Program Office

202/616-5001

Corrections Program Office

202/307-3914

Office of State and Local Domestic

Preparedness Support

202/305-9887

Office of the Police Corps and Law

Enforcement Education

202/353-8953

Office of Congressional and

Public Affairs

202/307-0703

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