2008 Archive
July 2008
National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Webcasts
One of BJA's partners, the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (NADEC), is conducting its second of a series of webcasts, "Perinatal Substance Abuse:
Policy Implications," on September 3. For more information and to register, visit the NADEC web site.
28 CFR Part 23: Proposal to Amend Criminal Intelligence System Operating Policies for State and Local Law Enforcement
The Office of Justice Programs is publishing this proposed rule to amend its regulations that govern the operating policies of criminal intelligence systems that
receive federal funding under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended (‘‘Crime Control Act’’). The regulations were issued pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. 3789(g), which requires that ‘‘criminal intelligence systems’’ receiving Crime Control Act support must collect, maintain, and disseminate criminal
intelligence information ‘‘in conformance with policy standards which are prescribed by the Office of Justice Programs.’’ The statute specifies that the
policy standards must be written to assure that the funding and operation of the systems further the purpose of the funding provisions and assure that
such systems ‘‘are not utilized in violation of the privacy and constitutional rights of individuals.’’ The existing regulations were last revised in 1993 and
the purpose of the revisions proposed in this document is to clarify and update the regulations in light of the new, post-9/11 information sharing environment
and investigative policies aimed at preventing terrorism. Written comments must be submitted on or before September 2, 2008. To view the proposed rule or make
comments, visit www.regulations.gov.
July 2008
Drug Market Intervention (DMI) Initiative Trainings
BJA is accepting applications from interested teams in response to its Request for Commitment solicitation for the Drug Market Intervention (DMI) initiative
trainings. The initiative consists of a continuum of three trainings for up to ten sites. Each site team is comprised of a law enforcement official, a local
prosecutor, a community leader, and a social service provider. Each team will receive a site visit from a BJA technical assistance provider along with ongoing
support to assist local teams adapt the DMI model to their unique local context. National partners also are currently developing a training manual that
interested jurisdictions can use to implement DMI locally. Applications are due August 21, 2008.
May 2008
Medal of Valor Nominations
The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer. The nomination period for the 2007-2008 awards is
from May 30, 2008 to July 31, 2008. For more information on the Medal of Valor or to submit an online application, go to the
Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor web site.
Imperfect Justice
BJA, with its problem-solving courts demonstration initiative, embraced a grass-roots program to provide better outcomes for courts and victims,
and along the way provoked debate among criminal justice practitioners about innovation and failure in the criminal justice system. Read
"Imperfect Justice" for more information.
Byrne Competitive Solicitation
BJA is pleased to announce the release of the FY 2008 solicitation for the Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant
Program: National Initiatives. Applications are due June 11, 2008. FAQs (rev. 5/27/08) are available.
April 2008
VIPS Milestone
BJA is pleased to announce that, in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) effort has surpassed a major milestone. As of April 23, the VIPS Program has
assisted in the establishment of over 1,700 local police volunteer programs supported by 139,138 volunteers.
National Chemical Control Conference
The National Chemical Control Conference: A Focus on Tracking Precursor Chemicals, will be held on June 10-11, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. The National Alliance for
Model State Drug Laws, in conjunction with the COPS Office and with the consultation of BJA, ONDCP, DEA, and Advisory Committee members, will be conducting a
1½-day conference to share with state and local officials, tribal representatives, and federal agencies the most up-to-date information on state electronic
tracking systems for monitoring precursor chemicals, particularly sales of pseudoephedrine products. Register online at www.namsdl.org/regis.htm.
March 2008
Criminal Intelligence Training Master Calendar
This calendar, available through the National Criminal Intelligence Resource Center, provides local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement with a single point of access to federally
sponsored intelligence training programs that meet the Minimum Criminal Intelligence Training Standards. The calendar is an initiative of the Intelligence Training
Coordination Working Group and the Counter-Terrorism Training Coordination Working Group and was developed with funding support from BJA.
Journal of Court Innovation
The first issue of the
Journal of Court Innovation, which strives to spark new thinking about how courts work and the
role they play in our society, is available online and includes an article
about a BJA-sponsored roundtable focusing on lessons that can be learned from failed criminal justice reforms.
G.R.E.A.T. National Training Conference
Register now for the 2008 G.R.E.A.T. National Training Conference, which will take place
July 16–18, 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri.
SAMHSA Funding Opportunity
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) participates with BJA and other federal partners on the
Mentally Ill Offender Treatment Crime Reduction Act Interagency Task Force. CMHS is now accepting applications for
FY 2008 Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program-Priority to Veterans grants. Applications are due May 8, 2008.
Cyberbullying PSA
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), best known for its crime prevention icon, McGruff the Crime Dog, has released a public service announcement (PSA)
about preventing cyberbullying called "Chicken." The video, produced in partnership with BJA, is specifically targeted to early-teen boys. This PSA and two
other PSAs directed toward girls can be viewed on NCPC's web site.
Technology Integration Scholarships
BJA is pleased to announce that Technology Integration Scholarships will be provided for selected practitioners to attend the triennial meeting of the
International Association of Forensic Sciences, which will be held in New Orleans, LA, on July 21-26, 2008. The scholarships
are being offered in partnership with the National Forensic Science Technology Center. The application deadline is April 15,
2008. Click here for complete details and application procedures.
February 2008
Tribal Justice & Safety Training
The Office of Justice Programs, in partnership with several federal agencies, is sponsoring three
Tribal Justice & Safety: Government-to-Government Consultation,
Training, and Technical Assistance events. The next scheduled session will be March 5-7, 2008, in Washington, DC. A special National Tribal Symposium on Sex
Offender Management and Accountability session will be included.
Violent Crime Reduction Partnership
Read about the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership proposed in the President's FY 2009 budget.
January 2008
Law Enforcement Policy Development Guide
The Center for Innovative Public Policies, Inc. (CIPP), as part of the BJA-supported Police & Law Enforcement Short-Term
Holding Faciliteis (Lock-Ups) and the Prison Rape Elimination Act project, has developed a policy development guide to assist agencies as they update and
revise their policies and procedures to address PREA and training curricula for law enforcement agencies.
Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses
The Council of State Governments Justice Center released an updated edition of Improving Responses to People with
Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of a Mental Health Court.
PREA Resources
With support from BJA, the National Judicial College
has published two new resources that provide judges with an introductory overview of the Prison Rape
Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA): What Judges Need to Know About Prison Rape: The Prison Rape Elimination Act and The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003:
Curriculum for Judges.
National Action Agenda
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and partners have issued the National Action Agenda for Public Health Legal Preparedness
as a resource that public health officials, policymakers, and partners may use in assessing and improving their jurisdictions’ legal preparedness for
public health emergencies.
National Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence
The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) is now accepting nominations for the 5th Annual National Neighborhood
Watch Awards of Excellence to be presented during the 2008 National Sheriffs’ Association Conference in Indianapolis, IN. All law enforcement agencies,
Neighborhood Watch groups, organizations, and programs that have made an exceptional contribution to the Neighborhood Watch program in their communities
are encouraged to submit nominations to NSA by March 31, 2008. For complete information on eligibility, criteria, and nomination forms, visit the
National Neighborhood Watch web site.
Community-Police Partnership Awards Program
MetLife Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) are partnering for the seventh year to recognize, sustain, and share the work of
innovative partnerships between community groups and police to promote neighborhood safety and revitalization. Awardees will receive monetary grants ranging from
$10,000 to $25,000, and case studies about award-winning partnerships will be disseminated throughout the community development and law enforcement industries.
Further information and the full RFP is available at www.lisc.org/section/areas/sec1/safety/awards/
2007 Archive
2006 Archive
