2006 Archive

December 2006
Prioritization of Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Influenza Vaccine
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requests input from the public on considerations in developing guidance for prioritization of the distribution and administration of both pre-pandemic and pandemic influenza vaccines based on various pandemic severity and vaccine supply scenarios. Specifically, HHS is seeking input from all interested and affected parties, including public health and health care individuals and organizations, and other sectors including, for example, travel and transportation, commerce and trade, law enforcement, emergency management and responders, and other critical infrastructure sectors. For more information and to view the Request for Information (RFI): Guidance for Prioritization of Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Influenza Vaccine, visit HHS' web site.

18th National Youth Crime Prevention Conference & International Forum
Youth on the Path to Prevention, the 18th National Youth Crime Prevention Conference & International Forum, will take place March 21-24, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. Sponsoring agencies include Youth Crime Watch of America, Denver Safe City, BJA, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Youth, ages 12-22, their adult allies, and other practitioners will participate in a Town Meeting, the Youth Exploring Solutions Forum, and choose from 69 workshops, 6 all-day professional development seminars, 4 intensive institutes, and 4 proven and promising practices briefings.

CSG Launches Interactive Reentry Housing Options Tool
The Council of State Governments (CSG) has developed a web-based tool to help users learn more about different reentry housing options available for individuals released from prison or jail. The chart compares housing types on several dimensions including potential funding sources, level of availability in the community, typical length of stay, and potential barriers to accessing a particular option. It also offers descriptions of programs that have successfully housed individuals returning to the community from prison or jail, and provides links to the programs' web sites when available.

CSG Justice Center
The Council of State Governments (CSG) has announced the launch of its Justice Center, a national resource center on criminal justice policy. The center will continue to coordinate projects on improving the response to people with mental illness in contact with the criminal justice system, addressing prisoner reentry issues, and promoting justice reinvestment strategies. It will also explore such issues as alcohol-related emergency room admissions and housing concerns as they relate to the justice system.

New VIPS Resources
In partnership with BJA, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has developed a new Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) training course, "VIPS and Disaster Response." Responding to a disaster can strain a law enforcement agency's limited resources. Recent disasters have shown that law enforcement volunteers can play a valuable role in supplementing disaster preparation, response, and recovery efforts. This no-cost training provides information about integrating volunteers into a law enforcement agency's plan for natural disasters, public health crises, and other emergencies. Participants will come away with specific information about disaster preparedness, the role of volunteers during disasters, CERT, and pandemic response. Visit www.policevolunteers.org to register and view more information.

The VIPS Program also has launched a new online photo gallery that allows law enforcement agencies to upload their own photos that showcase volunteer activities and recognition events.

November 2006
Meth Awareness Day
November 30, 2006 has been designated as National Methamphetamine Awareness Day, which will highlight the threat of methamphetamine and bring awareness to what is being done throughout the country to address this drug. Officials from the Department of Justice, including U.S. Attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents, will be hosting educational presentations around the country. The Department is also partnering with our state and local law enforcement colleagues, community partners, and state and local leaders in this effort.

Crime Prevention Presentations
The National Crime Prevention Council, in partnership with BJA, has released the second set of crime prevention PowerPoint presentations. These presentations are designed to be used by local law enforcement officers and other crime prevention practitioners to provide information to communities on crime issues and prevention strategies. Topics include: Crime Prevention and Community Preparedness, Identity Theft, Neighborhood Watch, Seniors, Bullying, Gangs, Methamphetamine, School Safety, and Internet Safety.

Identity Crime
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Bank of America (BAC) announced a 3-year partnership to help consumers and law enforcement officials understand and respond to identity crime. The IACP and BAC formed this partnership because responding to identity crimes poses a significant challenge to consumers, financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies. The first step in the project is the launch of a comprehensive web site, www.IDSafety.org, designed to help both consumers and law enforcement officials prevent and report identity crime, investigate the perpetrators, and respond effectively to victims.

October 2006
BJA Regional Information Sharing Conferences
BJA, in cooperation with SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, will be hosting four BJA Regional Information Sharing Conferences. These conferences, entitled "Innovations in Justice," will provide local and state agency leaders, policymakers, project managers, and technical staff with information on how to plan, manage, and implement technology solutions for information sharing systems. Experts will share the latest innovative solutions in justice and public safety information sharing, including key developments in critical areas: information sharing policy, privacy and security, coordinating broad-based information sharing initiatives, DOJ's Global Justice XML Data Model (Global JXDM) implementation, and latest technologies and standards. For more information, visit the SEARCH web site.

BJA 2006 Regional Conference Series
The BJA 2006 Regional Conference Series, entitled "The State of Crime and Justice in America," brings together practitioners, policy makers, and BJA leadership to explore critical issues in the law enforcement and criminal justice arenas. The series is designed to benefit a wide range of participants, from State Administering Agencies (SAA) to federal, state, local, and tribal justice grantees, law enforcement, and related service providers. Workshop topics include: Human Trafficking, Sex Offender Management, Pandemic, Gangs, Meth, Homicide Clearance, Identity Theft/White Collar Crime, Public Surveillance, Counter-Terrorism, Problem-Solving Courts, Information Sharing, and Law Enforcement Leadership. The final conference, for the Northeast Region, is January 25-26 in Baltimore, Maryland.

FY 2006 BVP Awards
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced nearly $29 million in funding to over 4,500 law enforcement agencies across the nation for the purchase of bulletproof vests through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program. Click here to view a complete list of the FY 2006 BVP awards.

Managing Sex Offenders
In partnership with BJA, the International Association of Chiefs of Police has released a new resource guide, Managing Sex Offenders: Citizens Supporting Law Enforcement. This publication highlights relevant sex offender legislation impacting law enforcement, identifies emerging operational challenges for law enforcement executives, and offers examples of how law enforcement agencies are using citizens to enhance and support their sex offender management and enforcement efforts. Citizens provide valuable assistance with registration, community notification, address verification, and other monitoring and tracking efforts. To receive a printed copy, contact IACP at 1-800-THE-IACP, ext. 812.

National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies
The National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA) is seeking a subcontractor to develop a monograph that will help inform the criminal justice field on definitions and history of pretrial diversion practices and programs; best practices; successful diversion efforts that can be replicated by other localities; and issues and challenges facing diversion practitioners.

Cybercrime Public Awareness Campaign
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) has announced a new “Take a Bite Out of Cyber Crime” public awareness campaign funded by a coalition of private sector partners who are leaders in their respective industries. Featuring its popular McGruff the Crime Dog character, the campaign will help empower and rally millions of computer and digital device users in the battle against the continually growing plague of computer viruses, worms, spam, spyware, phishing, identity theft and online predators.

Offender Reentry: A Police Perspective
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in partnership with BJA, has produced a new video DVD entitled, “Offender Reentry: A Police Perspective.” This video features a police department that has developed, implemented, and currently manages a reentry program. The video illustrates potentially transferable strategies and practices that law enforcement executives can use in implementing or expanding an offender reentry program in their jurisdiction.

September 2006
NCPC National Conference: Call for Presentations
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) has issued a Call for Presentations for the 8th National Conference on Preventing Crime being held October 3-5, 2007. NCPC is accepting proposals for a 90-minute workshop session, which should feature strategies to prepare local communities to prevent and respond to the threats of crime. Proposals are due no later than October 2, 2006. For more information, visit NCPC's conference page.

August 2006
G.R.E.A.T Regional Grant-Writing Workshops
Throughout September 2006, the Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program will host regional grant-writing workshops. For more information, visit the G.R.E.A.T. web site.

Community Partnership Approach to Addressing Meth
DOJ's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is hosting the "Community Partnership Approach to Addressing Meth" web cast on August 22, 2006. This web cast will address the state of the meth problem that threatens the health and safety of our nation's communities. Viewers will learn how community policing and partnerships can be used to enhance enforcement activities as well as prevention efforts. For more information, go to www.dojconnect.com.

NCPC Crime Prevention Blog
On August 2, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) launched the first national blog on crime prevention. The blog, titled Prevention Works, features the latest news and ideas in crime prevention and offers an opportunity for discussion of a variety of topics. Each posting will emphasize how to keep crime prevention at the forefront in the fight to either keep communities safe from crime or take them back from criminals. Topics discussed will range from violence in schools and cybercrime to personal safety issues such as home invasion. For more information on the Prevention Works blog, visit www.ncpc.org/blog.

CCI Court Blog
The Center for Court Innovation (CCI) has launched its redesigned web site with new features, including profiles of successful projects, interviews, articles, and related links. The center's goal is to make courts and justice systems more responsive to litigants, victims, and communities. Center projects include drug courts, domestic violence courts, mental health courts, and youth courts, as well as programs for community justice, parole reentry, juvenile intervention, and child witnesses. Recently, the center launched a blog, Changing the Court, to track Bronx Community Solutions, a program that applies a problem-solving approach to non-violent cases in the Bronx.

July 2006
Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor
The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor online system is now closed. If you have any questions about a submitted nomination, please contact the National Medal of Valor office at 202-514-9354 or e-mail us at medalofvalor@usdoj.gov. Please check the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor web page for announcement of the recipients.

VIPS Program Releases New DVD Resource
The Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program has released a new DVD, Engaging Youth Through Volunteerism. This 10-minute video highlights the role youth and adult volunteers in law enforcement agencies can play in providing programming for and engaging youth in your community. The video features the Helena, AL, Police Department; the Eugene, OR, Police Department; and the Redlands, CA, Police Department. The DVD also contains three previously released VIPS educational videos: Volunteers in Police Service: The Executive Perspective, Introducing Volunteer Activities to Law Enforcement, and Introducing Law Enforcement Volunteerism to the Community. Watch the video OR order the DVD. The VIPS Program works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. The International Association of Chiefs of Police manages the VIPS Program in partnership with BJA.

2nd Annual CIT Conference
The 2nd Annual Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Conference will be held September 25-27, 2006, in Orlando, FL. The conference will highlight effective community collaborations, including specialized police response programs, court initiatives, Mental Health Courts and other innovative programs for effective response, diversion, and intervention for those with mental illnesses (including co-occurring substance abuse disorders) who become involved with the criminal justice system. For more information, visit http://cit.fmhi.usf.edu.

National Sex Offender Public Registry
As of July 3, all 50 states are now participating in the National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) web site. South Dakota and Oregon have now been added to the web site, which provides real-time access to public sex offender data nationwide with a single Internet search. The Department of Justice-sponsored site allows parents and concerned citizens to search existing public state and territory sex offender registries beyond their own states.

June 2006
2006 National Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence
On June 19, at the National Sheriffs' Association Conference in Orlando, FL, USAonWatch, with assistance from BJA Director Domingo S. Herraiz, awarded the 2006 National Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence.

FY 2006 G.R.E.A.T. Awards
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced June 6 that the Justice Department is distributing nearly $15 million in grant funds to support school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum through the Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program. The G.R.E.A.T. Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance, is aimed at middle school and elementary school students to reduce their involvement in gangs and delinquent behavior; teach them consequences of gang involvement; and help them develop positive relations with law enforcement. For a list of the 140 communities receiving direct G.R.E.A.T. awards in FY 2006, click here.

NCJA 2006 National Forum
The National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) is hosting its 2006 National Forum on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, entitled "Gathering Threats to America’s Safety," on July 31-August 2, 2006, in Baltimore, Maryland. Topics of discussion will include terrorism, guns, gangs and drugs, cybercrime, and justice information sharing. For more information, visit NCJA's web site.

May 2006
Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor
The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor online system is now accepting nominations for the 2005-2006 award, and nominations must be received online by July 31, 2006. The nomination period covers acts of valor from June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006. For more information, please visit the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor web page, or contact the National Medal of Valor Office at 202-514-9354.

Anti-Gang Initiative
On May 2, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales highlighted the significant accomplishments of federal, state, and local officials in combating gang violence and reducing gun crime through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) before more than 1,300 members of PSN task forces from across the nation (Press Release or Speech). The Attorney General also announced the FY 2006 Anti-Gang Initiative award recipients.

PSOB Online
Enacted in 1976, the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program provides death, disability, and education assistance for those eligible for the benefits. To provide survivors and public safety agencies with increased outreach and a greatly streamlined process to submit claims for officers who have fallen in the line of duty, PSOB forms for death benefits are now available online at https://www.psob.gov.

Not only does this accomplishment reflect decreased reporting time for agencies to submit the required information on law enforcement officer, firefighter, and other emergency responder deaths, but the electronic system also captures critical claim information in the PSOB database for expedited processing at the PSOB Office. In addition to agencies using the online system to submit responses to questions concerning the officer's death and beneficiary information, the new system allows agencies to upload required PSOB documentation, including a statement of circumstances, autopsy and toxicology reports, and official documents such as death, marriage, and birth certificates as required. Questions on the online system are also available in Spanish.

From the beginning, when PSOB data was collected on index cards, the program has and continues to evolve to anticipate and meet the needs of survivors and public safety agencies nationwide.

2006 G.R.E.A.T. National Training Conference
The 2006 Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program conference, entitled "G.R.E.A.T. & Beyond: Preventing Gangs & Youth Violence in America’s Communities," will take place July 26-28, 2006, in La Quinta (Palm Springs), CA. A wide range of workshops will be available to address the needs of individuals currently implementing the G.R.E.A.T. Program, as well as those who want to become involved with G.R.E.A.T. For more information, visit the G.R.E.A.T. web site.

March 2006
National Night Out
The 23rd Annual National Night Out will culminate on Tuesday, August 1. Cities, towns, agencies, and organizations interested in participating are invited to register at www.nationalnightout.org. Once registered, leaders will receive a free organizational kit filled with how-to materials.

February 2006
National Sex Offender Public Registry Receives High Marks from Government, Industry
On February 15, 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice's National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR), designed and administered by the Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance, was recognized with an Excellence.Gov Award from the American Council for Technology (ACT) and the Industry Advisory Council (IAC). The award recognized 20 government initiatives that were highly successful in meeting critical information sharing objectives through collaboration and cutting edge practices. A panel of 23 government and industry judges selected finalists from more than 80 entries, evaluating each on the effectiveness of accomplishing project objectives; business process and service improvement; effectiveness and degree of collaboration across organizations; and industry and government best practices and standards for information sharing. Not only was NSOPR selected as one of the 20 finalists, but was also recognized as one of the "Top 5" projects for the year. For details on NSOPR, visit: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/nsopr.html or the NSOPR web site.

Anti-Gang Initiative
On February 15, 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales unveiled his plan to combat gang violence across America. The Attorney General's strategy is twofold: First, prioritize prevention programs to provide America's youth and offenders returning to the community with opportunities that help them resist gang involvement. Second, ensure robust enforcement policies when gang-related violence does occur. To view key components of this Anti-Gang Initiative see www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2006/February/06_opa_082.html.

Incentive Grant Program To Prohibit Racial Profiling On February 2, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a new incentive grant program concerning racial profiling. The grant program encourages states to enact and enforce laws that prohibit the use of racial profiling in the enforcement of traffic laws on federal-aid highways and to maintain and allow public inspection of statistics on motor vehicle stops. For complete details, please refer to the attached notice.

December 2005
Important Hurricane Katrina Recovery Information

On Friday, September 2, the Office of Justice Programs issued 33 supplemental Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) to state and local agencies in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi to support immediate law enforcement needs resulting from Hurricane Katrina. Please click here to see the entire list of jurisdictions that received awards. We have been actively trying to contact the award recipients, but have had mixed results due to Internet disruptions and phone service outages.

If you are a recipient of these supplemental funds and see this notice, these funds are immediately available as soon as you sign and fax your award document to (202) 514-6323.

BJA has taken additional steps to ensure that your access to grant funds is not disrupted. We have issued 6-month, no-cost extensions for all grants scheduled to end in the next 6 months in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. We are actively working to resolve all conditional budget clearances on the recently issued fiscal year (FY) 2005 grant awards, and we have removed all programmatic "withholding of funds" special conditions from the FY 2005 JAG awards.

Here are some general numbers, in case you have questions about existing grants, problems accessing the above-mentioned supplemental funds, or additional needs that BJA can assist with. The web address for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Emergency Resource Registry also is provided.

Jill Young
South Central Region Division Chief: (202) 353-7302

Tamaro White
State Policy Advisor for Louisiana: (202) 353-3503

Tammy Shelton
Acting State Policy Advisor for Alabama and Mississippi: (202) 305-2361

Grants Management System Helpdesk: 888-549-9901

U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Emergency Resource Registry: https://www.swern.gov

Local OC Customer Service Phone Number: The Office of the Comptroller (OC) Customer Service Center (CSC) has a local direct number that can be used by grantees in the Gulf states unable to use the 1-800 phone trunk lines. The local number is 202-305-9988.

The OC CSC may still be contacted at 1-800-458-0786 (press 2) or at ask.oc@usdoj.gov.