[Federal Register: July 9, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 131)] [Notices] [Page 37134-37135] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09jy98-103] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; FY 1998 Community Policing Discretionary Grants AGENCY: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Department of Justice. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (``COPS'') announces the Visiting Fellowship Program designed to support training, technical assistance, research, program development and policy analysis to contribute to the use and enhancement of community policing to address crime and related problems in communities across the country. The Visiting Fellowship Program is intended to offer researchers, law enforcement professionals, community leaders, and legal experts an opportunity to undertake independent research, problem development activities, and policy analysis designed to accomplish one or more of the following: improve police-citizen cooperation and communication; enhance police relationships with other components of the criminal justice system, as well as at all levels of local government; increase police and citizens' ability to solve community problems; facilitate the restructuring of law enforcement agencies to allow the most effective use of departmental and community resources; promote the effective flow and use of information both within and outside an agency; and improve law enforcement responsiveness to members of the community. Visiting fellows will study a topic of mutual interest to the fellow and the COPS Office for up to 12 months. While in residence, fellows will contribute to the development of community policing programs that are national in scope. DATES: The application deadline is August 7, 1998. ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of an application or for more information, call the U.S. Department of Justice Response Center at (202) 307-1480 or 1-800-421-6770. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The U.S. Department of Justice Response Center, (202) 307-1480 or 1- 800-421-6770. The Visiting Fellowship Program application and information on the COPS Office also are available on the Internet via the COPS web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/cops. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Overview The United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has been charged with the implementation of the Public Safety Partnerships and Community Policing Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-322). Under this law, the COPS Office provides grants, cooperative agreements, and technical assistance to increase police presence, improve police and community partnerships designed to address crime and disorder, [[Page 37135]] and enhance public safety. The Visiting Fellowship Program, which complements the COPS Office's efforts to add 100,000 officers to our nation's streets and support the development of innovative community policing strategies, is one of a wide variety of policing programs supported under this law. The Visiting Fellowship Program is intended to offer researchers, law enforcement professionals, community leaders, and legal experts an opportunity to undertake independent research, problem development activities, and policy analysis designed to accomplish one or more of the following: improve police-citizen cooperation and communication; enhance police relationships with other components of the criminal justice system, as well as at all levels of local government; increase police and citizens' ability to solve community problems innovatively; facilitate the restructuring of agencies to allow the fullest use of departmental and community resources; promote the effective flow and use of information both within and outside an agency; and improve law enforcement responsiveness to members of the community. Visiting Fellows will study a topic of mutual interest to the Fellows and the COPS Office for up to 12 months. While in residence, Fellows will contribute to the development of community policing programs that are national in scope. Two types of fellowships are available: (1) Community Policing Training and Technical Assistance Fellowships and (2) Program/Policy Support and Evaluation Fellowships. Community Policing Training and Technical Assistance Fellowships will offer police practitioners and community leaders the opportunity to participate in a community policing training program that is national in scope. Fellows will work to broaden their knowledge of a training area that is directly related to community policing. The experience is intended to encourage the further development, enhancement, or renewed exploration of a particular training expertise that supports community policing. Fellows will deliver this expertise innovatively as well as provide technical assistance to others. Program/Policy Support and Evaluation Fellowships will offer police practitioners, researchers, and policy analysts the opportunity to support innovative community policing programs, to engage in scholarly research activities to assess the effectiveness of community policing approaches and to apply policy analysis skills to support the advancement of community policing nationwide. The experience is intended to encourage the further development, enhancement, or renewed exploration of program, policy and evaluation issues that support community policing. This work will be shared with policy makers and practitioners through a variety of forums. Grants or cooperative agreements under the Visiting Fellowship Program may support salary, fringe benefits, travel essential to the project, and miscellaneous supplies or equipment in support of the project. Reasonable relocation expenses and the cost of temporary housing also may be permitted in cases of relocation from a Fellow's permanent address. Under the Visiting Fellowship Program, the COPS Office may award grants or enter into cooperative agreements with individuals, public agencies, colleges or universities, nonprofit organizations, and profit-making organizations willing to waive their fees. Receiving a grant or cooperative agreement under the Visiting Fellowship Program will not affect the eligibility of an agency to receive awards under other COPS programs. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) reference for this program is 16.710. Dated: June 25, 1998. Joseph E. Brann, Director. [FR Doc. 98-18252 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-AT-M