DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FOCUSING ON THE NATION’S PRIORITIES

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) plays a vital role in protecting our Nation through its efforts to fight terrorism, thwart espionage by foreign powers, and capture, prosecute, and imprison those who break Federal criminal laws. While combating terrorism is the first priority of the Department, it also leads Federal efforts to fight violent crime and eliminate drug trafficking organizations within the United States. The 2008 Budget continues the Department’s focus on combating terrorism. Although crime rates remain at historic lows, the Administration is also taking strong steps to counter violent crime rate increases being experienced in some cities.

    In addition to increasing resources for the Department’s key law enforcement, prosecutorial, and other programs, the Budget provides $1.2 billion in assistance to State and local partners. The Attorney General proposes to create the new Violent Crime Reduction Partnership Initiative to target resources to those communities with the greatest crime problems. The 2008 Budget also proposes to consolidate numerous small grant programs to better target resources to the Nation’s most critical needs and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the grant programs.

Countering the Threat of Terrorism

    As the lead bureau within DOJ for counterterrorism and intelligence, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has grown significantly over the last five years. The Budget provides $3.8 billion for the FBI’s counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and intelligence programs, including $183 million for critical national security enhancements. This funding will support additional agents and intelligence analysts for counterterrorism cases, analytical and tactical support for those cases, and critical information technology and infrastructure investments.

    The newly formed National Security Division (NSD) enhances the Department’s ability to carry out its top priority of preventing terrorist attacks in the United States and protecting the Nation’s security. It consolidates the strengths of the Counterterrorism and Counterespionage sections of the Criminal Division with the expertise of the lawyers from the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, who specialize in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The 2008 Budget includes $78 million for NSD, including $7 million in enhancements for the prevention and prosecution of terrorism.

Addressing Violent Crime in America's Communities

    The President’s Budget provides $304 million in enhancements for DOJ to reverse the recent uptick in violent crime in some areas, including criminal acts related to gangs and illegal immigration. The request includes:

• $22 million to fund the DNA Initiative to address growing workloads resulting from recent legislative requirements and improve system capabilities;

• $12 million to fund anti-gang efforts in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the United States Attorneys’ offices; and

• $70 million to help fund improvements in border security, prevent the entry of illegal drugs and aliens, and accelerate the adjudication of immigration cases.

    An additional $200 million would be targeted through the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership Initiative to support multi-jurisdictional task forces to help communities that have experienced an increase in violent crime.

    The 2008 Budget also provides for the additional resources to support top priority initiatives aimed at expanding resources to combat gun running and gang violence, including the flow of illegal drugs and firearms through the Southwest border.

Fighting the Spread of Illegal Drugs

    The President’s Budget provides $2.8 billion to continue the fight against illegal drugs, including $2.0 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and $509 million for the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. Together, DEA and OCDETF fight the spread of illegal drugs and seek to dismantle and disrupt major drug trafficking organizations.

    The Budget also provides $350 million in funding for criminal justice needs, including drug-related priorities, through the new, consolidated Byrne Public Safety and Protection Grants. These competitive grants will provide funding for State and local needs, including drug courts, methamphetamine lab cleanup, Project Safe Neighborhoods, the DNA Initiative, and offender reentry.

Protecting America's Children from Exploitation and Abuse

    The President’s Budget includes an additional $25 million to reduce incidents of child exploitation and abuse, including those facilitated by the use of computers and the Internet. The 2008 Budget also includes $280 million for competitive grants to address violence against children, including sexual exploitation through the Internet, and to address multiple juvenile justice and child safety needs.

    The FBI will expand its efforts to prevent and investigate sexual predators who use the Internet to sexually exploit children and to reduce incidents of child prostitution. The FBI would be aided by increased prosecutorial support from the United States Attorneys. In addition, the Budget will provide $284 million to the United States Marshals Service for fugitive apprehension, including an additional $8 million to aggressively pursue apprehension of sexual predators under the provisions of the Adam Walsh Act.

Enhancing Funding for Detention and Incarceration

    The 2008 Budget provides $5.4 billion for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and $1.3 billion for the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee (OFDT). These DOJ components ensure that Federal criminals and those awaiting trial or sentencing are safely and cost-effectively incarcerated and detained. At present, there are more than 193,000 inmates in BOP’s custody, of whom approximately 64 percent were convicted of immigration or drug-related offenses. The population of Federal detainees in the custody of OFDT has experienced record growth, having more than doubled during the past decade. The President's Budget requests $169 million to expand prison capacity by completing the first phase of the activation of a new prison in Pollock, Louisiana, completing a current prison project in Mendota, California, and expanding the number of contract prison beds by more than 1,100.