2008 Archive

October 2008
Law Enforcement and People with Mental Illnesses Webinar
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and the Council of State Governments Justice Center, with support from BJA, will host a webinar on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 2:00 pm EST. National experts in law enforcement and mental health will discuss effective crisis response models. Registration is free but is limited to the first 1,000 registrants. To register, go to www2.eventsvc.com/nationalcouncil, select the law enforcement/mental health event, and enter the coupon code COUNCIL at checkout.

National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Webcasts
One of BJA's partners, the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (NADEC), is hosting a webinar, "Using Animal Models to Assess the Health Effects of Meth Exposure: Making the Case for Prospective Monitoring in Children," on October 15 at 1:30 pm EST. For more information and to register, visit the NADEC web site.

September 2008
Compassion in Action: White House Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
The Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working to ensure government is coordinating with faith-based and community organizations in response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Gustav.

National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (NADEC) Webinar
NADEC is hosting a webinar, "Psychological and Social Needs of Drug Endangered Children," on September 17, 2008 at 1:30 pm e.t. The webinar will address the early and long-term outcomes of children who have been exposed to substances. For more information and to register, visit the NADEC web site.

August 2008
Drug Court Training
Registration for the Drug Court Planning Initiative (DCPI) is open from August 18-September 29, 2008. The National Drug Court Institute will deliver five-day training programs for eligible jurisdictions who are planning to develop an adult drug court. DCPI is designed to educate jurisdictions on the basic concepts of a drug court program and equip teams with fundamental skills necessary to implement a program.

VIPS Program Activities and Milestones
Read about the recent Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program activities and milestones from 2002 to 2008.

CSG Justice Center Releases Online Reentry Assessments Tool
With support from BJA, the Council of State Governments Justice Center has released an online assessments tool for state and local government professionals working to make prison and jail reentry safer and more successful. The tool was developed to familiarize state and local government officials with different assessment instruments used in corrections systems across the nation to gauge the risks and needs of someone admitted to prison or jail.

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
BJA is supporting our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) as they celebrate the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Recovery Month, which occurs in September 2008, supports individuals and families that have overcome addiction in all its forms and will acknowledge and celebrate the individuals within the criminal justice and social service sectors who help bring recovery to those in need. This year's theme is "Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery." To learn more about Recovery Month or an event taking place in your community, visit recoverymonth.gov.

Drug Market Intervention
On September 22-23, the High Point Police Department will host a training conference in Greensboro, NC on their Drug Market Intervention strategy, which has been successful in reducing violent crime in several local neighborhoods, specifically the West End neighborhood. For more information, see the conference flyer or contact Major Marty Sumner at 336-887-7817.

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.

Celebrate Safe Communities
Safe communities are the result of law enforcement working with residents as equal partners in preventing crime. In recognition of this principle, BJA, the National Crime Prevention Council, and the National Sheriffs' Association have joined together to Celebrate Safe Communities (CSC). The CSC project will help kickoff October as Crime Prevention Month by recognizing the vital role residents play in keeping their neighborhoods safe. From October 2-4, 2008, communities across the country will host crime prevention events in neighborhoods, with schools, and in collaboration with local businesses. For more information about starting or participating in an event, visit www.CelebrateSafeCommunities.org.

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.

National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Conference
The 5th Annual National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Conference will be held in Salt Lake City on October 6-8, 2008. This event will provide training on the latest research and best practice strategies for Drug Endangered Children efforts at the community, state, and federal level. The conference will include topics related to child welfare, environmental health, medical, prevention, the judiciary and drug courts, substance abuse and mental health, continuum of care, and topics specific to Tribal nations. Visit www.nationaldec.org for the agenda and more details.

June 2008
Challenges and Solutions to Implementing Problem-Solving Courts
BJA, in partnership with the State Justice Institute (SJI) and American University (AU), Justice Programs office, jointly sponsored a focus group of judges and court administrators who did not directly work with any problem-solving court program, but who had extensive experience with court management issues within jurisdictions where problem-solving courts operated. The focus group discussed the challenges these individuals had experienced in incorporating a problem-solving court in their court system and recommended solutions to these challenges. The results of the focus group, summarized in Challenges and Solutions to Implementing Problem-Solving Courts from the Traditional Court Management Perspective, will help inform BJA and SJI regarding the appropriate next steps for policy development and implementation in this area.

May 2008
Jail Reentry Publications
With support from BJA, the Urban Institute, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the Montgomery County (MD) Department of Correction and Rehabilitation have developed two jail reentry documents: The Jail Administrator's Toolkit for Reentry and Life After Lockup: Improving Reentry from Jail to the Community.

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