Criminal Justice Issues on Capitol Hill: Funding and Legislation

1. Criminal Justice Issues on Capitol Hill: Funding and Legislation IJIS INDUSTRY BRIEFING JANUARY 8, 2009

2. Agenda and Overview • Current landscape • Trends in justice funding • DOJ and DHS programs • Update on Byrne JAG funding crisis • Outlook for upcoming funding bills • Pending criminal justice legislation • How can I get involved?

3. Current Landscape • New Administration • Economic Stimulus dwarfs everything • How to finish appropriations bills? • Awaiting new Administration and Congress • Senior agency officials leaving • Congressional leadership changes

4. Trends in Justice Funding • Significant issues: • Funding leveling off after years of cuts • WH attempt to consolidate grants • Surprise dramatic cut in Byrne/JAG • Growth of small, targeted grant programs • New legislation on the horizon

5. Trends in Funding, cont • State/local program funding leveling off, after downward fall since FY03

6. Trends in Funding, cont • Bush budget proposals: • Collapse 60+ grant programs into 4 competitive, discretionary block grants • Moves funding decisions from states to DOJ • Congress opposed • Put pressure on spending • Stalled WH/congressional dialogue on innovation

7. Trends in Funding, cont • Growth of new programs • Small, categorical grant programs: • Four new grants under VAWA last year • Small targeted programs under BJA • New legislation vying for funding • Adam Walsh Act (implementation and state/tribal collaboration) • Second Chance Act

8. Byrne Justice Assistance Grants • Byrne JAG cut 67% in FY08 omnibus bill • Large coalition working to restore funding

9. Byrne JAG, cont • Since consolidation with LLEBG into JAG, funding down

10. Community Oriented Policing • Strong brand name • Broad support on Hill • Earmarked • Hiring program top priority for law enforcement • Competes with other justice programs

11. SCAAP – Immigrant Incarceration • Reimbursement program for cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants • Regional issue • Key Hill support • Competes with justice programming

12. Juvenile Justice programs • Stable funding • Reauthorization bill next year • Opportunity to grow funding • OJJDP mandates increasing

13. State Homeland Security Program • Primary state grant program • Congress shifting money from rural to urban areas • 25% for LE terrorism prevention purposes

14. Urban Areas Security Initiative • Preparedness grant for the biggest cities • Strong support in Congress • 25% for LE terrorism prevention purposes • LLETP no longer separate program

15. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis • Large coalition working together. Supporters include: • NCSL – National Conference of State Legislatures • NCJA – National Criminal Justice Association • NSA - National Sheriffs’ Association • IACP - The International Association of Chiefs of Police • USCM - U.S. Conference of Mayors • NNOAC - National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition • IJIS Institute • NTC - National Troopers Coalition • NDAA - National District Attorneys Association • NAAG - National Association of Attorneys General

16. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis, con’t • Supporters, con’t • NACO - National Association of Counties • NCPC - National Crime Prevention Council • NADCP - National Association of Drug Court Professionals • ACA - American Correctional Association • NAVAA - National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators • NOVA - National Organization for Victim Assistance • MCSA - Major County Sheriffs’ Association • NCSC - National Center for State Courts • NASADAD - National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors

17. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis, con’t • Supporters, con’t • ICCA - International Community Corrections Association • RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network NLC - National League of Cities • NCVC - National Center for Victims of Crime • NAPO - National Association of Police Organizations • FOP - Fraternal Order of Police • AVA - Association of VAWA Administrators • SAAS – State Association of Addiction Services • LAC – Legal Action Center • NASDEA - National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies

18. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis, con’t • Supporters, con’t • CADCA - Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America • National HIDTA Directors’ Association • NAAALEC - National Association of Asian American Law Enforcement Commanders • NLPOA - National Latino Peace Officers Association • AJA - American Jail Association • APPA - American Probation and Parole Association • IUPA - International Union of Police Associations

19. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis, con’t • Letters and other statements of support: • 218 House members • 56 senators (plus individual letters) • 30 stakeholder groups • 56 attorneys general • 36 governors sign-on • National Governors Association • Individual governor, stakeholder letters • NCSL, NACO, ICCM, NLC sign-on • 21 freshmen Democrats

20. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis, con’t • Congressional hearings • Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on FY08 bill with OMB director • House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearings • Field hearings across country • Senate Judiciary Committee hearing • Another Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week

21. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis, con’t • Media events • Senate and House briefings • Senate and House press conferences • Over 350 articles written nationwide, including major dailies, small town papers and television stations • Press events with stakeholders in nearly every state

22. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis, cont • Messages: • Byrne/JAG is the cornerstone federal program supporting criminal justice • Allows states to innovate, system-wide • The primary federal law enforcement program, particularly multi-jurisdictional drug task forces. • Also, funds broad range of juvenile, victims’, court, drug treatment, and other initiatives.

23. Byrne/JAG Funding Crisis, cont • Byrne JAG FY08 funding should be restored this year • Once disbanded, drug task forces cannot easily re-start • When the economy weakens, crime rises. • Argument for funding in the upcoming stimulus • Local law enforcement is the first line of defense against terrorism

24. Byrne JAG Funding Crisis, cont • Timing/Process: • Sought to restore funding on recent FY08 war supplemental spending bill • Senate bill included $490M; House bill did not. • Final deal negotiated with White House excluded Byrne JAG funds. • Senate has tried to include in FY09 Continuing Resolution and current stimulus.

25. Byrne JAG Funding Crisis, cont • Economic stimulus (sometimes called second supplemental) likely in mid-February • Some are talking about including public safety funding, for job creation and crime prevention • Primarily job creation bill, but other pent-up demands – Katrina, western wildfires, LIHEAP • Opportunity for new Administration to put imprint on spending

26. Byrne JAG Funding Crisis, cont • Final FY09 appropriations bill also likely in mid-February (possibly sooner) • Justice programs compete with funding for economic competitiveness, census and NASA funding • Funding is expected to reflect FY09 committee-passed levels. • Committees do not want to spend time negotiating FY09 bills

27. Prospect for FY2010 Funding • Prospects for FY2010 Justice funding: • New Administration likely to include robust levels for JAG and COPS in budget request • Obama campaigned on restored funding • Congress aware of support from field, and link to economy • Committees will start working on FY2010 bills in March/April.

28. Criminal Justice Priority Legislation • Simple JAG reauthorization bill passed • COPS reauthorization bill pending (minor changes) • Major bills on the horizon • Juvenile justice reauthorization bill • Next generation crime bill • Overall DOJ reauthorization bill • Child Internet exploitation

29. How Can I Get Involved? • Meet with delegation members and staff – in D.C. and district offices • Stay in regular touch by phone or e-mail (not snail mail!) • Show how programs impact community • Build coalitions with other stakeholders • Use the media to tell the good story

30. Why NCJA? • Participate in 2009 National Forum, Aug 9 - 11 • Join NCJA! • Be the first to know! Stay up to date on grants opportunities and congressional activities • Access to national leaders and networking, participate in national discussions • Help shape justice policies and funding levels

31. Contact Information Cabell Cropper Elizabeth Pyke Executive Director Senior Manager, Government Affairs ccropper@ncja.orgepyke@ncja.org 202-628-8550 main 202-448-1715 direct National Criminal Justice Association www.ncja.org