II. METHODOLOGY

• The proportion of total resources estimated for drug-related programs in the FY 1998 request remains at 33%, the same percentage included in the previous drug budget submissions. The methodology employed to estimate the proportion of total Community Oriented Policing (COPS) resources used for drug-related programs was jointly developed by the Department of Justice and the Office of National Drug Control Policy, based on the assumption that approximately one-third (33%) of the functions performed by police officers are drug-related, particularly since a significant amount of law enforcement activities are directed towards drug infested neighborhoods, drug trafficking-related problems, and drug prevention efforts.

• Statutory authority for the COPS program is provided by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The COPS program, which includes grant resources to fund police hiring, redeployment, training, technical assistance, and evaluation programs, is a critical component of the Administration's National Drug Control Strategy. The FY 1998 drug budget fully supports Goal 2 of the 1997 National Drug Control Strategy. This goal will be accomplished by increasing the effectiveness of local police through the implementation of community and problem-oriented policing with a focus on youth and gang violence, drug-related homicides, and domestic violence.



• The COPS program will empower communities in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to reduce the incidence of violence, crime and drug use in America. Safe and healthy community environments need to be created for children, adolescents, and adults through prevention of drug use, reduction of domestic drug-related crime and violence, the improvement of law enforcement capabilities, and the strengthening of partnerships between the local, state, and Federal law enforcement communities.

IV. BUDGET SUMMARY

1997 Base Program

• The FY 1997 base program includes $468.6 million for state and local assistance activities which support Goal 2 of the National Drug Control Strategy. This includes $462.0 million for Public Safety and Community Policing Grants and $6.6 million for Police Corps.

• COPS total FY 1998 drug control request for Goal 2 activities is $509.9 million, an increase of $41.3 million over the FY 1997 enacted level.



• For FY 1998, a total of $462.0 million in base funding is requested for Public Safety and Community Policing Grants ($452.7) and Management and Administration ($9.3). Total drug resources under this decision unit include direct costs associated with Public Safety and Community Policing Grant programs, and indirect costs associated with Management and Administration support provided to administer the grant programs.



• For FY 1998, a total of $6.6 million in base funding is requested for the Police Corps program. The Police Corps program, as authorized in the legislation, will increase the number of police with advanced education and training, and provide educational assistance to students who possess a sincere interest in public service in the form of law enforcement. The program, which requires a four-year service obligation by scholarship recipients, is expected to provide the necessary incentives to attract and retain young men and women to a career in law enforcement.



• A program increase of $6.6 million is requested for the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for FY 1998. The Law Enforcement Scholarship Program will allow individuals to receive scholarships while employed as police officers. This program, like the previously successful Law Education Program, allows police to increase their educational opportunities, and is critical to enhancing state and local law enforcement recruitment, retention, and education.



• A program increase of $1.7 million is requested for the Police Recruitment Grants program for FY 1998. The Police Recruitment Grants program is designed to recruit and retain applicants to police departments. The program provides: recruiting services, which include tutorial programs to enable individuals to meet police force academic requirements and to pass entrance examinations; counseling for police applicants who may encounter problems throughout the application process; and retention services to assist individuals to stay in the application process of a police department.



• A program increase of $33 million is requested for the Prosecutorial Initiatives Targeting Gang Crime and Violent Juveniles program for FY 1998. This program is designed to provide grants directly to prosecutorial offices for at least 1,000 new intiatives to target gangs, gang violence, and other violent juvenile crime. When necessary for the implementation of this program, funds may be used to hire gang prosecutors, buy equipment, and state of the art training.

V. PROGRAM STATISTICS

• The COPS program supports law enforcement agencies' investigative operations and applicable program statistics are identified there.

VI. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• At the end of FY 1995, a total of 13,527 applications for COPS Hiring Program grants were received, and 7,238 grants were awarded, making funding available to state and local law enforcement agencies across the country for the hiring of a total of 23,871 additional police officers and sheriff's deputies.



• At the end of FY 1996, 3,351 applications for COPS Hiring Program grants were received, and 6,582 grants were awarded, funding an additional 23,776 police officers and sheriff's deputies.



• The COPS Office will fund a cumulative total of approximately 64,000 additional police officers and sheriff's deputies by the end of FY 1997. The FY 1998 request level would fund an estimated 17,000 additional police officers and sheriff's deputies by the end of the fiscal year.