ONDCP, in partnership with SAMHSA, recently awarded $10.5 million in Drug-Free Communities grants to 107 communities nationwide. An additional $58.8 million will support the continuation of 602 existing coalitions operating in 49 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Funding provided will help reduce and prevent drug, alcohol, and tobacco use among teens. (ONDCP)

Join Guest Host Alan Lai on September 20, 2006, at 2 p.m. ET, for an OVC Web Forum discussion on assisting international victims. Mr. Lai is the Crime Victim Service Director for the Chinese Information and Service Center in Seattle, Washington, and implements victim service projects for the underserved international population. (OVC)

Deadline: September 29, 2006
NIJ is accepting papers to be presented at the 9th Crime Mapping Research Conference to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on March 28-31, 2007. The conference will focus on the study of society and its relationship to crime and the implementation of criminal justice. (NIJ)

OJJDP's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's Child Victim Identification Program to launch the first U.S.-based Victim Identification Lab, as reported in a recent press release. (OJJDP)

SAMHSA reports findings of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which finds that illicit drug use among youth ages 12-17 has declined from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.9 percent in 2005. However, drug use by adults ages 50-59 increased from 2.7 percent to 4.4 percent during the same period. (ONDCP)

On October 24, 2006, at 2 p.m. ET, a free, live, interactive Webcast and satellite broadcast will feature a distinguished panel of experts who will analyze the current situation and provide information on successful recruiting and hiring strategies. (COPS)

John Walters and U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott participated in a marijuana eradication operation in California's Sequoia National Forest. Meeting with federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals, they discussed the trend of marijuana production on U.S. public lands by Mexican drug cartels. (ONDCP)

OJJDP’s recently launched Faith-Based & Community Initiatives portal page provides entry points to information on OJJDP's outreach efforts, OJJDP-funded programs, and publications that provide information on the youth-serving activities of faith- and community-based organizations. (OJJDP)

"Burglary at Single-Family House Construction Sites" (NCJ 215557) (74 pp.) describes the problem and reviews the factors that increase the risks of burglary at single-family house construction sites. It then identifies a series of questions that may assist in the analysis of the problem and reviews responses based on evaluative research and police practice. (COPS)

"Criminal Victimization, 2005" (NCJ 214644) (12 pp.) presents estimates of national levels and rates of personal and property victimization for 2005. Rates and levels are provided for victim characteristics, type of crime, victim-offender relationship, use of weapons, and reporting to police. Annual average victimization rates for 2004-05 are compared with 2002-03. A section is devoted to trends in victimization from 1993 to 2005. (BJS)

"Federal Criminal Justice Trends, 2003" (NCJ 205331) (62 pp.) summarizes agency activities at each stage of the federal criminal case process. It includes 10-year trend statistics on the number arrested; number and disposition of suspects investigated; number of persons detained prior to trial; number of defendants in cases filed, convicted, and sentenced; and number of offenders under federal correctional supervision. (BJS)

"Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail Inmates" (NCJ 213600) (12 pp.) presents estimates of the prevalence of mental health problems among prison and jail inmates using self-reported data on recent history and symptoms of mental disorders. (BJS)

"Witness Intimidation" (NCJ 215558) (72 pp.) describes the problem of witness intimidation, reviews the factors that increase its risks, identifies questions that can help analyze local witness intimidation problems, and reviews responses to the problem as identified through research and police practice. (COPS)

"Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs, 2nd Edition" (NCJ 215556) (78 pp.) addresses the particular harms that clandestine meth labs create by providing a general overview of the problem and responses to it, describing the problem and reviewing factors that increase its risks, and identifying a series of questions that will help agencies analyze their local problems. (COPS)

"State Court Organization, 2004" (NCJ 212351) (329 pp.) presents detailed comparative data by state trial and appellate courts in the United States. It covers: the number of courts and judges; process for judicial selection; governance of court systems, jury qualifications and verdict rules; and processing and sentencing procedures for criminal cases. (BJS)

"Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents" (NCJ 214781) (142 pp.) was prepared by top forensic scientists who advised on the identification of World Trade Center victims using DNA analysis. The report offers guidance to laboratory directors on how to respond to future mass fatality events. (NIJ)

OJJDP's "Disproportionate Minority Contact Technical Assistance Manual" (NCJ 215499) provides detailed guidance on DMC identification and monitoring, assessment, intervention, and evaluation for juvenile justice specialists, members of state planning agencies and state advisory groups, researchers, consultants, policymakers, and practitioners. (OJJDP)

The Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Technical Assistance (SAFE TA) Web site, an OVW-funded project of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, provides online technical assistance with implementing the SAFE Protocol. The SAFE TA Web site is for medical professionals, law enforcement, victim advocates, prosecutors, and others interested in sexual assault forensic exams. (OVW)

BJA, in conjunction with its G.R.E.A.T. regional partners, will offer one-day grant-writing workshops in each of the five regions for any agencies interested in applying for a G.R.E.A.T. grant for 2007. The application period for FY 2007 G.R.E.A.T. grants is expected to open in October. (BJA)

BJA, in cooperation with SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, will be hosting four BJA Regional Information Sharing Conferences. State and local agency leaders, policymakers, project managers, and technical staff will have the opportunity to network and to learn about various justice information-sharing initiatives. (BJA)