THE COUNCIL IS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT AGENCY WITH LONGSTANDING INTEREST IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES, PARTICULARLY POLICY ISSUES CONCERNING CRIMINAL SANCTIONS. IT FEELS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S AUTHORIZATION REQUEST FOR THE BUREAU OF PRISONS REPRESENTS A COURSE OF ACTION, I.E., THE CONSTRUCTION OF MORE PRISON AND JAIL FACILITIES, WITH STAGGERING FISCAL IMPLICATIONS. NEEDS TO BE SATISFIED BY PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION CAN BE SOLVED WITHOUT INCURRING SUCH A FISCAL BURDEN. A BETTER COURSE OF ACTION INVOLVES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES AND A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES THROUGH CRIMINAL CODE REFORM, SENTENCING AND PAROLE REVISIONS, AND OTHER POLICY CHANGES. IMPLICATIONS OF CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL BELL (ORGANIZED CRIME, WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, CORRUPTION OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND NARCOTICS TRAFFIC) SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED IN ANALYZING THE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST FOR THE BUREAU OF PRISONS. NO FUNDS FOR PLANNING OR CONSTRUCTING NEW INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED IN LIGHT OF AVAILABLE SENTENCING, DISPOSITIONAL, AND PLACEMENT OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES. (DEP)