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Principles and Promises: BJA's Plan for the Future

NCJ Number
197078
Date Published
February 2003
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This document discusses the guiding principles for the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in the coming years.
Abstract
One goal is to work to eliminate any unnecessary rules that limit the power of States and communities to find the solutions that work best for them. The process of working to make communities safer will be simplified by minimizing paperwork and streamlining payment programs for receiving funds. Fewer and less burdensome reporting requirements for grant programs is another goal. Support and assistance to grantees will include annual training, technical assistance, and regional and national training conferences. Communication with grantees and constituents will be increased by regular e-mails, a user-friendly Web site, and an annual report. The role of the BJA is to provide national leadership in criminal justice issues by looking for innovative solutions and promoting them throughout the country. The BJA will provide every community with access to the tools it needs to identify its most urgent problems and choose the best ways to deal with them. Decreasing crime and making communities safer is a priority and BJA seeks to promote community involvement, provide gun safety information, and seek out public and private partners to plan strategies. BJA’s role is to facilitate the ability of citizens, whenever possible and appropriate, to participate in terrorism prevention and preparedness efforts. Law enforcement will be provided with the support, resources, and training they need to meet the needs of the communities. BJA is also committed to providing resources, tools, and support to help adjudicators with technical assistance and training, research and funding, and fair administration of justice. Building partnerships between law enforcement and community corrections is also a goal. BJA aims to provide the resources and assistance needed to make sharing information possible among criminal justice agencies. BJA also wants to ensure that when people of faith provide social services, they are not discriminated against.