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RED ALERT RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
 Click here to download a copy of the following alert.
FROM CJJ NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE & CJJ GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
President's Budget Proposal Jeopardizes Federal Support for State & Local Delinquency Prevention
The President's Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) budget released Feb. 5, 2007, further shifts burdens of cost and responsibility for juvenile justice to the states—placing at risk critically needed funding and other forms of support now provided to states by the U.S. Department of Justice. As costs shift to the states across the domestic program budget, a 25% deeper cut as compared with current levels is proposed in overall federal juvenile justice spending.
Title II (Formula Funds) and other federal grant streams designed to support State Plans and Compliance with Core Requirements and Purposes in the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) would no longer be guaranteed under this proposal. Instead, federal juvenile justice assistance to states would be reduced and managed as a discretionary, competitive grant program for state and local entities, under the authority of the Office of Justice Programs. State and local entities would bid for grants and face uncertainty as to whether they would receive federal funds at all, as well as for how much and for how long. Such a discretionary, competitive grant program would mean there would no longer be a relatively consistent, coordinated nationwide effort to reduce juvenile delinquency and improve juvenile justice systems.
KEY STREAMS OF FEDERAL JJ FUNDING AS APPROPRIATED (in millions):
|
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY05 |
FY06 |
FY07 CR Res. |
President's
FY 08 Proposed* |
Title II
Formula Fund |
$83.3 |
$83.2 |
$83.3 |
$79.2 |
$79.2 |
--0-- |
Title V
Local Delinq.
Prevention |
$46.1 |
$79.2 |
$79.4 |
$64.4 |
$64.4 |
--0-- |
JABG |
$188.8 |
$59.4 |
$54.6 |
$49.5 |
$49.5 |
--0-- |
| DPBG |
$126.4
Via diff. vehicles |
--0-- |
--0-- |
--0-- |
--0-- |
--0-- |
OJJDP |
$6.8 |
$3.6 |
$3.0 |
$0.7 |
$0.7 |
--0-- |
Demonstration
Projects |
--0-- |
$78.8 |
$101.4 |
$105.0 |
$105.0 |
--0-- |
Mentoring
|
$15.9 |
--0-- |
$14.9 |
$9.9 |
$9.9 |
--0-- |
Child Safety |
--0-- |
--0-- |
--0-- |
$30.0 |
$30.0 |
--0-- |
The President’s proposal zeros out key streams of federal juvenile justice funds and replaces them at a lower level with a discretionary, competitive grant program for states and local jurisdictions, entitled the “Child Safety and Juvenile Justice Program” scheduled at $254 million—down 25% from $338.7 million under the continuing resolution for FY07.
The President’s proposal also appears to erode support for the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), which has led nationwide efforts to reduce delinquency and improve community safety since it was established 33 years ago.
Importantly, there appears to be little or no support for federal-state relations and assistance; although reducing Disproportionate Minority Confinement (rather than Contact) is listed in the budget as a priority area for grants to local and state entities.
SUGGESTED ACTIONS:
We urge State Advisory Groups and all CJJ allies to draw attention to the consequences that this proposal would have for your state if it goes unchallenged. Because the President’s budget proposal has the potential to do away with programs under the JJDPA as reauthorized in 2002, as well as the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant as reauthorized in 2005, it would mean loss of significant funds as well as training and technical assistance to:
- Keep status offenders out of locked detention;
- Guard against children being placed in adult jails and other setbacks in conditions of confinement for children and youth;
- Improve mental health, substance abuse, educational screening and services for at-risk and adjudicated youth;
- Support law enforcement and delinquency prevention initiatives;
- Advance other important juvenile justice programs and system improvements that are supported (at least in part) with federal monies.
Please share your concerns about the President’s budget proposal with the following:
- Your Governor’s office;
- Heads of your State Planning Agency and Juvenile Justice Agency;
- Your Congressional representatives.
Voice your concerns about:
- Proposed elimination of predictable and effective support for state and local juvenile justice programs, by channeling all juvenile justice funding into a single competitive, discretionary grant-making program;
- Overall reduction of juvenile justice funding (another 25%);
- Apparent abandonment of the federal role in response to urgent state and local needs for juvenile crime and delinquency prevention.
Questions? Please feel free to contact:
Linda Hayes, Chair, CJJ Government Relations Committee: 910-892-4469 and lhayes@harnettlaw.com
Nancy Gannon Hornberger, CJJ Executive Director: 202-467-0864, ext. 111 and nancy@juvjustice.org
Click here to download a copy of this alert.
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