Written by SP Biloxi
Not necessary. Last year, J. Robert Flores, former OJJDP Administrator, violated the ethic rules in grant giving practices according to the Inspector General Glenn Fine's report. Flores was not charged criminally nor civil by the Public Integrity Section ofthe Justice Department. I had wonder if the Oversight Reform Committee was going to closed the case on the OJJDP probe. Wrong. The case can be relooked again. Here is what I found on the Oversight Reform Committee under the catagory of Investigations:
As set forth in House Rule X, clause 4, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform may, at any time, conduct investigations of any matter regardless of whether another standing committee has jurisdiction over the matter.
Not very good for Flores since I reported that Flores recently started an consulting firm. And under the catagory of investigations, the committee listed catagories of many investigations that are current and past that hasn't been closed. Under the catagory of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse, there are alot of investigations from that catagory and the Improper Grantmaking by the OJJDP misappropiated $4.4 million dollars appeared in that catagory. Click here to view the file.
Finally, I wanted to add that I emailed Senator Patrick Leahy last year concerning the OJJDP probe since the Senate committee was asking for answers and written a letter to then Attorney Michael Mukasey. I am not sure if Senator Leahy and the Senate committee will revisit the OJJDP probe again. Here was Senator Leahy's response to me in a email:
From: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
To: ******@*******.***
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:10:34 PM
Subject: From Senator Patrick Leahy
Dear **********:
Thank you for contacting me about my oversight request regarding Office of Juvenile Justice Prevention grant award policies. I appreciate hearing from you and apologize for the delay of my response.
On June 27, 2008, I sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking for information on how the Office of Juvenile Justice Prevention awards its grants after several reports surfaced in the press that the Department of Justice was awarding grants to groups that scored lower than less politically-connected organizations. On July 8, 2008, the Department of Justice replied to my letter informing me that they would provide 15,000 pages of documents that outline the grant process. On July 25, they delivered 14,960 pages that my staff and I have begun to examine in great detail.
Juvenile justice grant programs are essential federal programs that help state and local governments improve their programs to help our nation's youth stay out of trouble and avoid a downward spiral of crime and punishment as they get older. Oversight of these programs is equally important, and that is why I requested these documents and will work to ensure that these important programs are administered properly going forward.
Additionally, last year, I introduced the bipartisan Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008 with Senators Specter and Kohl. This bill would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 through 2013 while encouraging states and local governments to keep young offenders out of adult prisons, where studies show they are more likely to learn and act upon criminal behavior. The bill passed the Judiciary Committee on July 31, 2008, but unfortunately, the Senate was unable address the bill before the 110th Congress ended. You can be assured that I will reintroduce this legislation early in the new Congress and build upon the significant progress that was made last year.
I have attached a copy of the Department of Justice's July 8 letter. Unfortunately, I cannot attach the nearly 15,000 documents they later provided, but I will continue to work diligently on this issue and make sure the Office of Juvenile Justice Prevention is administered fairly, regardless of the administration in charge.
Thank you again for your letter. Please keep in touch.
PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator
Leahy file -
Showing posts with label Senator Leahy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senator Leahy. Show all posts
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
35th anniversary of JJDPA
The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974 provides funds to states that follow a series of guidelines regarding the rights of juvenile offenders. However, the bill was never voted on for renewal in the Senate yet. On July 31, 2008, the bill was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee with broad bipartisan support.
In December 2008, Senator Patrick Leahy sent a letter to then President-elect Obama on several key issues. One of the issues were justice assistance.
From Leahy's website:
Justice Assistance
Experience shows that crime tends to escalate in a worsening economy. As we work to protect jobs and spur our worsening economy, we must help our cities, towns, and rural communities combat the drug and crime problems that threaten public safety and the well-being of many who have lost hope, particularly our young people. Effective state and local law enforcement is vital to our efforts to combat the scourge of drugs and crime, and the federal government in the past has been an effective partner. Unfortunately, for the last eight years, state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country have been stretched thin as they have shouldered both traditional crime-fighting duties and new homeland security demands. They have faced continuous cuts in federal funding during the Bush years, and time and time again our state and local law enforcement officers have been unable to fill vacancies and to get the equipment they need.
I strongly support restoring the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and Edward Byrne Justice Assistance grant programs that offer practical support to local law enforcement agencies. These programs enable local communities to substantially increase the number of law enforcement officers, provide training and assistance for local prevention programs and law enforcement, and encourage innovative crime prevention programs and new law enforcement technologies. These proven programs should be reauthorized, supported and fully funded.
I also support reauthorizing and funding the Crime-Free Rural States grant program. Drug-related crime is not just a big-city issue. It is a growing problem in rural communities across the country. We need to support practical programs that provide vital resources to some of the nation’s most vulnerable, cash-strapped communities to address crime in their neighborhoods.
Any effective approach to crime must include a significant emphasis on prevention and treatment, particularly for young people. This is vitally needed so that our children can be kept safe, on a productive path, and out of the criminal justice system, and so that if they do stray, they can be given the opportunity to turn away from crime and become productive members of the community. Reauthorizing and fully funding the important programs in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act should be an important part of this effort.
Here is the entire text of Leahy’s letter to Obama here as a PDF file.
As we look at OJJDP under Obama Administration, the JJDPA is much needed to be reauthorized.
Reporter John Kelly of Youth Today wrote:
Labor Day marked the 35th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The act is overdue for reauthorization, and a bill that would do so has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
The act requires states to comply with juvenile justice standards pertaining to four core principles: deinstitutionalization of youth who are status offenders; keeping all youth who are not tried as adults from placement in adult lockups; separating juveniles tried as adults from adult jail populations; and addressing racial disparities in the juvenile justice system (disproportionate minority contact, or DMC).
And more:
State juvenile justice leaders find staff at the federal juvenile justice office helpful, though slow to respond at times, and the officials bemoan the dwindling resources flowing to states from the federal office.
These are findings of a survey conducted by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, which was released this week.
The coalition polled state-designated juvenile justice specialists in each state and six territories about the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The results, presented in a report titled A Pivotal Moment, indicate that most states value the work done by OJJDP but feel its influence is compromised by its decreasing budget.
"The sky is not falling, but the ground beneath is not as firm as it used to be," said CJJ Deputy Executive Director Tara Andrews, summarizing the sentiments of states about work on JJDPA compliance at a panel discussion following announcement of the report.
In December 2008, Senator Patrick Leahy sent a letter to then President-elect Obama on several key issues. One of the issues were justice assistance.
From Leahy's website:
Justice Assistance
Experience shows that crime tends to escalate in a worsening economy. As we work to protect jobs and spur our worsening economy, we must help our cities, towns, and rural communities combat the drug and crime problems that threaten public safety and the well-being of many who have lost hope, particularly our young people. Effective state and local law enforcement is vital to our efforts to combat the scourge of drugs and crime, and the federal government in the past has been an effective partner. Unfortunately, for the last eight years, state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country have been stretched thin as they have shouldered both traditional crime-fighting duties and new homeland security demands. They have faced continuous cuts in federal funding during the Bush years, and time and time again our state and local law enforcement officers have been unable to fill vacancies and to get the equipment they need.
I strongly support restoring the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and Edward Byrne Justice Assistance grant programs that offer practical support to local law enforcement agencies. These programs enable local communities to substantially increase the number of law enforcement officers, provide training and assistance for local prevention programs and law enforcement, and encourage innovative crime prevention programs and new law enforcement technologies. These proven programs should be reauthorized, supported and fully funded.
I also support reauthorizing and funding the Crime-Free Rural States grant program. Drug-related crime is not just a big-city issue. It is a growing problem in rural communities across the country. We need to support practical programs that provide vital resources to some of the nation’s most vulnerable, cash-strapped communities to address crime in their neighborhoods.
Any effective approach to crime must include a significant emphasis on prevention and treatment, particularly for young people. This is vitally needed so that our children can be kept safe, on a productive path, and out of the criminal justice system, and so that if they do stray, they can be given the opportunity to turn away from crime and become productive members of the community. Reauthorizing and fully funding the important programs in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act should be an important part of this effort.
Here is the entire text of Leahy’s letter to Obama here as a PDF file.
As we look at OJJDP under Obama Administration, the JJDPA is much needed to be reauthorized.
Reporter John Kelly of Youth Today wrote:
Labor Day marked the 35th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The act is overdue for reauthorization, and a bill that would do so has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
The act requires states to comply with juvenile justice standards pertaining to four core principles: deinstitutionalization of youth who are status offenders; keeping all youth who are not tried as adults from placement in adult lockups; separating juveniles tried as adults from adult jail populations; and addressing racial disparities in the juvenile justice system (disproportionate minority contact, or DMC).
And more:
State juvenile justice leaders find staff at the federal juvenile justice office helpful, though slow to respond at times, and the officials bemoan the dwindling resources flowing to states from the federal office.
These are findings of a survey conducted by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, which was released this week.
The coalition polled state-designated juvenile justice specialists in each state and six territories about the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The results, presented in a report titled A Pivotal Moment, indicate that most states value the work done by OJJDP but feel its influence is compromised by its decreasing budget.
"The sky is not falling, but the ground beneath is not as firm as it used to be," said CJJ Deputy Executive Director Tara Andrews, summarizing the sentiments of states about work on JJDPA compliance at a panel discussion following announcement of the report.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Leahy reintroduces Juvenile Justice Reauthorization Bill but with some few revisions.
Leahy Introduces Juvenile Justice Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON (Tuesday, March 24, 2009) – Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today introduced legislation to reauthorize expiring programs in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act will authorize key programs designed to protect children and reduce juvenile crime.
Leahy introduced legislation to reauthorize the JJDPA in the last Congress after months of research and debate, and the legislation was reported by the Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs, in September 2008. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act will increase federal funding of prevention, intervention and treatment programs designed to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime. The reauthorization legislation aims to balance providing federal support and guidance to state programs, and respecting the individual criminal justice policies of states.
A key goal of the JJDPA is to help reduce crime and recidivism among youths. The legislation urges states to make improvements to juvenile justice systems, and provides common sense guidelines, procedural protections and restrictions on the pretrial detention of juveniles in adult jails and the detention of children who commit status offenses like truancy.
Leahy said, “The basic goals of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act include keeping our communities safe by reducing juvenile crime and advancing programs and policies that keep children out of the criminal justice system. Many prominent Vermont representatives of law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, and prevention-oriented non-profits have spoken to me in support of this reauthorization. This bill pushes forward new ways to help children move out of the criminal justice system, return to school, and become responsible, hard-working members of our communities. I hope all Senators will join us in supporting this important legislation.”
Read more.
But here is some revisions of the bill to the Administrator's role:
Section 203. Annual Report. This section modifies several existing reporting requirements in the OJJDP Administrator’s annual report, including requiring data on conditions of confinement (isolation and restraints), release from custody, status offenders and the number of pregnant juveniles.
This section also requires that the Administrator include a description of the criteria used to determine what programs qualify as evidence based and promising programs under JJDPA titles II and V, and a comprehensive list of those programs that have been determined to meet the criteria, as well as a description of funding provided to Indian Tribes under this Act.
Section 204. Allocation of Funds. This section clarifies that funds should be allocated to States under Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) based on the most recent census data available.
This section authorizes the reinvestment of funds withheld due to noncompliance with one or more of the core requirements as an “incentive grant” aimed at helping States to regain compliance. It also requires that the Administrator provide support and technical assistance to the States in achieving and maintaining compliance with the Act.
Section 206. Authority to Make Grants. This section amends the Administrator’s grant-making authority to add truancy prevention and reduction activities to the list of after-school programs that provide at-risk juveniles and juveniles in the system with a range of age-appropriate activities. Also added to the list are projects that support the establishment of partnerships between a State and a university, institution of higher education, or research center designed to improve the recruitment, selection, training and retention of professional personnel.
WASHINGTON (Tuesday, March 24, 2009) – Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today introduced legislation to reauthorize expiring programs in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act will authorize key programs designed to protect children and reduce juvenile crime.
Leahy introduced legislation to reauthorize the JJDPA in the last Congress after months of research and debate, and the legislation was reported by the Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs, in September 2008. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act will increase federal funding of prevention, intervention and treatment programs designed to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime. The reauthorization legislation aims to balance providing federal support and guidance to state programs, and respecting the individual criminal justice policies of states.
A key goal of the JJDPA is to help reduce crime and recidivism among youths. The legislation urges states to make improvements to juvenile justice systems, and provides common sense guidelines, procedural protections and restrictions on the pretrial detention of juveniles in adult jails and the detention of children who commit status offenses like truancy.
Leahy said, “The basic goals of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act include keeping our communities safe by reducing juvenile crime and advancing programs and policies that keep children out of the criminal justice system. Many prominent Vermont representatives of law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, and prevention-oriented non-profits have spoken to me in support of this reauthorization. This bill pushes forward new ways to help children move out of the criminal justice system, return to school, and become responsible, hard-working members of our communities. I hope all Senators will join us in supporting this important legislation.”
Read more.
But here is some revisions of the bill to the Administrator's role:
Section 203. Annual Report. This section modifies several existing reporting requirements in the OJJDP Administrator’s annual report, including requiring data on conditions of confinement (isolation and restraints), release from custody, status offenders and the number of pregnant juveniles.
This section also requires that the Administrator include a description of the criteria used to determine what programs qualify as evidence based and promising programs under JJDPA titles II and V, and a comprehensive list of those programs that have been determined to meet the criteria, as well as a description of funding provided to Indian Tribes under this Act.
Section 204. Allocation of Funds. This section clarifies that funds should be allocated to States under Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) based on the most recent census data available.
This section authorizes the reinvestment of funds withheld due to noncompliance with one or more of the core requirements as an “incentive grant” aimed at helping States to regain compliance. It also requires that the Administrator provide support and technical assistance to the States in achieving and maintaining compliance with the Act.
Section 206. Authority to Make Grants. This section amends the Administrator’s grant-making authority to add truancy prevention and reduction activities to the list of after-school programs that provide at-risk juveniles and juveniles in the system with a range of age-appropriate activities. Also added to the list are projects that support the establishment of partnerships between a State and a university, institution of higher education, or research center designed to improve the recruitment, selection, training and retention of professional personnel.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Senator Leahy's response to the Senate committee's oversight request regarding OJJDP grant award policies.
[pic above] is a July 8, 2008 letter from Keith B. Nelson,Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General to Senator Patrick Leahy.In a response from Senator Patrick Leahy who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, Mr. Leahy shares with me in an email on Tuesday on the status of the Senate committee's oversight request from the Attorney General Michaal Mukasey regarding the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention grant award policies:
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
To: *******@****.com
Sent: Tue, 13 Jan 2009
Subject: From Senator Patrick Leahy
Dear ********:
Thank you for contacting me about my oversight request regarding Office
of Juvenile Justice Prevention grant award policies. I appreciate
hearing from you and apologize for the delay of my response.
Sent: Tue, 13 Jan 2009
Subject: From Senator Patrick Leahy
Dear ********:
Thank you for contacting me about my oversight request regarding Office
of Juvenile Justice Prevention grant award policies. I appreciate
hearing from you and apologize for the delay of my response.
On June 27, 2008, I sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey
asking for information on how the Office of Juvenile Justice Prevention
awards its grants after several reports surfaced in the press that the
Department of Justice was awarding grants to groups that scored lower
than less politically-connected organizations. On July 8, 2008, the
Department of Justice replied to my letter informing me that they would
provide 15,000 pages of documents that outline the grant process. On
July 25, they delivered 14,960 pages that my staff and I have begun to
examine in great detail.
asking for information on how the Office of Juvenile Justice Prevention
awards its grants after several reports surfaced in the press that the
Department of Justice was awarding grants to groups that scored lower
than less politically-connected organizations. On July 8, 2008, the
Department of Justice replied to my letter informing me that they would
provide 15,000 pages of documents that outline the grant process. On
July 25, they delivered 14,960 pages that my staff and I have begun to
examine in great detail.
Juvenile justice grant programs are essential federal programs that help
state and local governments improve their programs to help our nation's
youth stay out of trouble and avoid a downward spiral of crime and
punishment as they get older. Oversight of these programs is equally
important, and that is why I requested these documents and will work to
ensure that these important programs are administered properly going
forward.
Additionally, last year, I introduced the bipartisan Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008 with Senators Specter and Kohl. This bill would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 through 2013 while encouraging states and local governments to keep young offenders out of adult prisons, where studies show they are more likely to learn and act upon criminal behavior. The bill passed the Judiciary Committee on July 31, 2008, but unfortunately, the Senate was unable address the bill before the 110th
Congress ended. You can be assured that I will reintroduce this legislation early in the new Congress and build upon the significant progress that was made last year.
I have attached a copy of the Department of Justice's July 8 letter. Unfortunately, I cannot attach the nearly 15,000 documents they later provided, but I will continue to work diligently on this issue and make sure the Office of Juvenile Justice Prevention is administered fairly,
regardless of the administration in charge.
Thank you again for your letter. Please keep in touch.
Patrick Leahy http://leahy.senate.gov/images/Frank200.jpg
PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator
state and local governments improve their programs to help our nation's
youth stay out of trouble and avoid a downward spiral of crime and
punishment as they get older. Oversight of these programs is equally
important, and that is why I requested these documents and will work to
ensure that these important programs are administered properly going
forward.
Additionally, last year, I introduced the bipartisan Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008 with Senators Specter and Kohl. This bill would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 through 2013 while encouraging states and local governments to keep young offenders out of adult prisons, where studies show they are more likely to learn and act upon criminal behavior. The bill passed the Judiciary Committee on July 31, 2008, but unfortunately, the Senate was unable address the bill before the 110th
Congress ended. You can be assured that I will reintroduce this legislation early in the new Congress and build upon the significant progress that was made last year.
I have attached a copy of the Department of Justice's July 8 letter. Unfortunately, I cannot attach the nearly 15,000 documents they later provided, but I will continue to work diligently on this issue and make sure the Office of Juvenile Justice Prevention is administered fairly,
regardless of the administration in charge.
Thank you again for your letter. Please keep in touch.
Patrick Leahy http://leahy.senate.gov/images/Frank200.jpg
PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator
To catch up on OJJDP Administator J. Robert Flores probe and the Juvenile Justice scandal, click here.
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