Justice posts grant system
The Office of Justice Program's Bureau of Justice Assistance recently brought a pilot for its Local Law Enforcement Block Grants application system online. The system, if implemented, will support requirements for payment requests, financial monitoring and reporting by grantees, and allow OJP to assess the benefits of issuing user certificates to grantees.
The Office of Justice Program's Bureau of Justice Assistance recently brought a pilot for its Local Law Enforcement Block Grants application system online. The system, if implemented, will support requirements for payment requests, financial monitoring and reporting by grantees, and allow OJP to assess the benefits of issuing user certificates to grantees.
'These grants provide funds to reduce crime and enhance public safety through a variety of activities, including procuring equipment, technology and other material directly related to basic law enforcement functions,' said Stephen R. Colgate, chief information officer and assistant attorney general for administration in the Justice Management Division.
OJP's Grants Management System is linked to the OJP Funding Opportunities Web page, at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm.
Justice is working with state and local law enforcement agencies to promote sharing data such as DNA records and officer-to-officer radio transmissions. New initiatives include:
The National Criminal History Improvement Program, which encourages states to improve communications and data accuracy to develop integrated criminal justice systems. The program includes technical assistance and training, the Firearms Inquiry Statistics and National Sex Offender Registry Assistance Program. It focuses on data for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
The National Institute of Justice Office of Science and Technology, which sponsors grant programs for technology research. Current projects include developing safe school technologies, DNA identification systems and prison security.
NIJ also will tackle interoperability problems across jurisdictional and regional boundaries through the Advanced General of Interoperability for Law Enforcement Program.
Attorney General Janet Reno appointed Donald Prosnitz as the department's chief science and technology adviser late last month.
Prosnitz will advise the attorney general and other senior Justice officials on technological research, development, procurement, policy and legislation. He will also coordinate science and technology projects and programs throughout Justice and state and local law enforcement entities.
The new position was created to help the department consolidate viewpoints and advice on law enforcement technology.
Before taking the Justice post, Prosnitz was the chief scientist for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Nonproliferation, Arms Control and International Security Directorate. He is on a two-year detail to Justice.
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