1998 federal budget includes increased criminal justice funds.

Even with the balanced budget agreement, Congress and the Clinton administration again managed to increase the amount of federal money spent on criminal justice. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) 1998 federal budget grew by $1 billion to $17.5 billion, an increase of 6 percent. Funding from the Violent Crime Trust Fund increased by $750 million to $5.23 billion.

Through the DOJ budget, all facets of the criminal justice system received additional funds. State and local law enforcement assistance increased by $658 million to $4.8 billion. The most significant increase was in funding to combat juvenile crime - $489 million, $239 million of which is for crime prevention programs. An additional $250 million in the form of a Juvenile Crime Accountability Block Grant will provide funding for facility construction, state and local prosecutors, courts and technology. This grant is consistent with the provisions of the juvenile crime bill which was passed by the House in the spring of 1997.

In addition to increased spending for juvenile justice, several existing criminal justice programs also will see increased funding. The Local Law Enforcement Block Grant received $523 million; the Byrne Grant Program was set at $509 million; the Weed and Seed Program, now a freestanding program, was allotted $33.5 million. Funding was established at $173.6 million for the Office of Justice Programs. Funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) was set at $1.4 billion. The Violence Against Women Initiative received $270.75 million, an increase of $74.25 million.

Specific corrections-related funding also showed significant increases. State prison grants increased by $56 million to $720.5 million. $525.5 million was allocated for the Violent Offender and Truth in Sentencing programs. Funding for State Prisoner Drug Treatment programs increased by more than 100 percent to $63 million. The amount of money available to the states for housing criminal aliens increased by $85 million, to $585 million.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was funded at $2.847 billion. Federal Prison Industries received $3.2 million for administrative expenses.

Other criminal justice-related programs within the DOJ saw funding increases. The Drug Enforcement Administration received $1.194 billion, part of which will fund special anti-drug initiatives in the Caribbean and in the southwestern United States. The FBI received $2.975 billion in funding. Funds also were made available for an additional 1,000 border patrol agents and 3,000 detention beds.

Included in the budget bill were at least two legislative initiatives. The first is a measure to modify the Jacob Wetterling Act, the sex offender tracking law that was passed in 1995. The measure expands and clarifies the law requiring the registration of sex offenders. The Hyde Amendment, named for its sponsor, Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), allows persons who prevail in a federal criminal case to recover attorneys' fees and other litigation costs if the court finds the position of the United States was "vexatious, frivolous or in bad faith."

These figures focus only on DOJ appropriations. They do not include other agencies such as the Office of Drug Control Policy, the crime prevention program in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or the Department of Education.

The appropriations for the current fiscal year show a continuing trend of federal involvement in the criminal justice system. As the federal government sends more money to the states for criminal justice, it places more and more restrictions on how this money can be spent. While many applaud the extra money, others are concerned about the loss of flexibility.

As the old saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Everyone has learned that you don't get anything from the federal government without a price. This is as true in criminal justice as it is in any other area. As corrections professionals, we must continue to work within these parameters to operate the most efficient and cost-effective criminal justice system possible.

James Turpin is ACA's legislative liaison.