Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 93.djvu/1201

 PUBLIC LAW 96-157—DEC. 27, 1979

93 STAT. 1169

"DECLAKATION AND PURPOSE

"The Congress finds and declares that the high incidence of crime ^^ use 370i. in the United States is detrimental to the general welfare of the Nation and its citizens, and that criminal justice efforts must be better coordinated, intensified, and made more effective and equitable at all levels of government. "Congress further finds that juvenile delinquency constitutes a growing threat to the national welfare requiring immediate and comprehensive action by the Federal Government to reduce and prevent delinquency by developing and implementing effective programs to improve the quality of juvenile justice in the United States. "Congress further finds that there is an urgent need to encourage basic and applied research, to gather and disseminate accurate and comprehensive justice stetistics, and to evaluate methods of preventing and reducing crime. Congress further finds that although crime is essentially, a local problem that must be dealt with by State and local governments, the financial and technical resources of the Federal Government should be made available to support such State and local efforts. "Congress further finds that the future welfare of the Nation and the well-being of its citizens depend on the establishment and maintenance of viable and effective justice systems which require: (1) systematic and sustained action by Federal, State, and local governments; (2) greater continuity in the scope and level of Federal assistance; and (3) continuing efforts at all levels of government to streamline programs and upgrade the functioning of agencies responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating efforts to improve justice systems. "It is therefore the declared policy of the Congress to aid State and local governments in strengthening and improving their systems of criminal justice by providing financial and technical assistance with maximum certeinty and minimum delay. It is the purpose of this title to (1) authorize funds for the benefit of States and units of local government to be used to strengthen their criminal justice system; (2) develop and fund new methods and programs to enhance the effectiveness of criminal justice agencies; (3) support the development of city, county, and statewide priorities and programs to meet the problems confronting the justice system; (4) reduce court congestion and trial delay; (5) support community anticrime efforts; (6) improve and modernize the correctional system; (7) encourage the undertaking of innovative projects of recognized importance and effectiveness; (8) encourage the development of basic and applied research directed toward the improvement of civil and criminal justice systems and new methods for the prevention and reduction of crime and the detection, apprehension, and rehabilitetion of criminals; (9) encourage the collection and analysis of stetistical information concerning crime, juvenile delinquency, civil disputes, and the operation of justice systems; and (10) support manpower development and training efforts. It is further the policy of the Congress that the Federal assistance made available under this title not be utilized to reduce the amount of State and local financial support for criminal justice activities below the level of such support prior to the availability of such assistance.

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