National Criminal Justice Reference Service
NCJRS is administered by the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice

JUSTICE INFORMATION
May 01, 2008 Volume 14, Number 9. Access this issue online at: 
http://www.ncjrs.gov/justinfo/May0108.html

JUSTINFO, published the 1st and 15th of each month, highlights information
from the NCJRS sponsoring agencies.


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CONTENTS

Announcements
 - May Is National Drug Court Month (NCJRS)
 - National Correctional Officers Week Announced (NCJRS)
 - Responding to Victims of Crime (OVC)
 - Volunteers in Police Service Program Exceeds Milestone (BJA)

Funding Opportunities
 - Applications Sought for New Jail Planning DVD (NIC)
 - Expanding Learning Center Services (NIC)
 - Grant Available for Training/Technical Assistance Providers (BJA)
 - Grant Will Help Identify Missing Persons (NIJ)
 - Innovative Ideas Sought in Forensic DNA Methodologies (NIJ)
 - New OVC Grants Available (OVC)
 - NIC Offers Cooperative Agreement (NIC)
 - Paul Coverdell Grant Available (NIJ)

Publications
 - Guide Offers Assistance to First Responders (NIJ)
 - Report to Congress Provides Performance Data (OJJDP)

Online Resources
 - Resources Identify and Address Elder Abuse (NIJ)

Conferences and Trainings
 - Advancing Communications About Gangs (NIC)
 - Conference Focuses on National Chemical Control (BJA, COPS, and ONDCP)
 - Register for OJJDP's Youth Gang Symposium (OJJDP)
 - Training for Victim Service Providers Available (OVC)
 - White House Hosts Faith-Based/Community Initiative Conferences (OJJDP)

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*** Announcements ***

May Is National Drug Court Month

In recognition of National Drug Court Month (May 2008), NCJRS invites you to view
its resource, In the Spotlight: Drug Courts. This resource contains links to drug
court-related publications, data sources, programs, legislation, funding programs,
and training and technical assistance opportunities. (NCJRS)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/spotlight/drug_courts/Summary.html

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National Correctional Officers Week Announced

In anticipation of National Correctional Officers Week (May 4-10, 2008), NCJRS has
created a special feature dedicated to this observance. This special feature includes
links to resources related to correctional officer safety, equipment and technology,
and correctional staff and facility statistics. (NCJRS)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/correctional_officers_week/

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Responding to Victims of Crime

To commemorate National Police Week, OVC is offering a Web Forum Guest Host Session
for first responders and allied professionals on best practices for meeting the needs
of crime victims. Please join Tim Woods, Director of the Research, Development, and
Grants Division at the National Sheriffs' Association and author of First Response
to Victims of Crime, on May 14, 2008, at 2 p.m. ET for the discussion. (OVC)
For more information, visit:
http://www.1nleomf.com/TheFund/NPW08.htm
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ovcproviderforum/index.asp
http://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/other.htm#firstresponse

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Volunteers in Police Service Program Exceeds Milestone

BJA is pleased to announce that, in partnership with the International Association
of Chiefs of Police, its Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program has surpassed
a major milestone. As of April 23, 2008, the VIPS program has assisted in the establishment
of more than 1,700 local police volunteer programs supported by 139,138 volunteers.
(BJA)
For more information, visit:
http://www.policevolunteers.org/

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*** Funding Opportunities ***

Applications Sought for New Jail Planning DVD

Application deadline: May 30, 2008

Through a solicitation for a cooperative agreement, NIC&rsquo;s Jails Division is
seeking applications for the development and production of a broadcast quality, educational
DVD covering the five phases of new jail planning. (NIC)
For more information, visit:
http://community.nicic.org/blogs/nic/archive/2008/04/28/solicitation-for-a-cooperative-agreement-video-production-new-jail-planning.aspx

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Expanding Learning Center Services

Application deadline: May 20, 2008

Through a cooperative agreement for administrative support, NIC will expand the services
offered through its learning management system (Learn.com). This system is used to
manage all of NIC's Web-based trainings. (NIC)
For more information, visit:
http://community.nicic.org/blogs/nic/archive/2008/04/28/solicitation-for-a-cooperative-agreement-administrative-support-for-the-nic-learning-center.aspx
http://www.learn.com/

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Grant Available for Training/Technical Assistance Providers

Application deadline: May 15, 2008

BJA is seeking applicants for its Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Training
and Technical Assistance Program to provide comprehensive technical assistance services
and develop uniform protocols for the assessment and delivery of technical assistance,
tracking, and evaluation. (BJA)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/prescripdrugs.html

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Grant Will Help Identify Missing Persons

Application deadline: May 23, 2008

Using DNA Technology to Identify the Missing is designed (1) to help eligible entities
perform DNA analysis on unidentified human remains and/or reference samples to support
the efforts of states and units of local government to identify missing persons and
(2) to enter resulting DNA profiles into the CODIS+mito index of the FBI&rsquo;s
National DNA Index System. (NIJ)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000832.pdf

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Innovative Ideas Sought in Forensic DNA Methodologies

Application deadline: May 23, 2008

The objective of the Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement solicitation is to publish
successful and carefully evaluated novel efficiency improvement methodologies as
models to be considered by other forensic science laboratories. This solicitation
will not fund proposals in areas already covered by the FY 2008 Forensic DNA Backlog
Reduction Program. (NIJ)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000842.pdf

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New OVC Grants Available

Application deadline: May 29, 2008

The FY 2008 National Field-Generated Training, Technical Assistance, and Demonstration
Projects grant offers awards of $50,000 to $500,000 to support the development of
national-scope training, technical assistance, and demonstration project initiatives.
All initiatives must focus on improving the capacity of victim service providers
and allied practitioners to advance rights and services to crime victims. (OVC)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ovc.gov/fund/pdftxt/FY08_fieldtraining.pdf

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NIC Offers Cooperative Agreement

Application deadline: June 22, 2008

The National Institute of Corrections is soliciting proposals from qualified organizations
or individuals to update and expand a civil liabilities guidebook for probation and
parole audiences. The successful applicant will be required to revise the document,
develop an executive supplement, and deliver additional related materials within
an 18-month cooperative agreement period. (NIC)
For more information, visit:
http://community.nicic.org/blogs/nic/archive/2008/04/25/solicitation-issued-for-civil-liabilities-update.aspx

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Paul Coverdell Grant Available

Application deadline: May 30, 2008

The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program awards grants to states
and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic
science and medical examiner services. Funds may be used to eliminate backlogs in
the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ additional forensic laboratory
personnel. (NIJ)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000839.pdf

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*** Publications ***

Guide Offers Assistance to First Responders

"Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for First Responders, Second Edition"
(NCJ 219941, 74 pp.) is designed to assist state and local law enforcement and other
first responders, who may be responsible for preserving an electronic crime scene
and for recognizing, collecting, and safeguarding digital evidence. (NIJ) 
For more information, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/219941.pdf
For Ordering, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/ShoppingCart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ+219941&amp;amp;repro=0

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Report to Congress Provides Performance Data

"Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program: 2005 Report to Congress" (NCJ 217458,
44 pp.) presents findings from the second round of Juvenile Accountability Block
Grants (JABG) performance measurement data (April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005) and,
where possible, compares them with findings from the first round of data collection
(October 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004). (OJJDP) 
For more information, visit:
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=239099
For Ordering, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/ShoppingCart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ+217458&amp;amp;repro=0

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*** Online Resources ***

Resources Identify and Address Elder Abuse

The NIJ Elder Abuse topical resource page offers information to the criminal justice
field on identifying abuse and addressing mistreatment, including financial and sexual
exploitation. This Web page includes links to publications, additional resources,
and related topics. (NIJ)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/elder-abuse/welcome.htm

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*** Conferences and Trainings ***

Advancing Communications About Gangs

On June 25, 2008, NIC will host a live 3-hour satellite/Internet broadcast titled
&ldquo;Sharing Gang Intelligence/Bridging the Gap: Corrections - Police - Educators.&rdquo;
A diverse panel of experts will discuss various processes, methods, technologies,
partnerships, and information sharing programs related to gangs and their potential
networks of intelligence. (NIC)
For more information, visit:
http://nicic.org/Training/SIB062508

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Conference Focuses on National Chemical Control

The National Chemical Control Conference: A Focus on Tracking Precursor Chemicals
will be held June 10-11, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois. Sponsoring agencies of the 1&frac12;-day
conference will share with state and local officials, tribal representatives, and
federal agencies the most up-to-date information on state electronic tracking systems
for monitoring precursor chemicals, particularly sales of pseudoephedrine products.
(BJA, COPS, and ONDCP)
For more information, visit:
http://www.namsdl.org/regis.htm

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Register for OJJDP's Youth Gang Symposium

On June 23-26, 2008, OJJDP will hold its Youth Gang Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Addressing the theme "Partnering to Prevent Youth Gang Violence: From Faith- and
Community-Based Organizations to Law Enforcement," the symposium will offer innovative
gang-related strategies and the latest information on youth gang activities. (OJJDP)

For more information, visit:
http://www.gangsymposium.org/

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Training for Victim Service Providers Available

Register now for OVC's upcoming training workshops, including Compassion Fatigue/Vicarious
Trauma, August 19-20, 2008, in Spokane, Washington, and Providing Culturally Competent
Services to Victims of Crime, September 16-18, 2008, in Lincoln, Nebraska. To view
course descriptions and learning objectives or to register, visit the OVC TTAC Web
site. (OVC)
For more information, visit:
http://www.sei2003.com/ovcttac2008/CompassionAugust.htm
http://www.sei2003.com/ovcttac2008/ProvidingCulturally.htm
https://www.ovcttac.gov/trainingCenter/training.cfm

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White House Hosts Faith-Based/Community Initiative Conferences

The White House will host a series of conferences providing information on the federal
grants process, funding opportunities, and the responsibilities that come with federal
funding on May 29-30, 2008, in New Orleans, Louisiana; June 26-27, 2008, in Washington,
DC; August 18, 2008, in Sacramento, California; and August 29, 2008, in Dallas, Texas.
(OJJDP)
For more information, visit:
http://www.dtiassociates.com/fbci/logisticsLA.cfm?location=LA
http://www.dtiassociates.com/fbci/logisticsDC2.cfm?location=DC2
http://www.dtiassociates.com/fbci/logisticsCA2.cfm?location=CA2
http://www.dtiassociates.com/fbci/logisticsTX2.cfm?location=TX2


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