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

JUSTICE INFORMATION
September 15, 2006 Volume 12, Number 18. Access this issue online at: 
http://www.ncjrs.gov/justinfo/Sep1506.html

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


*************************************************************************

CONTENTS

Announcements
 - $72 Million Awarded to Drug-Free Community Coalitions (ONDCP)
 - Best Practices for Assisting International Victims (OVC)
 - Call for Crime Mapping Conference Papers (NIJ)
 - Child Victim Identification Lab Launched (OJJDP)
 - Drug Use and Health Survey Reviewed (ONDCP)
 - Hiring Top Cops: Strategies for Success Webcast (COPS)
 - Mexican Drug Gangs Polluting U.S. Parks  (ONDCP)
 - Web Page Promotes Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OJJDP)

Publications
 - Addressing the Problem of Construction Site Burglary (COPS)
 - Annual Crime Numbers Released (BJS)
 - Federal Criminal Case Processing Described (BJS)
 - Health Problems in Prisons and Jails Detailed (BJS)
 - Helping Victims of Mass Violence and Terrorism (OVC)
 - POPS Guide Discusses Witness Intimidation (COPS)
 - Report Examines Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs (COPS)
 - State Trial and Appellate Courts Detailed (BJS)
 - Using DNA in Mass Fatality Incidents (NIJ)

Online Resources
 - Manual Provides Guidance on Disproportionate Minority Contact (OJJDP)
 - New SAFE TA Web Site Launched (OVW)

Conferences and Trainings
 - G.R.E.A.T. Program Hosts Grant-Writing Workshops (BJA)
 - Registration Open: Regional Information Sharing Conferences  (BJA)

*************************************************************************

*** Announcements ***

$72 Million Awarded to Drug-Free Community Coalitions

ONDCP, in partnership with SAMHSA, recently awarded $10.5 million in Drug-Free Communities
grants to 107 communities nationwide. An additional $58.8 million will support the
continuation of 602 existing coalitions operating in 49 states, Washington, DC, and
Puerto Rico. Funding provided will help reduce and prevent drug, alcohol, and tobacco
use among teens. (ONDCP)
For more information, visit:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press06/083106.html

============================================================
Best Practices for Assisting International Victims

Join Guest Host Alan Lai on September 20, 2006, at 2 p.m. ET, for an OVC Web Forum
discussion on assisting international victims. Mr. Lai is the Crime Victim Service
Director for the Chinese Information and Service Center in Seattle, Washington, and
implements victim service projects for the underserved international population.
(OVC)
For more information, visit:
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ovcproviderforum/index.asp

============================================================
Call for Crime Mapping Conference Papers

Deadline: September 29, 2006

NIJ is accepting papers to be presented at the 9th Crime Mapping Research Conference
to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on March 28-31, 2007. The conference will
focus on the study of society and its relationship to crime and the implementation
of criminal justice. (NIJ)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/maps/conferences.html

============================================================
Child Victim Identification Lab Launched

OJJDP's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program has partnered with
the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children's Child Victim Identification
Program to launch the first U.S.-based Victim Identification Lab, as reported in
a recent press release. (OJJDP)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/programs/ProgSummary.asp?pi=3
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?PageId=2644

============================================================
Drug Use and Health Survey Reviewed

SAMHSA reports findings of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which finds
that illicit drug use among youth ages 12-17 has declined from 11.6 percent in 2002
to 9.9 percent in 2005. However, drug use by adults ages 50-59 increased from 2.7
percent to 4.4 percent during the same period. (ONDCP)
For more information, visit:
http://pushingback.com/blogs/pushing_back/archive/2006/09/07/703.aspx

============================================================
Hiring Top Cops: Strategies for Success Webcast

On October 24, 2006, at 2 p.m. ET, a free, live, interactive Webcast and satellite
broadcast will feature a distinguished panel of experts who will analyze the current
situation and provide information on successful recruiting and hiring strategies.
(COPS)
For more information, visit:
http://www.dojconnect.com/index.cfm?page=1.000

============================================================
Mexican Drug Gangs Polluting U.S. Parks 

John Walters and U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott participated in a marijuana eradication
operation in California's Sequoia National Forest. Meeting with federal, state, and
local law enforcement professionals, they discussed the trend of marijuana production
on U.S. public lands by Mexican drug cartels. (ONDCP)
For more information, visit:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press06/083006.html

============================================================
Web Page Promotes Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

OJJDP&rsquo;s recently launched Faith-Based &amp; Community Initiatives portal page
provides entry points to information on OJJDP's outreach efforts, OJJDP-funded programs,
and publications that provide information on the youth-serving activities of faith-
and community-based organizations. (OJJDP)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/fbci/index.html
http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/fbci/events.html
http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/fbci/programs.html
http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/fbci/publications.html

*************************************************************************

*** Publications ***

Addressing the Problem of Construction Site Burglary

"Burglary at Single-Family House Construction Sites" (NCJ 215557) (74 pp.) describes
the problem and reviews the factors that increase the risks of burglary at single-family
house construction sites. It then identifies a series of questions that may assist
in the analysis of the problem and reviews responses based on evaluative research
and police practice. (COPS)
For more information, visit:
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/mime/open.pdf?Item=1761

============================================================
Annual Crime Numbers Released

"Criminal Victimization, 2005" (NCJ 214644) (12 pp.) presents estimates of national
levels and rates of personal and property victimization for 2005. Rates and levels
are provided for victim characteristics, type of crime, victim-offender relationship,
use of weapons, and reporting to police. Annual average victimization rates for 2004-05
are compared with 2002-03. A section is devoted to trends in victimization from 1993
to 2005. (BJS) 
For more information, visit:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cv05.htm
For Ordering, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/ShoppingCart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ+214644&amp;amp;repro=0

============================================================
Federal Criminal Case Processing Described

"Federal Criminal Justice Trends, 2003" (NCJ 205331) (62 pp.) summarizes agency activities
at each stage of the federal criminal case process. It includes 10-year trend statistics
on the number arrested; number and disposition of suspects investigated; number of
persons detained prior to trial; number of defendants in cases filed, convicted,
and sentenced; and number of offenders under federal correctional supervision. (BJS)

For more information, visit:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/fcjt03.htm
For Ordering, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/ShoppingCart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ+205331&amp;amp;repro=0

============================================================
Health Problems in Prisons and Jails Detailed

"Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail Inmates" (NCJ 213600) (12 pp.) presents estimates of the prevalence of mental health problems among prison and jail inmates using self-reported data on recent history and symptoms of mental disorders. (BJS)


For more information, visit:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/mhppji.htm
For Ordering, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/ShoppingCart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ+213600&amp;amp;repro=0

============================================================
Helping Victims of Mass Violence and Terrorism

"Providing Services to Victims Viewing a Trial at Multiple Locations" (NCJ 212293)
presents a protocol that can be used to provide standardized quality services to
victims of mass violence and terrorism during the trial, sentencing, and other court
proceedings involving the person(s) charged with committing the crime. It emphasizes
the need for coordinating community services through a coalition of providers. (OVC)

For more information, visit:
http://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/trials_cctv_for_victims/welcome.html

============================================================
POPS Guide Discusses Witness Intimidation

"Witness Intimidation" (NCJ 215558) (72 pp.) describes the problem of witness intimidation,
reviews the factors that increase its risks, identifies questions that can help analyze
local witness intimidation problems, and reviews responses to the problem as identified
through research and police practice. (COPS)
For more information, visit:
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/mime/open.pdf?Item=1762

============================================================
Report Examines Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs

"Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs, 2nd Edition" (NCJ 215556) (78 pp.) addresses the
particular harms that clandestine meth labs create by providing a general overview
of the problem and responses to it, describing the problem and reviewing factors
that increase its risks, and identifying a series of questions that will help agencies
analyze their local problems. (COPS)
For more information, visit:
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/mime/open.pdf?Item=274

============================================================
State Trial and Appellate Courts Detailed

"State Court Organization, 2004" (NCJ 212351) (329 pp.) presents detailed comparative
data by state trial and appellate courts in the United States. It covers: the number
of courts and judges; process for judicial selection; governance of court systems,
jury qualifications and verdict rules; and processing and sentencing procedures for
criminal cases. (BJS) 
For more information, visit:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/sco04.htm
For Ordering, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/ShoppingCart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ+212351&amp;amp;repro=0

============================================================
Using DNA in Mass Fatality Incidents

"Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents" (NCJ 214781)
(142 pp.) was prepared by top forensic scientists who advised on the identification
of World Trade Center victims using DNA analysis. The report offers guidance to laboratory
directors on how to respond to future mass fatality events. (NIJ)
For more information, visit:
http://www.massfatality.dna.gov/

*************************************************************************

*** Online Resources ***

Manual Provides Guidance on Disproportionate Minority Contact

OJJDP's "Disproportionate Minority Contact Technical Assistance Manual" (NCJ 215499)
provides detailed guidance on DMC identification and monitoring, assessment, intervention,
and evaluation for juvenile justice specialists, members of state planning agencies
and state advisory groups, researchers, consultants, policymakers, and practitioners.
(OJJDP)
For more information, visit:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/dmc_ta_manual/index.html

============================================================
New SAFE TA Web Site Launched

The Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Technical Assistance (SAFE TA) Web site, an OVW-funded
project of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, provides online technical
assistance with implementing the SAFE Protocol. The SAFE TA Web site is for medical
professionals, law enforcement, victim advocates, prosecutors, and others interested
in sexual assault forensic exams. (OVW)
For more information, visit:
http://www.safeta.org/
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ovw/206554.pdf

*************************************************************************

*** Conferences and Trainings ***

G.R.E.A.T. Program Hosts Grant-Writing Workshops

BJA, in conjunction with its G.R.E.A.T. regional partners, will offer one-day grant-writing
workshops in each of the five regions for any agencies interested in applying for
a G.R.E.A.T. grant for 2007. The application period for FY 2007 G.R.E.A.T. grants
is expected to open in October. (BJA)
For more information, visit:
http://www.great-online.org/newsforofficers.htm#GGWWOER

============================================================
Registration Open: Regional Information Sharing Conferences 

BJA, in cooperation with SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and
Statistics, will be hosting four BJA Regional Information Sharing Conferences. State
and local agency leaders, policymakers, project managers, and technical staff will
have the opportunity to network and to learn about various justice information-sharing
initiatives. (BJA)
For more information, visit:
http://www.search.org/conferences/2006reginfosharing/


*************************************************************************
Ordering Instructions
 - Resources available for online ordering are noted with the reference
"Order Online." Order these items online by searching for the NCJ number on
the NCJRS Web site at http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/AlphaList.aspx

NCJRS Online Resources
- View the NCJRS Web site at http://www.ncjrs.gov
- Have a question? Search our database of Questions and Answers at
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/QA/SearchQA.aspx
- Can't find an answer? E-mail us at
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/QA/SubmitQuestion.aspx
- Have a comment or suggestion? Tell us at
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Feedback.aspx

Subscription Details
 - To subscribe to this newsletter go to http://www.ncjrs.gov/subreg.html
 - To unsubscribe from this newsletter go to
https://puborder.ncjrs.gov/Listservs/unsubscribe_justinfo.asp

If you have any questions about JUSTINFO, need to change your e-mail
address, or experience technical difficulties in receiving or unsubscribing
to the newsletter, please go to
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/QA/SubmitQuestion.aspx or call 800-851-3420 or 301
519-5500.