IV
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 227
Expressing the sense of Congress that the technology program at the National
Institute of Justice of the Department of Justice, should be designated
as the national focal point for law enforcement technology programs.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 27, 1996
Mr. SCHIFF (for himself, Mrs. SCHROEDER, Mr. BOEHLERT, Ms. HARMAN,
Mr. HEINEMAN, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. KENNELLY, and Mr. WAMP) sub-
mitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the technology pro-
gram at the National Institute of Justice of the Depart-
ment of Justice, should be designated as the national
focal point for law enforcement technology programs.
Whereas law enforcement is primarily a function carried out
by over 17,000 State and local jurisdictions, the Federal
Government has a legitimate role in supporting State and
local law enforcement;
Whereas most State and local law enforcement agencies do
not have the resources to invest in many of the functions
that are necessary to promote the development of new
technologies for law enforcement such as research and
development, testing and evaluation, or the development
•HCON 227 IH
and enforcement of standards for law enforcement equip-
ment and technology;
Whereas the jobs of dedicated officers in law enforcement
have become more dangerous and complex as criminals
have increasing knowledge of and access to advanced
technologies;
Whereas many State and local law enforcement agencies lack
state-of-the-art technical tools to ensure officer safety,
protect the public, and do their jobs more effectively and
efficiently;
Whereas a critical problem in the criminal justice research
community is the inadequate evaluation of law enforce-
ment technologies and programs;
Whereas it is difficult for individual State and local law en-
forcement agencies to find, evaluate, and procure new
technologies that might meet their needs;
Whereas the National Institute of Justice has already been
asked by Congress to support law enforcement activities
at Federal, State, and local levels;
Whereas the National Institute of Justice technology program
is successfully developing and catalyzing the development
of new technologies for law enforcement in many areas,
including officer safety, equipment, investigative tools,
and forensics;
Whereas the National Institute of Justice has created the
National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology
Centers, which work closely with State and local law en-
forcement; and
Whereas the National Institute of Justice has created part-
nerships with the Department of Defense, the Depart-
ment of Energy, and the National Aeronautics and Space
•HCON 227 IH
Administration to leverage already existing technologies
for adaptation to law enforcement: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the National Institute of Justice technology
program should ensure that Federal agencies are not
duplicating one another’s work;
(2) the National Institute of Justice technology
program should develop a nationwide database to
provide information on law enforcement equipment
and technologies to State and local law enforcement
agencies;
(3) the National Institute of Justice technology
program should promote testing and evaluation of
law enforcement equipment and technologies and
make available a list of product failures and short-
comings;
(4) the National Institute of Justice technology
program should promote establishment of standards
for law enforcement equipment and technologies;
(5) the National Institute of Justice technology
program should maintain the National Law Enforce-
ment and Corrections Technology Center system as
the main clearinghouse for the research, develop-
ment, testing, evaluation, and dissemination of law
enforcement technologies and standards;