TITLE 42 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - ESTABLISHMENT OF BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE

42 USC 3741 - Establishment of Bureau of Justice Assistance

(a) There is established within the Department of Justice, under the general authority of the Attorney General, a Bureau of Justice Assistance (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the Bureau).

(b) The Bureau shall be headed by a Director (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the Director) who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director shall report to the Attorney General through the Assistant Attorney General. The Director shall have final authority for all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts awarded by the Bureau. The Director shall not engage in any employment other than that of serving as the Director, nor shall the Director hold any office in, or act in any capacity for, any organization, agency, or institution with which the Bureau makes any contract or other arrangement under this chapter.

42 USC 3742 - Duties and functions of Director

The Director shall have the following duties:

(1) Providing funds to eligible States, units of local government, and nonprofit">nonprofit organizations pursuant to subchapters V and XIIB of this chapter.

(2) Establishing programs in accordance with part B of subchapter V of this chapter and, following public announcement of such programs, awarding and allocating funds and technical assistance in accordance with the criteria of part B of subchapter V of this chapter, and on terms and conditions determined by the Director to be consistent with part B of subchapter V of this chapter.

(3) Cooperating with and providing technical assistance to States, units of local government, and other public and private organizations or international agencies involved in criminal justice activities.

(4) Providing for the development of technical assistance and training programs for State and local criminal justice agencies and fostering local participation in such activities.

(5) Encouraging the targeting of State and local resources on efforts to reduce the incidence of drug abuse and crime and on programs relating to the apprehension and prosecution of drug offenders.

(6) Establishing and carrying on a specific and continuing program of cooperation with the States and units of local government designed to encourage and promote consultation and coordination concerning decisions made by the Bureau affecting State and local drug control and criminal justice priorities.

(7) Preparing recommendations on the State and local drug enforcement component of the National Drug Control Strategy which shall be submitted to the Associate Director of the Office on National Drug Control Policy. In making such recommendations, the Director shall review the statewide strategies submitted by such States under subchapter V of this chapter, and shall obtain input from State and local drug enforcement officials. The recommendations made under this paragraph shall be provided at such time and in such form as the Director of National Drug Control Policy shall require.

(8) Exercising such other powers and functions as may be vested in the Director pursuant to this chapter or by delegation of the Attorney General or Assistant Attorney General.

42 USC 3743 - Grants for young witness assistance

(a) In general
The Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Office of Justice Programs may make grants to State and local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in support of juvenile and young adult witness assistance programs.

(b) Use of funds
Grants made available under this section may be used

(1) to assess the needs of juvenile and young adult witnesses;

(2) to develop appropriate program goals and objectives; and

(3) to develop and administer a variety of witness assistance services, which includes

(A) counseling services to young witnesses dealing with trauma associated in witnessing a violent crime;

(B) pre- and post-trial assistance for the youth and their family;

(D) protective services for young witnesses and their families when a serious threat of harm from the perpetrators or their associates is made; and

(E) community outreach and school-based initiatives that stimulate and maintain public awareness and support.

(1) The term juvenile means an individual who is age 17 or younger.

(2) The term young adult means an individual who is age 21 or younger but not a juvenile.

(3) The term State includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

(d) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009.