Department of Justice Reauthorization: Provisions to Improve Program Management, Compliance, and Evaluation of Justice Assistance Grants (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Jan. 10, 2006 |
| Report Number |
RL33111 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Nathan James, Domestic Social Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Since 1999, Congress has expressed an interest in the organizational structure of the Department
of Justice's (DOJ's) Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The 109th Congress passed legislation that
restructures OJP and creates a new Office of Audit, Assessment and Management to more closely
monitor grantee compliance with grant programs, among other things. The Violence Against
Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 was signed into law on January 5,
2006 ( P.L. 109-162 ).
OJP is the main agency within DOJ that awards grants to states, local, and tribal governments,
as well as nonprofit organizations to help develop the country's capacity to prevent and control
crime, improve criminal justice systems, increase knowledge about crime, and assist victims of
crime. Since the 1990s, both the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and DOJ's Office of
Inspector General (OIG) have reported on issues facing OJP with respect to managing and
conducting sufficient evaluations of its grant programs. At issue is whether the current
organizational structure of OJP is capable of properly managing its grant programs and monitoring
grantee compliance with program requirements.
The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005
authorizes appropriations for DOJ for FY2006 through FY2009. The act also codifies the Edward
Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program and the Community Capacity
Development Office (CCDO). Furthermore, the act reauthorizes and restructures grant programs
under the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) office as well as grant programs under the
Violence Against Women Office (VAWO).
One of the more controversial provisions in the act is the creation of the Office of Audit,
Assessment and Management within OJP, which will audit, exercise corrective actions with response
to, and manage information with respect to any OJP or COPS grant program. DOJ currently has two
components that are tasked with monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of its grant programs:
grant managers and OIG. OJP grant managers, who are located in each of its bureaus and program
offices, are charged with monitoring the grants made by their office; the OIG is charged with
promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness within the department.
The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 seeks
to address reported shortcomings at OJP; however, several questions are raised. For example, while
the act does not restructure audit and performance measure activities under OJP's National Institute
of Justice (NIJ) or the OIG, how will the newly created audit and performance office compliment
the oversight functions of NIJ and OIG? Moreover, what will the role of OJP's
grant managers be
under the newly created office?
