All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, emergency management, fire prevention and control, and civil disturbances.
Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee
Policy Briefs
NACo & NSA One-Pager: Reinstate Federal Health Care Benefits for Non-Convicted Justice-Involved Individuals |
NACo & NSA One-Pager: Reinstate Federal Health Care Benefits for Non-Convicted Justice-Involved Individuals  NACo Medicaid and Jails One-Pager_wNSA.pdf |
Support Local Efforts to Reduce Mental Illness in Jails |
ACTION NEEDED:Urge your members of Congress to support local efforts to reduce the number of individuals with mental health, substance abuse or co-occurring disorders in county jails by providing full funding for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) (formerly MIOTCRA) in the annual appropriations process. JMHCP was recently reauthorized for FYs 2017-2021 through the 21st Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255) at $50 million per year, and should be funded at this level annually to maximize the impact of local efforts to address the prevalence of mental illness in the criminal justice system. BACKGROUND:Enacted by Congress in 2004, the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) is a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The grants, which are available to state, tribal and local governments, can be used to develop and implement programs designed to improve outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions who are involved in the criminal justice system. JMHCP was formerly referred to as the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA). Mental Illness in Jails Policy Brief.pdf |
Reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program |
ACTION NEEDED:Urge your Members of Congress to support legislation that will reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and ensure the program is accessible and affordable for all county residents. BACKGROUND:The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by Congress under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-448) to provide insurance coverage to property owners for damages and losses due to catastrophic flooding. Today, the NFIP is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program aims to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures by providing affordable insurance to property owners, and by encouraging communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. The NFIP was last reauthorized in 2012 when President Obama signed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-141). The NFIP’s five-year reauthorization ended on September 30, 2017, and since then, the program has been funded by a series of short-term funding measures. The program is currently operating under an extension that will expire May 31, 2019. 2019 NFIP Fact Sheet FINAL.pdf |
Increase Funding for the Second Chance Act (SCA) |
ACTION NEEDED:Urge your Members of Congress, especially those serving on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, to support increased funding for Second Chance Act programs in the annual appropriations process. The bipartisan Second Chance Act provides resources to states, local governments and nonprofit organizations to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons, jails and juvenile facilities. BACKGROUND:Enacted in 2008, the Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) authorizes federal grants that assist states, counties and nonprofit organizations in developing and implementing programs to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into the community after their release from correctional facilities. Administered through the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice, Second Chance Act programs have helped numerous counties provide reentry services – like employment assistance, substance abuse and mental health treatment, housing, family-center programming and mentoring – to adults and juveniles returning to the community from prisons or jails. Second Chance Act Policy Brief.pdf |
Sustain Justice Assistance for Local Communities |
ACTION NEEDED:Urge your members of Congress, especially those who serve on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, to provide sustained funding for U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) programs that support county courts, local law enforcement and other justice-related local functions in the annual appropriations process. BACKGROUND:The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) funds programs that provide critical support to county courts and corrections, juvenile justice and law enforcement agencies. Among these programs are the Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne JAG), which helps counties across the nation utilize emerging and evidence-based approaches to the public safety challenges facing their jurisdictions, and the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which reimburses counties for costs associated with the incarceration of undocumented immigrants. Counties work together with all levels of government to improve public safety and these federal programs are essential to nationwide efforts to safely lower jail populations, fight recidivism and combat drug trafficking while providing treatment and alternatives to incarceration. These programs have also been the catalyst for many initiatives that have brought about cost savings to taxpayers. In FY 2016, a total of 306 counties received $28 million in Byrne JAG funds; during that same period, a total of 726 counties received $66 million in SCAAP appropriations. SCAAP Policy Brief.pdf |
Latest Resources
-
Press Release |
Feb. 12, 2020
NACo and the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) today commended President Trump’s 2021 proposed budget which includes provisions that would prevent the termination of Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits for inmates and Medicaid coverage for pre-trial inmates for six months
-
Reports & Toolkits |
Jan. 13, 2020
NACo works to preserve local decision making, protect counties from unfunded mandates and preemption and strengthen the federal-state-local partnership.
-
Reports & Toolkits |
Dec. 22, 2019
Nearly three months after the start of fiscal year (FY) 2020, congressional leaders were able to reach an agreement on a two-part spending deal that will fund the federal government through September 30, 2020. President Trump signed the two packages (H.R. 1865; H.R.
Join a steering committee and make a difference. Learn more about getting involved in NACo's Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee:
Contact
-
Associate Legislative Director – Justice and Public Safety(202) 942-4217
More From
-
NACo-NSA Joint Task Force: Pre-trial Detainee Health Care and Recidivism
Convened in March 2019, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) joint task force is exploring and raising awareness about the impacts of the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP)
Learn More