NLC strives to restore, protect funding for proven public safety programs.

While recent trends show the first two-year increase in violent crime in 15 years, as reported in an annual Federal Bureau of Investigation Unified Crime Report, NLC will continue its momentum in supporting law enforcement and federal crime intervention and prevention programs.

With a goal to help local communities address such violent crime trends, NLC has made public safety one of its top legislative priorities for the 2nd Session of the 110th Congress. Campbell, Calif, Mayor Dan Furtado, chair of NLC's Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Advocacy Committee backs NLC's efforts.

"Ensuring the safety and security of our residents is among the highest priorities for both local officials and the federal government," said Furtado. "While the impact of crime is felt most severely at the local level, it takes national coordination and support to successfully address the underlying causes. That's why a strong federal-local public safety partnership is so crucial--no one entity can go it alone and expect results."

Despite disturbing public safety statistics, federal funds for innovative local crime prevention programs continue to be targeted for budget cuts. In fact, this year's budget calls for cutting $1 billion in crime prevention and enforcement programs. NLC seeks to restore and protect funding for proven public safety pro grams, such as the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program, the Second Chance Act and other programs that are essential resources for preventing crime in local communities.

Message to Congress

As part of its lobbying efforts, NLC is taking the following messages to Congress:

* Crime is not just a state and local matter. Federal resources promote intergovernmental coordination that leads to improved criminal justice practices and reduced crime and recidivism.

* Failure to fund federal crime prevention and law enforcement programs will harm the capabilities of law enforcement agencies nationwide and may ultimately lead to more crime and violence in hometowns and less security for the homeland.

* The COPS program provides federal resources to support local government crime fighting efforts by funding programs to implement community policing initiatives and deploy modern cutting-edge crime-fighting technologies and strategies.

* The COPS program has been effective in reducing crime and generating benefits to society. The COPS Program has contributed to declines in crime rates and, for each $1.4 billion invested in the program, society generates between $6 billion and $12 billion in benefits.

* The Byrne JAG program provides federal resources to support local and state government crime-fighting efforts by funding a broad range of law-enforcement programs, from drug and gang task forces to programs that assist victims of crime, including children.

* The Byrne JAG program is a critical, effective and proven tool in state and local law enforcement efforts to rid their communities of illegal drugs. A recent study found that one state's task forces funded in part by JAG in 2004 were responsible for the seizure of thousands of kilograms of illegal drugs and for serving more than 134,000 juveniles through crime prevention projects.

Action at the Federal Level

According to the budget proposal for next year, the President's plan would cut money for local law enforcement by 61 percent or $1 billion, NLC reports.

Last session, the House approved legislation that would boost the authorized funding levels for the COPS program, which provides grants, training and technical assistance to local law enforcement agencies. H.R. 1700, which passed the House 381-34, increases the authorization for the COPS program to $1.15 billion in each of the next six fiscal years, beginning in 2008. However, Congress only appropriated $587 million to the COPS program this fiscal year. While this was an increase of approximately 8 percent more than the fiscal year 2007 funding levels, the majority of the increase came from dedicated earmarks.

The Byrne JAG program, which allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system, was cut by two-thirds this past year.

NLC's National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Constituency Group President James Mitchell Jr., council member, Charlotte, N.C., attended the signing of the Second Chance Act, which aims to help the 650,000 inmates released from prison each year readjust to society. If funded, the law will help former inmates obtain housing, employment, job training and mental health and substance abuse treatment.

NLC will continue to oppose the legislation on mandatory collective bargaining, which would require state and local governments to enter collective bargaining agreements with public safety employee unions and essentially "federalize" the traditional employment relationship between local governments and their respective public safety employees. NLC believes the legislation interferes with states' laws, violates federalism principles and may be unconstitutional.

Details: For more information on NLC's federal lobbying priorities, go to www.nlc.org.