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Reducing Gun Violence <br />Gun violence has touched every state, county, city, town, and tribal government in America. In <br />the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy and recent mass shooting at the <br />Washington Navy Yard, BJA continues to encourage states and localities to invest valuable JAG <br />funds in programs to: combat gun violence, enforce existing firearms laws, improve the process <br />used to ensure that those prohibited from purchasing or owning guns are prevented from doing <br />so, enhance reporting to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) <br />and provide active shooter response training to law enforcement officers and first responders. <br />Recidivism Reduction, Pretrial Reform and Justice System Realignment <br />In this time of fiscal austerity and smaller state and local budgets, reducing unnecessary <br />incarceration in a manner that promotes public safety is a paramount goal. Effective community <br />supervision coupled with evidence -based program interventions can result in significant <br />reductions in recidivism. A priority funding area is the implementation of effective pretrial <br />services programs. The use of validated risk assessment tools to inform pre-trial release <br />decisions is critical. For a variety of resources, or to request BJA supported technical assistance <br />from the Pre-trial Justice Institute, see www.pretrial.orq. Another priority for JAG funding is to <br />support innovative programs and approaches in probation and parole supervision that improve <br />services to offenders and increase collaborative efforts among community supervision agencies <br />with law enforcement and the courts. Another promising approach to justice systems reform is <br />the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), a public -private partnership between BJA and the PEW <br />Public Safety Performance Project. Currently, 19 states and 17 local governments are working <br />to control spiraling incarceration costs through JRI and reinvestment savings in evidence -based <br />criminal justice programs and strategies. Strategic investment of JAG funds to implement JRI <br />legislation and policy changes in those states and localities can augment federal funds and <br />achieve greater cost savings and reinvestments in programs to promote public safety. (See the <br />Urban Institute's Justice Reinvestment Initiative State Assessment Report.) <br />Indigent Defense <br />Another key priority area is support for indigent defense. BJA continues to encourage states and <br />units of local government to use JAG funds to support the vital needs of the indigent defense <br />community. Attorney General Holder has consistently stressed that the crisis in indigent defense <br />reform is a serious concern which must be addressed if true justice is to be achieved in our <br />nation. In 2002, the American Bar Association (ABA) published Ten Principles of a Public <br />Defense Delivery System which represent fundamental building blocks for implementing quality <br />legal representation for indigent defendants. (See ABA's Ten Principles of a Public Defense <br />Delivery System.) <br />Improving Mental Health Services <br />Disproportionate numbers of people with mental illness are involved in the criminal justice <br />system often as a result of untreated or undertreated mental illness. This is an issue that <br />impacts numerous facets of the criminal justice system. After the Newtown tragedy, numerous <br />states began pushing for and adopting policies supporting early identification and intervention. <br />States aimed to enhance mental health screening services to identify emerging mental illness in <br />children and adolescents and to ensure adequate access to care. BJA encourages states and <br />units of local government to utilize JAG funding in support of programs and policy changes <br />13 <br />106 <br />