2016 US Code
Title 42 - The Public Health and Welfare
Chapter 46 - Justice System Improvement
Subchapter II - National Institute of Justice
Sec. 3721 - Statement of purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter to establish a National Institute of Justice, which shall provide for and encourage research and demonstration efforts for the purpose of—

The Institute shall have authority to engage in and encourage research and development to improve and strengthen the criminal justice system and related aspects of the civil justice system and to disseminate the results of such efforts to Federal, State, and local governments, to evaluate the effectiveness of programs funded under this chapter, to develop and demonstrate new or improved approaches and techniques, to improve and strengthen the administration of justice, and to identify programs or projects carried out under this chapter which have demonstrated success in improving the quality of justice systems and which offer the likelihood of success if continued or repeated. In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Institute shall give primary emphasis to the problems of State and local justice systems and shall insure that there is a balance between basic and applied research.

(Pub. L. 90–351, title I, §201, as added Pub. L. 96–157, §2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1172; amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §604(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2078.)

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this title", meaning title I of Pub. L. 90–351, as added by Pub. L. 96–157, §2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1167, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.

A prior section 3721, Pub. L. 90–351, title I, §201, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 198; Pub. L. 93–83, §2, Aug. 6, 1973, 87 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 94–503, title I, §104, Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2408, set out Congressional statement of purpose in providing for a program of planning grants, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–157.

1984—Pub. L. 98–473 redesignated par. (5) as (4), struck out former par. (4) relating to improvement of efforts to detect, investigate, prosecute, and otherwise combat and prevent white-collar crime and public corruption, and in closing provisions struck out "to develop alternatives to judicial resolution of disputes," after "local governments,", and inserted "and demonstrate" after "to develop".

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–473 effective Oct. 12, 1984, see section 609AA(a) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3711 of this title.

Pub. L. 110–424, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4819, provided that:

"The Attorney General is authorized to award a grant to a national nonprofit organization (such as the National District Attorneys Association) to conduct a national training program for State and local prosecutors for the purpose of improving the professional skills of State and local prosecutors and enhancing the ability of Federal, State, and local prosecutors to work together.

"The Attorney General may provide assistance to the grantee under section 1 to carry out the training program described in such section, including comprehensive continuing legal education in the areas of trial practice, substantive legal updates, support staff training, and any other assistance the Attorney General determines to be appropriate.

"There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out this Act $4,750,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012, to remain available until expended."

Pub. L. 104–132, title VIII, §809, Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1311, provided that:

"(a) The Secretary of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Attorney General, shall conduct a study and make recommendations concerning—

"(b) In conducting the study, the Secretary shall consult with other Federal, State and local officials, non-governmental organizations, including all national police organizations, national sporting organizations and national industry associations with expertise in this area and such other individuals as shall be deemed necessary. Such study shall be presented to Congress twelve months after the enactment of this Act [Apr. 24, 1996] and made available to the public, including any data tapes or data used to form such recommendations.

"(c) There are authorized to be appropriated for the study and recommendations such sums as may be necessary."

Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXIV, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4918, as amended by Pub. L. 103–322, title XXVI, §260002, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2089, provided that:

"The Congress finds that—

"There is hereby established the National Commission to Support Law Enforcement (hereafter in this title referred to as the 'Commission').

"(a) In General.—The Commission shall study and include in the report made under section 3407 recommendations for changes regarding law enforcement agencies and law enforcement issues on the Federal, State, and local levels, including the following:

"(b) Consultation.—The Commission shall conduct surveys and consult with focus groups of law enforcement officers, local officials, and community leaders across the Nation to obtain information and seek advice on important law enforcement issues.

"(a) [Repealed. Pub. L. 103–322, title XXVI, §260002, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2089.]

"(b) Compensation.—

"(a) Experts and Consultants.—The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.

"(b) Staff of Federal Agencies.—Upon request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency is authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this title.

"(c) Administrative Support.—The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, administrative support services as the Commission may request.

"(a) Hearings.—The Commission may, for purposes of this title, hold hearings, sit and act at the times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence, as the Commission considers appropriate.

"(b) Delegation of Authority.—Any member or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action the Commission is authorized to take by this section.

"(c) Information.—The Commission may secure directly from any Federal agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this title. Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the head of an agency shall furnish the information to the Commission to the extent permitted by law.

"(d) Gifts and Donations.—The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

"(e) Mails.—The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.

"Not later than the expiration of the 18-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this title [Nov. 29, 1990], the Commission shall submit to the Congress a report containing the findings of the Commission and specific proposals for legislation and administrative actions that the Commission has determined to be appropriate.

"The Commission shall cease to exist upon the expiration of the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the Commission submits its report under section 3407."

Pub. L. 101–515, title II, §211(B), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2122, as amended by Pub. L. 103–322, title XXVI, §260001, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2088; Pub. L. 104–316, title I, §122(m), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3838, provided that:

"(B)(a) This subsection may be cited as the 'National Commission to Support Law Enforcement Act'.

"(b) The Congress finds that—

"(c) There is established a national commission to be known as the 'National Commission to Support Law Enforcement' (referred to in this section as the 'Commission').

"(d) The Commission shall study and recommend changes regarding law enforcement agencies and law enforcement issues on the Federal, State, and local levels, including the following:

"(e) The Commission shall conduct surveys and consult with focus groups of law enforcement officers, local officials, and community leaders across the Nation to obtain information and seek advice on important law enforcement issues.

"(f) Number and Appointment.—

"(g)(1) Members of the Commission shall receive no additional pay, allowance, or benefit by reason of service on the Commission.

"(2) Each member of the Commission shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

"(h) The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.

"(i) Upon request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency is authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this section.

"(j) The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, administrative support services as the Commission may request.

"(k) The Commission may, for purposes of this section, hold hearings, sit and act at the times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence, as the Commission considers appropriate.

"(l) Any member or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action the Commission is authorized to take by this section.

"(m) The Commission may secure directly from any Federal agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this section. Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the head of an agency shall furnish the information to the Commission to the extent permitted by law.

"(n) The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

"(o) The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.

"(p) Not later than March 31, 1996, the Commission shall submit to the Congress a report containing the findings of the Commission and specific proposals for legislation and administrative actions that the Commission has determined to be appropriate.

"(q) The Commission shall cease to exist upon the expiration of the sixty-day period beginning on the date on which the Commission submits its report under subsection (p)."