In 1994, the U.S. Congress enacted the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a comprehensive legislative package focused on violence against women. VAWA recognized the devastating consequences that violence has on women, families, and society as a whole. VAWA also acknowledged that violence against women requires specialized responses to address unique barriers that prevent victims from seeking assistance from the justice system.

The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000), enacted on October 28, 2000, improved legal tools and programs addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. VAWA 2000 reauthorized critical grant programs created by the original VAWA and subsequent legislation, established new programs, and strengthened federal laws. Among other changes and improvements, VAWA 2000 emphasized assisting immigrant victims, elderly victims, victims with disabilities, and victims of dating violence.

The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), enacted on January 5, 2006, further improved legal tools and grant programs addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. VAWA 2005 reauthorized critical grant programs created by the original VAWA and subsequent legislation, established new programs, and strengthened federal laws. Of particular note, the statute directed new resources to help victims of sexual assault, Indian women and youth victims.

For full versions of the Violence Against Women Act, please visit OVW's page on federal legislation and resources: http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/regulations.htm

http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/vawa15.htm

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Addressing Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System

According to a report from the Council of State Governments Justice Center, funded in part by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) National Institute of Justice (NIJ), 16.9 percent of the adults in a sample of local jails had a serious mental illness. That's three to six times the rate of the general population. And while the serious mental illness rate was 14 percent for men, it was 31 percent for women. If these rates were applied to 13 million jail admissions reported in 2007, the study findings suggest that more than two million bookings of a person with a serious mental illness occur every year .

Many offenders with mental illnesses don't receive treatment during incarceration. Without treatment, conditions can worsen. Offenders can become a greater threat to themselves and to others when they leave jail or prison. This is not only a disservice to the offenders and their families; it is a threat to public safety.

Mental health cases remain a challenge within the criminal justice system. A recent article by The Associated Press highlighted the tax mental health cases place on law enforcement and emergency workers. A local police chief was quoted saying, “Because they're [mental health patients] completely falling through the cracks,” he said. “They're not cracks, they're chasms.”

At the Justice Department, we see those chasms and are working to address this problem. The OJP Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP). This initiative helps states, tribes and units of local government design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. The program's goal is to improve access to effective treatment for people with mental illnesses involved with the justice system. This contact can be through arrest, court appearances, community based supervision, incarceration or in the community following incarceration.

Many law enforcement officials across the country are partnering with local mental health advocates and mental health service providers. Together, they develop strategies to make it easier for law enforcement to connect people with mental illnesses to much needed services. This helps to minimize the likelihood that they will just cycle through the system again. These programs, often referred to as Crisis Intervention Teams or Co-Responder Models, are eligible to receive funding under the JMHCP. Five jurisdictions have used BJA funds to start or enhance law enforcement response programs for people with mental illness.

In addition, BJA has partnered with the Council of State Governments Justice Center on a number of publications that address law enforcement response to individuals with mental illnesses. These include Essential Elements of Specialized Law Enforcement-Based Programs and Strategies for Effective Law Enforcement Training .

OJP and other Justice Department components have also launched collaborative projects with the Department of Health and Human Services to find better ways to help state and local governments improve the response to people with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system. BJA joined with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to provide technical assistance to states to build on existing efforts and replicate them statewide.

These partners worked with the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the GAINS Center to sponsor a national conference in 2009, “ Smart Responses in Tough Times: Achieving Better Outcomes for People with Mental Illness Involved in the Justice System .” Over 450 people attended the conference, including many representatives from our JMHCP grantees and applicants. Together, conference attendees discussed how to address homeless populations, identify those in need of specialized responses, prioritize populations with co-occurring disorders, use data to identify a target population, and implement sustainable initiatives. Highlights from the conference along with materials and videos of selected plenary sessions can be found, here .

The Department of Justice's commitment to addressing mental health within the criminal justice system will continue. In 2009, OJP awarded 43 JMHCP grants totaling more than $8 million. Additional funding to support training and technical assistance efforts was also awarded. Also, many of the grants awarded under the Second Chance Act Offender Reentry Initiative are supporting mental health treatment as part of comprehensive reentry efforts. We will continue to work with our partners to explore new ways to help states and local communities improve mental health services for people in the criminal justice system.

http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/431

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From the DEA

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New York State's Organized Crime Task Force Cuts Off Bronx-to-Upstate Cocaine Pipeline

‘Operation Re-Sale' Leads to Indictment of 21;
Seizure of Cocaine and Cash Investigation Part of AG Cuomo's Upstate Guns, Gangs, and Drugs Initiative

DEC 03 -- SYRACUSE, N.Y. (December 3, 2009) – JOHN P. GILBRIDE, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New York Field Division (“DEA”) and Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced narcotics trafficking and other charges have been filed against 21 individuals accused of taking part in a drug distribution network that was funneling cocaine from the Bronx to Rochester and was then re-sold in Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, and Monroe Counties and elsewhere in New York.

According to court records, an investigation by the Attorney General's Organized Task Force (OCTF) and the Finger Lakes Drugs Task Force dubbed, “Operation Re-Sale,” led to the seizure of more than a kilogram of cocaine with an estimated street value of $56,000 and approximately $40,000 cash, most of which was found in a secret compartment built into a Dodge Nitro operated by defendant Hamlet Florencio-Peralta.

DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Gilbride stated, “This is a drug pipeline from New York City to upstate New York that has been shut down. Law enforcement has been vigilant in identifying drug suppliers and distributors who reap a profit while polluting our communities with poison. This was a collaborative effort and I would like to thank all participating agencies.”

“The breakup of this drug ring is an example of how when law enforcement entities work together, we can make our communities safer and stronger,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “The Upstate Guns, Gangs and Drugs Initiative has led to a coordinated response that sends a clear message that we will not tolerate dangerous drug dealers in our region.”

Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said, “I am proud to be a part of this roundup, as it cuts off a highly organized source of cocaine that migrated from New York City into our neighborhoods. Attorney General Cuomo's ongoing pursuit against guns, gangs and drugs in upstate communities is to be commended and I thank him and his office for coordinating today's actions.”

Monroe County District Attorney Michael Green said, “It is always a good thing when multiple law enforcement agencies pool resources to remove bad guys from our streets. Attorney General Cuomo's Organized Crime Task Force excels at managing such an operation, and I am proud to be a part of this bust, which removes thousands of dollars in dangerous drugs from our streets.”

According to the indictment, a substantial amount of cocaine was delivered from sources in the Bronx to Rochester then to re-sellers who would distribute it in Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, and Monroe Counties. Wiretap evidence included in the indictment shows that the defendants would discuss their drug transactions in a cryptic and coded manner in the hope of avoiding detection. For example, when using cellular telephones the defendants allegedly would use phrases such as “tubes”, “caulk”, “silicone”, “limestone”, “putty”, “ticket(s)”, “sausages”, “guy(s) to work”, “broad(s)” to refer to cocaine and/or crack cocaine.

The112 count indictment unsealed in Cayuga County Supreme Court today charges 21 people with crimes including various Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A,B,C,Dfelonies) and Conspiracy in the second degree (class B felony).

The indictment is the culmination of a major investigation led by Attorney General Cuomo's OCTF and is part of his ongoing efforts to combat narcotic trafficking and other crimes through his Upstate Guns, Gangs, and Drugs Initiative.

Since its inception in 2007, the Attorney General's Upstate Guns, Gangs, and Drugs Initiative has conducted a variety of operations in cooperation with local, state, and federal authorities, resulting in charges against more than 420 defendants and the seizures of over $3.4 million in drugs and cash, as well as dozens of guns.

Numerous other agencies assisted in the investigation including: Drug Enforcement Administration in New York City and Syracuse, New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, New York National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Cayuga County Sheriff, Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Auburn Police Department. Attorney General Cuomo thanked and commended these agencies.

Those charged in the Cayuga County indictment are:

· Bruce Adams, 54, of Auburn
· Vladimir Arias, 32, of Rochester
· Russell Brisson, 30, of Murray
· Jeffrey Compo, 48, of Seneca Falls
· Thomas Coomber, 45, of Auburn
· Jason Ellis, 29, of Rochester
· Wilfredo Figueroa, 31, of Rochester
· Hamlet Florencio-Peralta, 36, of Yonkers
· Mark Fuhry, 23, of Rochester
· Matthew Fuhry, 28, of Rochester
· Alexander Goris, 37, of Bronx
· Joshua Groat, 25, of Rochester
· Lance Gummerson, 54, of Auburn
· Douglas Hadcock, 38, of Weedsport
· Daniel Kotyk, 57, of Seneca Falls
· Thomas Lipiska, 54, of Auburn
· Felipe Mercedes, 52, of Bronx and Ellenville
· Richard Schram, 45, of Auburn
· Richard Sliski, 55, of Seneca Falls
· Timothy Smith, 51, of Auburn
· Brigido Torres-Feliciano, 33, of Bronx, Paterson NJ, and Campbell OH

The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Maria Moran under the supervision of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Robin L. Baker, and OCTF First Assistant Deputy Attorney General Peri Alyse Kadanoff. The investigation was handled by Supervising Investigator Ronald Vincent operating under the supervision of Chief Thomas Mullen and Sergeant Roger Anthony of the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2009/nyc120309.html