The National Association of Counties' Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee identified four legislative priorities for 2013: sustaining funding for justice programs at the Department of Justice including juvenile justice programs and anti-violence programs; allowing those in custody but not convicted to continue receiving federal health benefits; sustaining funding for Department of Homeland Security grants that support states and local governments; and reauthorizing the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act.

1. National Association of Counties
2013 Steering Committee Legislative Priorities

2. Justice and Public Safety Steering
Committee
• Justice Program Funding: Sustained funding
for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) State
and Local Law Enforcement Programs, Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention Programs
and Office of Violence against Women’s
Programs

3. Justice and Public Safety Steering
Committee
• Persons in Custody: Enact legislation or
encourage changes in current federal law or
regulation that will allow an otherwise eligible
person, who is in custody but not
convicted, to continue to receive federal
health benefits until such time as they may be
convicted and sentenced to an institution

4. Justice and Public Safety Steering
Committee
• DHS: Sustained funding for the Department of
Homeland Security’s (DHS)
grants, exercises, and technical assistance
important to states, local governments and
public safety agencies

5. Justice and Public Safety Steering
Committee
• Mentally Ill: Reauthorize the Mentally Ill
Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act
(MIOTCRA)