[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 38218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18671]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Assistance
[OJP (BJA) No. 1090]
RIN 1121-ZA41


State Criminal Alien Assistance Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau 
of Justice Assistance (BJA).

ACTION: Notice of fund and guidance availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to announce the availability of $500 million 
pursuant to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), as 
newly authorized under 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1252(j). Under this authorization 
states and political subdivisions of states may apply to the Bureau of 
Justice Assistance for reimbursement for their expenditures for the 
incarceration of undocumented criminal alien felons. This notice 
announces the availability of these funds and of the availability of 
guidance governing the program, including the application forms. The 
guidance has detailed information regarding program operation in this 
fiscal year and is being mailed to correctional facilities in 
potentially eligible jurisdictions. Any jurisdiction that does not 
receive a copy of the guidance and application kit by July 26, 1996, 
may obtain a copy by contacting the Bureau of Justice Assistance 
through the Response Center below.

DATES: Guidance will be sent out to eligible jurisdictions in mid July. 
The deadline for submitting application materials ranges from late 
August to mid September depending on the type of applicant (i.e. state 
or local jurisdiction).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Department of Justice Response 
Center or Linda McKay, SCAAP Coordinator, at 1-800-421-6770.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following supplementary information is 
provided:
    The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) provides 
Federal assistance to states and localities for costs incurred for the 
imprisonment of undocumented criminal aliens who are convicted of 
felony offenses. The Fiscal Year 1996 Omnibus Appropriations Act, 
Pub.L. No. 104-134 (April 25, 1996) provides an allocation of $500 
million for payments under Title II, subtitle C, Section 20301, of the 
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-
322 (September 13, 1994), which amends Section 242 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act, codified at 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1252. This is a new 
legal authorization for the program from that underlying last year's 
program, which was governed by 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1365. The new legal 
authorization has resulted in many changes to the program including the 
expansion of the pool of eligible applicants from states only to a 
significant number of local jurisdictions. These changes have required 
several modifications in the process to be used in Fiscal Year 1996 to 
distribute SCAAP funds. The process is fully explained in the guidance 
document.
    The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the Office of 
Justice Programs (OJP), will administer SCAAP through a grants 
mechanism according to the application requirements contained in the 
guidance and application kit. All applicants that comply with these 
requirements will share in the appropriation based on the number of 
incarcerated aliens found to be reimbursable, their average length of 
incarceration, and the costs of inmate upkeep. Data provided by 
applicants on their potentially eligible incarcerated populations will 
again be verified by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) 
using a computerized matching technique.
    The application, verification, and award processes are fully 
explained in the guidance document which is being mailed to all 
identified eligible jurisdictions and is available from the Bureau of 
Justice Assistance.
Nancy Gist,
Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
[FR Doc. 96-18671 Filed 7-22-96; 8:45 am]
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