Overview of Activities Funded by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration

The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) was established to assist State and local governments in reducing crime and to increase the effectiveness, fairness, and coordination of law enforcement and criminal justice systems at all levels of Government.

LEAA funds are made available to States for planning or for block action grants; the remaining funds, known as discretionary funds, are used by LEAA to provide direction, place emphasis in specific program areas, and test innovations. Legislation in 1974 extended LEAA responsibilities to include coordination of Federal juvenile delinquency prevention efforts, research on and implementation of juvenile delinquency prevention programs, and authorization of grants to combat delinquency and assist runaway youth. The Safe Streets Act provides for: technical assistance to State and local governments, public and private groups, and international agencies in matters relating to law enforcement and criminal justice; establishment of a program to provide financial assistance for higher education of these areas; research efforts under the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice; and a data service to provide assistance to States and to collect and disseminate statistical information. It is difficult to determine the administrative costs of Federal programs because of the lack of reporting systems to provide information on financial and staff resources used in administering individual assistance programs.