Press Release - Wednesday, February 18, 2004
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Public safety, improved information systems among Governor's top initiatives for Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod. R Blagojevich announced today the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, with the assistance of federal grants and state funding, will continue to make law enforcement in Illinois more efficient and effective. Even faced with tight fiscal times, the authority will target resources to underserved areas of the state and toward the problems of guns and drugs.
The authority's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2005 is $133 million, down nearly $2 million from the previous Fiscal Year. Federal grants from the U.S. Department of Justice account for nearly 90 percent of the authority's overall budget. Following the Governor's message of fiscal discipline, the authority is able to save the state $300,000 in FY05 by shifting more than 15 percent of its General Revenue funded personnel to federally funded positions.
"Like the rest of the state, we are working with less next year, but by targeting our resources more carefully we are confident we will be able to continue improving public safety in Illinois, and also make it more efficient and effective," said Lori G. Levin, executive director of the Authority.
The Authority's key initiatives in FY05 are:
- Integration of Justice Information Systems: With approximately $1 million in federal and state funds, the Authority will continue to support the implementation of a statewide justice information system that will link criminal justice agencies throughout the state, enabling them to exchange information more quickly and efficiently, avoid duplication of reports, and operate more effectively overall.
- Public Safety Grants: The Authority will continue to target resources to combat the proliferation of guns, drugs, and the presence of violence in Illinois communities, at an estimated cost of $20 million.
- Juvenile Justice Initiative: The Authority will continue to work to strengthen the state's juvenile justice system by aggressively supporting balanced and restorative justice strategies in Illinois, with an anticipated allocation of $600,000 in federal grants.
- Local Law Enforcement Grants: The Authority will increase the availability of resources for underserved areas of the state through the administration of an estimated $4.5 million in federal grants.
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