Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2010, $350,000)
The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.
The John Marshall Law School's Veterans Legal Support Center and Clinic (VLSC) will use the grant funds to support the developing field of veteran's law, including the state veteran's court, the federal court-misdemeanor call, domestic violence, and clinic replication. The state of Illinois recently passed legislation creating an alternative court to handle criminal issues presented by veterans. The center will use the grant funds to collect information on the success or failure of veteran's courts. The center will continue working with the federal court-misdemeanor call and collect data related to the court call. The VLSC held a conference on veterans and domestic violence in July and will become a repository for information on this subject. The center will also work with other law schools to create veteran's clinics and provide a nationwide network of assistance and information for this emerging field of law.
NCA/NCF