National Assessment of the Byrne Formula Grant Program: A Seven State Study; An Analysis of State and Local Responses to the Byrne Formula Grant Program; Report 3

The analysis considers the influence on State and local anti-drug abuse efforts of Federal evaluation, training and technical assistance, and the discretionary and formula grant programs. The objective of this study is to use the experiences of the seven States and information they have provided as illustrative material with respect to the Byrne program as a whole, and it identifies the main themes that pertain to the State and local implementation of the program. The study concludes that the accomplishments of the Byrne program were not always visible to those not involved in the activities supported by the program. Nevertheless, there is considerable evidence that the Byrne effort stimulated significant progress in building the type of coordinated justice effort essential to any effective attack on the problems of drugs and crime. Progress was observed in creating coordinated justice efforts across the Nation where nothing comparable previously existed. Some progress was also made in extending this coordination beyond justice into activities traditionally even more separate than the various justice agencies (health and education particularly). Although more needed to be done, the successes that were achieved were significant. For other reports in this series, see NCJ-163381-82 and 163384-85.