270 R.I. Code R. 270-RICR-10-00-5.2

Current through November 7, 2024

Section 270-RICR-10-00-5.2 - Statutory Authority

A. The Public Safety Grant Administration Office derives its authority from R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-26-1, "The Rhode Island Justice Commission Act".

B. Duties and Functions

1. The PSGAO develops comprehensive planning, coordination, and programming for the purpose of improving the state criminal justice system's overall response to crime issues. The PSGAO pursues a variety of activities authorized by state and executive designation, including the following:

a. Serve as the state planning agency for administration of federal criminal justice related grant programs;

b. Establish goals, priorities and standards for the reduction of crime and the improvement of the administration of justice in the state;

c. Apply for, contract for, receive, and expend for its purposes any appropriations or grants from the state, its political subdivisions, the federal government, or any other source public or private, in accordance with the appropriations process;

d. Collect data from any state, local or non-profit entity which receives state or federal funding whose information is necessary to the PSGAO to carry out its functions;

e. Disseminate to state agencies, units of local government, public or private agencies, and others, information such as criminal justice program advancements; research results, training events, and availability of funds.

C. Policy Board

1. This legislation also creates a supervisory body identified as the Policy Board. The PSGAO Policy Board meets a minimum of four times a year to review and approve planning and grant funding recommendations from various advisory committees and the Steering Committee. The composition of the Policy Board is such that coordination among all criminal justice system agencies is assured. The Policy Board is comprised of law enforcement personnel, legislators, prosecutors, the public defender, judges, citizens, directors of various state departments and representatives from community service organizations.

2. The Policy Board works toward the strategic planning and coordination of all grant programs administered by the PSGAO as well as to develop criminal justice system policies and priorities. To that end, the Chairman of the Policy Board appoints advisory committees on an as-needed basis.

D. Steering Committee

1. The Steering Committee, an eight member executive committee of the Policy Board, identifies the principle problems facing the state's criminal justice system and makes procedural recommendations to the Policy Board and the various grant program advisory committees. Having decided which problems facing the state are top priorities, the Steering Committee makes recommendations to the grant advisory committees to ensure relevant aspects of the identified problems are addressed. Further, the Steering Committee is empowered to specifically coordinate responses to any of the state's priority areas by requesting that grant advisory committees concentrate on specific delineated projects or activities to be advertised in requests for proposals.

E. Other Advisory Committees

1. PSGAO staff members directly administer the various grant programs with the assistance of specific advisory committees. Individuals with expertise in a grant program area comprise the membership of the various advisory committees as they represent state, local and private-non-profit entities. In the absence of a specific grant advisory committee, the Steering Committee acts as the Advisory Committee for the development of policy initiatives, the establishment of program priorities and to make funding recommendations to the Policy Board. The following advisory committees develop policy initiatives, establish program priorities and make funding recommendations to the Policy Board:

a. the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee;

b. the Victims of Crime Act Advisory Committee;

c. the Violence Against Women Planning Committee (includes a Law Enforcement Training Task Force and a Curriculum Committee);

d. the Crime Prevention Planning Committee;

e. the Local Law Enforcement Planning Committee; and

f. the Technical Advisory Committee

270 R.I. Code R. 270-RICR-10-00-5.2