About 40 criminal justice advocacy groups have asked Congressional leaders to approve the federal appropriations bill for the current fiscal year before this session of Congress adjourns next month. Conservatives in Congress are pressing for no final action to be taken on Capitol Hill during the current lame-duck session so that President-elect Donald Trump can weigh in on the process early next year, The Hill reports. If Congress doesn’t take such an action, the government would be operated under a “continuing resolution” that keeps current programs operating at their existing levels but does not allow any new activities to be funded.
The organizations told Congress that “finality on funding is critical to those who rely on the funding to provide services in the criminal and juvenile justice systems by enhancing both the planning and execution of key elements of the justice system, thus improving public safety and the effectiveness of justice system services and outcomes. Undue delay creates confusion and interruption of critical services.” Among groups signing the letter were the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, the Constitution Project, the Innocence Project, the International Union of Police Associations, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the National Criminal Justice Association, the National District Attorneys Association, the National League of Cities, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Police Foundation, the Pretrial Justice Institute, and the Sentencing Project.