(Washington, DC) -- Eliminating the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program, which has not been proven successful in reducing crime, is the only taxpayer-friendly option for Congress. That's the message the 350,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU) stressed at a panel discussion on Capitol Hill today over whether to reform or end the Byrne Grant initiative.
"Most savvy consumers wouldn't just keep paying for a service that hasn't delivered what it promised in the first place," said NTU Director of Government Affairs and panel member Paul Gessing. "Yet some Congress Members would like to give the Byrne Grant program -- which doesn't even pass a simple cost-benefit analysis -- a second chance at chewing up tax dollars."
Each year the Byrne Grant program distributes millions of federal dollars to local and state agencies for crime prevention initiatives; however, according to Gessing there is virtually no evidence that Byrne Grants have actually been effective in decreasing crime. "Lawmakers seeking cost-saving opportunities in the 2006 budget should look to the Byrne Grant program, because these dollars would be put to better use by taxpayers or crime reduction program initiatives that have greater impact and accountability," said Gessing.
In late March, NTU organized a coalition letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee Members in support of President Bush's 2006 budget proposal to end funding for the Byrne Grant program as well as the Community Oriented Policing Services program. "Unfortunately, each of these crime prevention grants programs is fatally flawed due to their lack of adequate measures of performance," the letter noted. "President Bush has wisely chosen to eliminate funding for both, which would save taxpayers almost a billion dollars a year."
NTU joined panelists from across the ideological spectrum at the event, which was organized by the Congressional Caucus on Public Safety, Sentencing, and Incarceration Reform. Other participants included the American Civil Liberties Union, Heritage Foundation, Open Society Policy Center, and Drug Policy Alliance Network.
"Rather than pouring any more valuable resources into this inefficient and ineffective program, Members of Congress should focus on crime prevention initiatives that are guided by a clear plan to target funds at specific problems," Gessing concluded. "The only fiscally-responsible decision is to end the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program."
NTU is a non-profit citizen group founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and more accountability from elected officials. Note: To view the coalition letter, visit www.ntu.org.