§12251 Authority to Make Grants

Summary

The Attorney General can give competitive grants to states to run family unity demonstration programs. These programs let eligible prisoners live in community correctional facilities with their children. States that want priority must promise certain things. They must have corrections and health/human services agencies work closely together. They must set up community advisory boards with residents, local businesses, corrections staff, former prisoners, and child and health experts. They must try to place prisoners in facilities nearest their homes. Unless the Attorney General allows more time, the state must start the project within 180 days of the grant and spend the grant funds within one year. The state must be able to keep the facility running after the grant ends. The state must follow rules for telling prisoners and picking participants: give written notice within 30 days of the grant or within 30 days after a sentence of no more than 7 years (whichever is later); accept applications while the program runs if the prisoner has more than 180 days left to serve; review applications in order received; and decide on each application within 50 days of review. States may also let courts sentence eligible offenders directly to a community correctional facility if the court would otherwise send them to prison. The Attorney General must choose grantees using rules and these priorities.