Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Act

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Act - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to (1) provide a more effective means of assisting State and local governments in their law enforcement and criminal justice efforts; (2) require the Federal Government to assume a greater leadership role in the law enforcement and criminal justice area; and (3) encourage research and development for the improvement of law enforcement and criminal justice. Title I: Omnibus Crime Control Amendments - Authorizes appropriations of $850,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, and $892,500,000 for fiscal year 1975 for the purposes of carrying out this title. Directs a State planning agency receiving grants under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to develop procedures to insure that applications for funds be approved or rejected within sixty days. Extends the functions of the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice to include: (1) providing assistance to recipients of funds in evaluating the success of programs under this Act; (2) developing a standard form by which the success or failure of programs can be evaluated; and (3) developing procedures for review of ongoing programs. Authorizes payments to individuals employed in law enforcement or committed to enter an occupation in law enforcement, for loans, up to $3,000 per academic year. Title II: Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Program - Authorizes appropriations, for the purpose of carrying out this title of $937,125,000 for fiscal year 1976, $983,981,250 for fiscal year 1977, and $1,033,180,323 for fiscal year 1978. Provides for the distribution and allocation of such approprations. Provides that no funds may be paid under this title to any State or unit of local government unless specified requirements and procedures have been met. Requires program objectives to describe: (1) the current status of law enforcement, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice systems within the jurisdiction; (2) the problems currently faced by each such element; (3) the priority attached to the resolution of each of the problem; (4) the proposal for solution of each of the problems; (5) the goal toward which each program is directed; (6) the criteria by which success or failure will be measured; and (7) whether each program is designed to reform any aspect of the criminal justice system in that jurisdiction and how such reform will be achieved by the proposed program. Provides for the recovery of funds if the recipient unit of government fails to comply substantially with the provisions of this Act.