A core NDAA mission: prosecutors training prosecutors.

• Author: Burns, Scott
• Position: National District Attorneys Ass'n

THERE ARE MANY GREAT TRAINING PROGRAMS across America, but when it comes to training prosecutors NDAA has always believed that we should find the best and brightest among our members and let them teach. In order to pay for this training (costs for faculty and prosecutors who attend as students), it is essential that we receive grant funding. In the past few years and in the face of an OIG Audit, we haven't done so well. (Federal granting agencies must have confidence that we are properly structured with policies and procedures, follow technical grant requirements and are good stewards with taxpayer dollars.) In the past year, and with the hard work of the new financial and grant team at NDAA, we are well on our way in establishing that we have implemented (and are implementing) the professional changes required to receive grants and deliver first rate training to prosecutors.

The Great News is that we were awarded several substantial grants this year, and will soon be providing this excellent and badly needed training across the country. The new grants we received are:

* $499,000 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), national training for prosecutors.

* $1,864,696 national training and technical assistance for child abuse prosecutors.

* $200,000 Elder Abuse and Neglect, training and technical assistance for prosecutors.

* $1,890,000 Missing and Exploited Children, training and technical assistance for child abuse prosecutors and other professionals.

* $1,175,000 National Advocacy Center (NAC) in Columbia, South Carolina, training on a number of important issues facing prosecutors.

* $299,762 Project Safe Neighborhoods, training and technical assistance for gang and gun issues facing prosecutors.

* $1,000,000 Pharmaceutical and Prescription Drug, training and technical assistance for prosecutors.

* $599,996 Mortgage Fraud, training and technical assistance for prosecutors and other professionals.

* $322,000 national training for prosecutors who deal with capital cases.

These new awards are in...