Perhaps saying the first thing that we would fund before we begin to Fund Anything else, not a federal mandate but first on your list must be body cams . Has that been discussed at doj or Homeland Security that these officers using this equipment that the best way to check whether or not it is being used appropriately is for every officer to wear a camera . Senator, the office of Justice Programs funs are available for Law Enforcement agencies to use to purchase body cameras and we see value in it. Our National Institute of justice is studying the effectiveness of body cameras and appropriate use of body cameras. But they can buy them now . Yes, maam. It wouldnt be hard if we decided before you get anything else we are going to insist you use our money for body cams before you buy other things like full blown battle gear or camouflage uniforms or grenade launchers. The money is formula money and we do not control how state and local jurisdictions use the money. Video cameras are on the
Decisionmaking about local Law Enforcement requests. The process that mr. Estevez has laid out, we dont coordinate that at all. You wouldnt know in issuing a homeland grant what the d. O. D. Has done in issuance of equipment to local agencies . Correct. So, how do you then know that in terms of the use of the homeland grants for this, that there isnt shouldnt be some followup . So, thats an entirely different story. I will say on the i know the Defense Departments equipment under the 1033 program is free. Grantees have paid for, i believe, transportation costs using grant funding. But its a very small percentage of use of grant funds. So, in terms of how grantees use equipment that has been acquired with our programs, for the state program, even the urban area program, the grants pass through the state. 80 of the state Program Funding has to go to local jurisdictions within that state. So, we work with the state in oversight. In their applications they tell us more and more detail now