FYs 2022-2026 Strategic Plan U.S. Department of JusticeU.S. Department of JusticeDOJ_69e276ee-625d-4709-9e61-a550911da7baUnder the leadership of the Attorney General of the United States, the Justice Department is composed of more than 40 separate component organizations and more than 115,000 employees. Headquartered at the Robert F. Kennedy Building in Washington, D.C., the Department maintains field offices in all states and territories across the United States and in more than 50 countries around the world. Merrick B. GarlandAttorney General of the United StatesLisa O. MonacoDeputy Attorney General of the United StatesVanita GuptaAssociate Attorney General of the United StatesDOJ ComponentsAmerican Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Desk (OJP) www.ojp.gov/topics/tribal-justiceAntitrust Divisionwww.justice.gov/atrBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosiveswww.atf.govBureau of Justice Assistance(OJP) https://bja.ojp.gov/ Bureau of Justice Statistics(OJP) www.bjs.ojp.govCivil Divisionwww.justice.gov/civilCivil Rights Divisionwww.justice.gov/crtCommunity Oriented Policing Services (COPS)www.cops.usdoj.govCommunity Relations Servicewww.justice.gov/crsCriminal Divisionwww.justice.gov/criminalDiversion Control Programwww.dea.gov/operational-division/diversionDrug Enforcement Administrationwww.dea.govEnvironment and Natural Resources Divisionwww.justice.gov/enrdExecutive Office for Immigration Reviewwww.justice.gov/eoirExecutive Office for U.S. Attorneyswww.justice.gov/usao/eousaExecutive Office for U.S. Trusteeswww.justice.gov/ustFederal Bureau of Investigationwww.fbi.govFederal Bureau of Prisonswww.bop.govForeign Claims Settlement Commission of the United Stateswww.justice.gov/fcscINTERPOL Washingtonwww.justice.gov/interpol-washingtonJustice Management Divisionwww.justice.gov/jmdNational Criminal Justice Reference Service(OJP) www.ojp.gov/ncjrsNational Institute of Correctionswww.nicic.govNational Institute of Justicehttps://nij.ojp.gov/National Security Divisionwww.justice.gov/nsdOffice of Access to Justicewww.justice.gov/atjOffice of the Associate Attorney Generalwww.justice.gov/asgOffice of the Attorney Generalwww.justice.gov/agOffice of the Deputy Attorney Generalwww.justice.gov/dagOffice of Information Policy (OIP)www.justice.gov/oipOffice of the Inspector General (OIG)www.justice.gov/oigOffice of Justice Programs (OJP)www.ojp.govOffice of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention(OJP) https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/Office of Legal Counselwww.justice.gov/olcOffice of Legal Policywww.justice.gov/olpOffice of Legislative Affairswww.justice.gov/olaOffice of the Pardon Attorneywww.justice.gov/pardonOffice of Professional Responsibilitywww.justice.gov/oprOffice of Public Affairswww.justice.gov/opaOffice of the Solicitor Generalwww.justice.gov/osgOffice of Tribal Justicewww.justice.gov/otjOffice for Victims of Crime(OJP) https://ovc.ojp.gov/Office of Violence Against Womenwww.justice.gov/ovwOffice of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking(OJP) https://smart.ojp.gov/Tax Divisionwww.justice.gov/taxU.S. Attorneyswww.justice.gov/usaoU.S. Marshals Servicewww.usmarshals.govU.S. Parole Commissionwww.justice.gov/uspc_b68b23c6-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00The mission of the Department of Justice (DOJ) is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights._b68b26b4-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00IndependenceIndependence and Impartiality ~ The Justice Department works each day to earn the public’s trust by following the facts and the law wherever they may lead, without prejudice or improper influence.ImpartialityHonestyHonesty and Integrity ~ The Justice Department’s employees adhere to the highest standards of ethical behavior, mindful that, as public servants, we must work to earn the trust of, and inspire confidence in, the public we serve.IntegrityRespectThe Justice Department’s employees value differences in people and in ideas and treat everyone with fairness, dignity, and compassion.ExcellenceThe Justice Department works every day to provide the highest levels of service to the American people and to be a responsible steward of the taxpayers’ dollars.Rule of LawUphold the Rule of Law_b68b283a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea001The Justice Department’s success depends upon the trust of the American people. That trust must be earned every day. As the Attorney General has reaffirmed, the Justice Department’s first core priority – upholding the rule of law – is rooted in the recognition that, to succeed and retain the trust of the American people, the Justice Department must adhere to the norms that have been part of its DNA since Edward Levi’s tenure as the first post-Watergate Attorney General. Those norms – of independence from improper influence; of the principled exercise of discretion; and of treating like cases alike – define who we are as public servants. In addition, exceptional public service requires high-quality management, functional support systems, and a diverse and inclusive workforce.Democratic InstitutionsProtect Our Democratic Institutions_b68b2ef2-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea001.1Contributing DOJ ComponentsAll componentsOur nation depends on the stability of its democratic institutions. The Justice Department is one such democratic institution and has important responsibilities in protecting other such institutions. We will continue our work to ensure that the public views the Department as objective, impartial, and insulated from political influence. More broadly, we will help ensure the safety and proper functioning of democratic institutions across government against a range of threats. In recent years, threats against public servants, ranging from schoolteachers to federal judges, have increased. Moreover, confidence in our system is undermined by public officials who sell their public trust to the highest bidder and by foreign adversaries who attempt to interfere with our elections. The Department is committed to repairing these ruptures both through specific strategies and through the slow and steady demonstration of impartiality and integrity every day. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent of Office of Professional Responsibilities (OPR) inquiries resolved within one year ^ • Number of criminal government program fraud cases where the proactive use of data led to the opening of an investigation by the Criminal Division (CRM) ^ • Number of U.S. Attorney’s Offices (USAO) that received proactive data leads in criminal government fraud cases from the Criminal Division ^ • Percent of cases concerning COVID-19 related fraud in which the Department seeks restitution ^ • Percent of COVID-19 related fraud cases favorably resolved ^ • Ratio of backlogged to incoming FOIA requestsPoliciesReaffirm and Strengthen Policies Foundational to the Rule of Law_b68b3186-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.1.1The Justice Department upholds the rule of law by adhering to its foundational norms. Those norms include the principled exercise of discretion; independence from improper influence; treating like cases alike; and an unwavering commitment to following the facts and the law. Reaffirming and, where necessary, strengthening the Justice Department policies that are foundational to the rule of law – many of which were initially adopted in the aftermath of Watergate – is essential to this effort. These include policies that strictly regulate communications between the Justice Department and the White House; that require the respectful treatment of the press; that read the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) generously; that respect the professionalism of Justice Department employees; that establish guidelines for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) domestic operations and foreign intelligence collection; and that set out the principles of federal prosecution to guide the exercise of prosecutorial discretion. ^ The Department also plays a vital role in upholding the rule of law by defending agencies and employees throughout the federal government in civil litigation. The Department’s civil defense litigators will continue to support client agencies by providing candid and professional assessments of litigation risk and defending against civil litigation to achieve just results.Improper InfluenceProtect the Justice Department from Improper Influence_b68b3302-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.1.2The Department must be shielded from all forms of improper influence in its investigations and prosecutions. The Department will continue to ensure that its career professionals, including prosecutors, attorneys, agents, and others, are protected from partisan motives or other improper influences. While the Justice Department appropriately follows the Administration’s direction on policy matters, all Justice Department investigative and prosecutorial decisions will be made independently. In protecting the Department from improper influence, we will be guided by Attorney General Edward Levi’s warning that “[n]othing can more weaken the quality of life or more imperil the realization of the goals we all hold dear than our failure to make clear by words and deed that our law is not the instrument of partisan purpose.”Public ServantsProtect Public Servants from Violence and Threats of Violence_b68b39c4-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.1.3Public ServantsWe have seen an uptick in threats against public servants – from election officials to Members of Congress. Expressing a political belief or ideology, no matter how vociferously, is not a crime, and the Department will not investigate or prosecute individuals because of their views. But the Department will protect those who serve the public from violence and unlawful threats of violence. To aid in this effort, we will continue to develop and deploy innovative protective approaches to anticipating and deterring threats against the judiciary. In addition, we will create specialized training and guidance for those who are subjected to threats, including by helping potential victims understand the type of behavior that constitutes an unlawful threat and how to report threatening conduct to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Finally, we will work closely with state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement to protect public servants from violence and threats of violence.FraudProtect the Public Fisc from Fraud on Government Programs_b68b3c58-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.1.4The Department will deter and redress collusion, fraud, waste, and abuse targeting public programs by vigorously investigating and prosecuting culpable individuals and enterprises. We will employ a whole-of-government approach, including, when appropriate, parallel investigations with federal and state law enforcement and regulatory agencies (including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission). When losses to the public do occur, we will use all criminal and civil tools at our disposal to recover lost taxpayer funds. Our efforts will include expanded use of data analytics to monitor federal spending for payment anomalies and other indications of fraud, waste, and abuse. We will engage the public procurement and law enforcement communities to promote greater cooperation in identifying, deterring, and prosecuting schemes that seek to commit fraud on government programs. And we will use every available tool – including criminal, civil, and administrative actions – to safeguard the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs and combat COVID-19 related fraud, including by holding accountable those who seek to exploit the pandemic for personal gain. ^ In addition to recouping stolen or fraudulently obtained government funds, the Department will use all available tools to ensure strong, consistent, and uniform enforcement of the internal revenue laws to help ensure that everyone pays what they owe. Honest taxpayers must be able to trust that they will not bear an undue share of the federal tax burden.Foreign InterferenceCombat Foreign Interference in Democratic Processes_b68b3de8-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.1.5Democracy depends on the free exchange of ideas, and the Justice Department will do everything in its power to respond to the efforts of foreign governments or other actors who seek to exploit that openness or suppress the voices of those seeking to participate. To address the threat of improper foreign interference in American democratic processes, the Justice Department is taking a variety of actions, including prosecuting state agents for espionage; preventing hacking campaigns; preventing the repression of dissidents; and addressing efforts to manipulate public discourse in the United States.Oversight & AccountabilityEnsure Effective Oversight and Public Accountability_b68b45e0-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.1.6The principles of open government and democratic accountability are at the heart of who we are as public servants and as Americans. Effective oversight and public accountability help ensure that the Department stays true to its goals and values. The Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) will work closely with Congress to ensure the Department is responsive to Congress in a timely fashion, subject to the Department’s longstanding policies and practices that may limit what can be disclosed in response to particular requests. More broadly, the Department will faithfully administer the Freedom of Information Act to allow for an informed citizenry that can hold accountable those who govern.Good GovernmentPromote Good Government_b68b493c-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea001.2Contributing DOJ ComponentsAll componentsThe Justice Department employs more than 115,000 people and has a budget of more than $30 billion. Operating an organization this large requires the management resources and infrastructure of a Fortune 100 company. Over the past twenty years, however, as the Department has grown and its mission has become more complex, the resources allocated toward management and administration have dramatically shrunk. The result is a set of existing management structures that do not fully promote analytic rigor, efficiency, or innovation. To ensure efficient operations, promote internal controls and oversight, prioritize datadriven decisionmaking, and recruit and retain top-notch talent, the Department will take a strategic and innovative approach to updating its management structure, training, and collaboration; to modernizing its technology; and to promoting diversity and ensuring equal employment opportunity. ^ The Department’s workforce is its key asset for achieving its mission. Ensuring that every employee can use their full talents and focus to solve pressing problems requires an inclusive workplace. The Department can also better serve our diverse country when its workforce includes a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. To these ends, we are working to assess and improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) at all levels of our human capital operations, from recruitment and retention to training, evaluation, and promotion. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent increase in the Department’s average score on selected Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) questions related to how well managers cultivate innovation, creativity, and collaboration ^ • Percent of people involved in hiring who have completed implicit bias and interview skills training within the last three years ^ • Disparities in employee attrition rates ^ • Percent of Department websites reflecting U.S. Web Design System requirements and meeting best practices for plain language and user-centered design ^ • Percent of common data sets accessible amongst Department componentsExcellenceAchieve Department Management Excellence Through Innovation_b68b4aea-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.2.1The Department will encourage management excellence through innovation by assessing and strengthening its internal management and administrative structures. The Department will focus on leadership development and on improving how information is shared both with internal and external audiences. The Department will optimize its management structure to ensure focused attention on administrative operations. This includes conducting a full assessment of Department security, risk management, oversight and compliance, and strategic planning structures. ^ To grow and sustain an organizational culture that values innovation and collaboration, the Department will promote leadership development that reflects its values. Because good management does not happen by chance, we will revise training resources and implement a range of tools and capabilities to prepare new managers to lead, while also providing growth opportunities for existing managers and executives. The Department will improve internal information sharing to make it easier for employees to leverage organizational information and the knowledge and talent of their colleagues. ^ Finally, the Department will emphasize user-centered design practices and plain language to ensure that its public-facing technology tools provide clear, concise, and usable information to the public.WorkforceFoster a High-Performing Workforce that Represents the Public We Serve_b68b5332-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.2.2The Department will update internal guidance, best practices, and policies related to outreach, recruitment, and hiring, and use data to help ensure diversity and equity at each step of the recruitment, application, and hiring processes. We will conduct a similar review of human capital management practices, including evaluation processes, professional development opportunities, and promotion criteria, to eliminate visible and hidden barriers for employees of all backgrounds. We must also ensure equal pay for equal work within positions and across similarly situated components and identify workplace flexibilities that will allow us to recruit and retain the best employees. ^ Beyond policies, we must continue to foster a workplace culture that values diversity. To this end, we will develop a robust curriculum with modules for new employees and will incorporate and expand the Diversity & Inclusion Dialogue Program. To create a safe environment for all employees, the Department will begin by establishing parameters, guidelines, and best practices for components when addressing sexual and other harassment allegations. We will also work to end stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental health issues and improve employee support by advertising available resources and publicly addressing employee fears regarding security clearances, fitness for duty, and professional licensing that can pose barriers to treatment. And we will expand wellness programs and serve as a leader in suicide prevention across the law enforcement community.Data & TechnologyImplement Department-wide Data and Technology Modernization_b68b5648-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 1.2.3To ensure efficient stewardship of federal resources, the Department will carry out a Department-wide data and technology modernization. We will identify technology solutions to address current infrastructure capability gaps. Through innovation and partnerships, the Department will lead the law enforcement community to embody a culture that uses data-driven and risk-informed decisionmaking. We will promote intelligence sharing and collaboration across the law enforcement community and the supporting infrastructure systems. Finally, by anticipating future challenges, the Department will proactively deliver investigative capabilities by identifying technology advancements and creating strategic industry partnerships. SafetyKeep Our Country Safe_b68b580a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea002The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping the American people safe. Our nation continues to face a multitude of serious and evolving threats, ranging from foreign terrorism to domestic terrorism and from cybercrime to violent crime. These threats are as complex as at any time in our history. And the consequences of not responding to them have never been greater. Every person living in the United States deserves to feel safe in their communities. The Justice Department will support law enforcement at all levels as we work to protect our country from these threats, while also zealously guarding civil liberties and ensuring our own accountability to the American people.National SecurityProtect National Security_b68b5eb8-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea002.1Contributing DOJ ComponentsCRM, NSD, USAO, FBI, JMD  The Justice Department investigates, disrupts, and prosecutes threats to America’s national and economic security, both from hostile foreign nations and from insider threats. These threats include not just traditional espionage efforts, but also foreign influence operations, economic espionage, and critical infrastructure attacks. In response to these wide-ranging threats, the Department, together with counterintelligence partners and other federal law enforcement, seeks to identify the potential assets targeted, engage the entities who possess those assets, and protect them. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Number of counterintelligence program disruptions or dismantlements ^ • Percent of prosecutions brought against defendants engaged in (a) hostile activities against national assets, (b) intelligence gathering, or (c) export violations that are favorably resolved ^ • Percent of Department-led foreign investment cases that were adjudicated favorablyForeign InfluenceCombat Foreign Malign Influence_b68b617e-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.1.1Agents of foreign governments sometimes pursue goals that are at odds with the interests of the United States. The effective and efficient enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and related laws is critical to facilitate transparency about foreign influence efforts and to support our democracy. This transparency helps ensure informed decisionmaking – on the part of government, the private sector, and the public. The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to preventing malign influence and to ensuring that our government is not improperly influenced by foreign governments.EspionageCounter Foreign Espionage_b68b634a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.1.2Hostile activities that threaten our national assets are no longer conducted exclusively by state actors, nor do they primarily target government secrets. Hostile foreign actors can include criminal organizations targeting non-government information; academic researchers receiving U.S. government funding who accept offers of money and prestige to benefit foreign governments; or corporations profiting from evading export controls and sanctions. The Department will investigate and prosecute crimes sponsored by hostile governments and their agents and will align its capabilities, tools, and resources with those across the federal government to meet and counter these threats.Technology & IPPrevent the Theft of Technology and Intellectual Property_b68b6a20-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.1.3Hostile foreign actors use espionage tools and tactics against U.S. companies, academic and research institutions, and American workers to steal critical and emerging technologies and intellectual property. Such thefts could cause harm to our national security and our economic security. The Department will leverage the broadest set of tools to prevent losses. In addition, the Department will work with other federal agencies, state and local partners, foreign partners, and the private sector to proactively disrupt the theft of U.S. assets. Finally, we will publicize charges and prosecutions to heighten public awareness and deter future threats.Sensitive AssetsProtect Sensitive Assets_b68b6ce6-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.1.4The U.S. must protect its national security and economic prosperity, including key technologies, supply chains, critical infrastructure, and private information about Americans. The Department seeks to strike a balance between the nation’s open investment environment and the potential risks to national security posed by such investments. The Department actively participates in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States; chairs the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (also known as Team Telecom); and conducts and participates in national security reviews of transactions that pose supply chain risks to information and communications technology and services.TerrorismCounter Foreign and Domestic Terrorism_b68b6f66-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea002.2Two decades after September 11, 2001, the Justice Department remains committed to combating terrorism, from any place, by any actor, regardless of motivating ideology. Foreign terrorist organizations continue to pose a threat to the United States and U.S. interests abroad. In addition, terrorist threats to the United States come from lone actors – citizens who travel overseas and join forces with extremists; individuals radicalized in the United States; those inspired to violence by harmful foreign ideologies; and domestic violent extremists motivated by racial and ethnic bias, anti-government or anti-authority sentiment, or conspiracy theories. The Department recognizes that the most efficient and effective means of fighting terrorism is to communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with our partners, including foreign partners and multilateral organizations. The Department will also continue to use every appropriate tool at its disposal to deter, disrupt, and prosecute acts of domestic violent extremism and domestic terrorism. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Number of terrorism disruptions effected through investigations ^ • Percent of counterterrorism defendants whose cases were favorably resolved ^ • Number of individuals in the Department trained to prosecute domestic terrorism and domestic violent extremism ^ • Percent of Department-issued Intelligence Information Reports used in the development of United States Intelligence Community Intelligence Products Contributing DOJ Components: CRM, NSD, USAO, ATF, DEA, FBI, USNCB, COPS, OJP, JMDThreatsDeter, Disrupt, and Prosecute Terrorist Threats_b68b75e2-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.2.1The Department will continue to deter, disrupt, and prosecute domestic and international terror plots and actors through directed intelligence collection and analysis. We will protect the United States by disrupting terrorists’ sources of financial and material support; prosecuting those who plot or act to threaten our national security; and targeting the methods and technologies terrorist networks and organizations rely on for radicalization and recruitment. We will also continue to use all available tools to monitor terrorist threats – from developing sources to using court-authorized electronic surveillance – while ensuring that civil liberties are protected.PartnershipsStrengthen Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and International Counterterrorism Partnerships_b68b78a8-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.2.2The Justice Department will protect national security by maintaining strong partnerships with law enforcement and intelligence community partners. In addition, the Department will focus on innovative intelligence analysis that supports: disrupting terrorist actors who threaten the United States government, its interests, or civilian populations; understanding the spread of violent extremist ideology; anticipating new and evolving terrorist threats; and building adaptive capabilities to counter terrorism globally. The Department will also continue to exploit, analyze, and share intelligence with the intelligence community; state, local, and Tribal law enforcement community partners; and partner nations. And the Department will support foreign government efforts to investigate and prosecute, in their own courts, terrorists who threaten U.S. national security, through information sharing with foreign law enforcement, capacity building, and, where consistent with foreign law, the optional participation of U.S. victims of overseas terrorism in foreign justice processes.Crime & Gun ViolenceCombat Violent Crime and Gun Violence_b68b7a92-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea002.3Contributing DOJ ComponentsCRM, CRT, USAO, OCDETF, ATF, BOP, DEA, FBI, USMS, COPS, CRS, OJP, OLP, OTJ, OVW, JMDThe Justice Department is committed to addressing the epidemic of gun violence and other violent crime. We will study criminal gun trafficking to account for and address the emergence of “ghost guns.” In addition, we will continue to work in partnership with state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies, as well as the communities they serve, to develop locally-based violent crime reduction solutions that target the most significant drivers of violent crime – including gun violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal organizations, narcotics trafficking, firearms trafficking, human trafficking, and other forces. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent of federal violent crime defendants’ cases favorably resolved ^ • Volume of U.S. Attorney’s Office records uploaded to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System ^ • Percent of grantees that conduct community engagement activities as part of the program planning for their crime reduction initiativePrioritizationTarget the Most Significant Violent Crime Problems_b68b819a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.3.1Addressing gun violence remains a key element of the Justice Department’s violence reduction strategy. The Department will continue its Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which brings together various Department components and state, local, and Tribal law enforcement communities. Four key elements comprise this program: community engagement; prevention and intervention; focused and strategic enforcement; and accountability. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices will draw on research and analysis to determine the most effective strategies, consistent with those elements, for disrupting violent crime in their districts. We will build on current efforts to identify and disrupt the schemes used to put otherwise lawfully owned firearms into the hands of violent criminals. And we will continue to leverage innovative technological and analytical tools, including the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to address the most significant violent crime threats.PartnershipsEnhance Partnerships with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement_b68b847e-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.3.2The Department will continue to strengthen its partnerships with federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement, including through joint enforcement efforts, training and technical assistance, and grants. By working together, the Department and its partners can learn from each other, share best practices designed to prevent crime, and focus enforcement efforts.ViolenceInvest in Community-Based Programs to Prevent Violence_b68b8686-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.3.3CommunitiesIn recent years, community organizations have developed innovative approaches to intervention and support for those at the highest risk of engaging in or becoming victims of violence. Experience and research have shown that prevention and intervention can be highly effective complements to the strategic enforcement of criminal laws. Although these kinds of programs are almost always best coordinated by state and local partners, the Department plays a significant role in supporting them through grant funding, training, and technical assistance. The Department will continue to work with community stakeholders on measures to deter participation in gang activity, violent extremism, racially motivated violence, or other violent hate crimes, and to build community trust to increase reporting of hate crimes. Cybersecurity & CybercrimeEnhance Cybersecurity and Fight Cybercrime_b68b8d02-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea002.4Protecting our national security also requires countering cyber threats from foreign and domestic actors – whether nation states, terrorists, or criminals – who seek to conduct espionage, invade our privacy, attack our elections, steal our intellectual property, damage our financial and physical infrastructure, or extort ransom payments. In 2021, cyberattacks caused significant financial damage and extensive harm to governments, critical infrastructure, and industries worldwide. The effects of cyberattacks are also felt by individuals, in the form of identity theft, account hacking, email compromise schemes, and cyberstalking. The rise of cryptocurrencies also enables cybercriminals, terrorists, and nation states to acquire tools and collaborate and launder their criminal proceeds in new and challenging ways. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility among those who use our digital infrastructure, those who build it, and those who are entrusted with governing it. ^ The Department serves as the lead federal agency for cyber threat response and maintains primary domestic responsibility for identifying, disrupting, prosecuting, and otherwise deterring malicious cyber actors. The Department works with our partners here and abroad to defend networks, attribute malicious activity, sanction bad behavior, and take the fight to adversaries overseas. The Department relies in part upon private sector reports to help detect and understand ongoing activities by adversaries, and shares knowledge gained from investigations with the private sector to help defend their networks and customers. In doing this work, the Department maintains the public’s trust by ensuring compliance with all privacy and security requirements. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent increase in disruptions of malicious cyber actors’ use of online infrastructure through proactive operations and judicial means ^ • Percent of reported ransomware incidents from which cases are opened, added to existing cases, or resolved or investigative actions are conducted within 72 hours ^ • Percent increase in operations conducted jointly with strategic partners ^ • Percent of confirmed cyber incidents to Department systems ^ • Number of threat advisories disseminated to the private sector Contributing DOJ Components: CIV, CRM, NSD, USAO, FBI, COPS, JMD, OPCLThreatsDeter, Disrupt, and Prosecute Cyber Threats_b68b8fe6-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.4.1The Department will bring to justice those who commit cyberattacks, whether they are lone actors, elements of transnational organized crime groups, or acting on behalf of nation states or terrorist groups. In parallel, the Department will work to disrupt and dismantle the online infrastructure that facilitates cyberattacks and to seize the criminal proceeds of such crimes. We will develop investigations, prosecutions, and policy that complement and strengthen these disruption efforts and the disruption efforts of the Department’s domestic and international partners. ^ To accomplish these goals, the Department will enhance its own technological and investigative capabilities. The Department will address supply chain vulnerabilities, support other government agencies and the private sector, and identify new sources of evidence and intelligence. In addition, the Department will continue to develop ways to attribute cyberattacks, to respond to and engage victims and targeted entities, and to provide intelligence to help victims recover and strengthen their defenses. Finally, we will continue to develop our own cyber expertise by investing in recruitment, training, and capacity building.PartnershipsStrengthen Interagency, Intergovernmental, International, and Private-Sector Partnerships to Fight Cybercrime_b68b91f8-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.4.2Cybersecurity requires cooperation and coordination across many public, private, and international stakeholders. The Department will bolster its interagency and international collaborations to aid attribution, defend networks, sanction bad behavior, and otherwise deter or disrupt cyber adversaries overseas. The Department will continue to strengthen relationships with, and build coalitions of, like-minded countries to work with the United States in combating cybercrime. The Department will also leverage the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF) for joint and sequenced operational planning. In addition, because the private sector and academia manage the overwhelming majority of the nation’s critical infrastructure, research, and innovation, the Department will work with these entities to improve information sharing and to encourage the reporting of suspected criminal and other hostile cyber activity.SystemsSafeguard Justice Department Systems_b68b99d2-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.4.3The Department, like all components of the U.S. Government, must protect its information. The Department will protect its information from internal and external threats, whether malicious or unwitting, through training, personnel security measures to deter and prevent insider threats, and robust information system security and physical security. The Department will improve its use of multifactor authentication, encryption, and other security measures, both when communicating internally and when communicating with partners inside and outside the federal government.ResilienceEnhance Cyber Resilience Outside the Department_b68b9cde-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.4.4The Department will work with the private sector and other government agencies to share vital information they can use to strengthen their cyber defenses and resilience. The Department will help the private sector identify and address their vulnerabilities through threat intelligence sharing and targeted outreach. We will also continue to support policy efforts to protect the digital supply chain, federal information systems, and critical infrastructure against vulnerabilities. And we will ensure that the tools used to protect our networks are deployed consistent with federal law and the Constitution. The Department will also use available authorities, including the False Claims Act, to hold accountable anyone who puts U.S. government information or assets at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols, or violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches.Drugs & OverdosesCombat Drug Trafficking and Prevent Overdose Deaths_b68b9f04-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea002.5Contributing DOJ ComponentsCIV, CRM, CRT, USAO, OCDETF, DEA, FBI, COPS, OJP, JMD Drug trafficking and substance abuse continue to take a significant toll on the American public. In the twelve months between September 2020 and September 2021, more than 104,000 Americans died due to drug overdose. The overwhelming majority of these deaths involved opioids. The Department will address this harm in several ways. The Department will combat transnational drug trafficking organizations. These organizations are operating a $500 billion industry that fuels corruption, violence, and terrorism around the globe. ^ In addition, the Department will address the evolving nature of the illicit drug threat, on both the dark and clear webs. While the dark web remains a threat, social media and e-commerce platforms on the clear web have emerged as new marketplaces to buy and sell counterfeit pills, opioids, and other drugs, as well as dangerous precursor chemicals and the equipment used to manufacture pills. Many of the counterfeit pills sold online, which look exactly like actual pharmaceuticals, are marketed to kids, teens, and young adults, and are often mixed with synthetic fentanyl – the leading driver of the overdose epidemic. Dismantling illicit online drug marketplaces and holding responsible corporations – including responsible executives – who enable these illicit drug marketplaces, are critical to preventing overdoses and stemming the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities. ^ The Justice Department will also continue to detect, limit, and deter fraud and illegal prescription, distribution, and diversion offenses that result in patient harm. Finally, the Department will address the needs of individuals involved with the justice system who have substance use and mental health disorders to promote longterm recovery. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent of disruptions or dismantlements of drug trafficking organizations focused on the highest priority targets ^ • Amount of diversion, nationally, of opioids and stimulants ^ • Percent of relevant-funded grantee programs that provide medication-assisted-treatment, which includes medication plus counseling, as part of their substance use disorder services TraffickingDisrupt and Dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations_b68ba67a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.5.1The Department will use all available resources to combat drug trafficking in the United States. We will simultaneously target the trafficking organizations, their financial infrastructure, and their distribution networks. We will share information across components and in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies. We will employ enhanced intelligence analysis and scientific research to target, investigate, and prosecute traffickers participating in significant transnational, national, and regional drug trafficking organizations. And we will target international sources of supply, money launderers, international and domestic transportation organizations, and regional and local distribution networks.Crime, Addiction & DeathReduce Deaths and Addiction Driven by Drug Crime_b68ba990-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.5.2As part of our effort to address the opioid epidemic, we will focus our attention on the diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances to illegitimate consumers. The Department will continue to employ advanced data analytics to identify and investigate suspicious billing and prescription patterns. We will also prosecute medical professionals and corporations – including responsible executives – involved in the illegal prescription, diversion, and distribution of opioids. Finally, we will continue to evaluate drug prescription quotas and investigate and prosecute fraud and kickback schemes in the substance use treatment industry.Prevention & TreatmentExpand Access to Evidence-Based Prevention and Treatment_b68babd4-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.5.3In conjunction with other agencies, the Department will work to ensure that individuals with substance use disorders get the treatment and ongoing support they need. The Department will support the expansion of evidence-based, opioid-use disorder treatment options, including for incarcerated individuals and those reentering the community. For the public at large, the Department will work with other agencies to reform regulations to increase access to medication-assistedtreatment and assist states and localities in implementing such programs. The Department will also work with state, local, and Tribal partners to increase access to recovery support services and continuity of care across public safety and public health systems. In addition, the Department will aggressively enforce the civil rights laws on behalf of people with substance use and mental health disorders. ^ More broadly, the Department will also promote evidence-based crisis response deflection, diversion, and alternatives to incarceration, and will support education and training about substance use disorders for public safety professionals and others across the justice system. To stop the cycle of substance use before it starts, we will invest in prevention efforts, particularly for youth, and combat the stigma associated with substance use disorders. Vulnerable CommunitiesProtect Vulnerable Communities_b68bb390-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea002.6Vulnerable CommunitiesThe Department must be vigilant in protecting and supporting all communities, including the most vulnerable among us. We have a special obligation to protect children, whose victimization ripples through families, communities, and society at large. Likewise, elder abuse, fraud, and neglect remain urgent problems in this country, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new wave of exploitative practices targeted at seniors. The Department also has a unique legal relationship with, and responsibility to, federally recognized Tribes. Gender-based violence, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, cuts across socioeconomic, racial, and geographic lines. In addition, low-income communities, LGBTQI+ communities, communities of color, people with disabilities, non-citizens, and victims of human trafficking face disproportionately high rates of victimization. The Department is dedicated to rectifying these disparities. ^ When crimes do occur, the Department is committed to treating crime victims with dignity and respect throughout their involvement in the federal criminal justice system. The Department will provide support and promote services for victims and their families, including through grantmaking and collaborations with state, local, and Tribal partners. Strategy 2.6.1: Promote and Improve Programs for Victims of Crime_b68bb80e-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.6.1Strategy 2.6.1: The Department will promote trauma-informed, victim-centered, culturally competent law enforcement and prosecutorial responses to crime. We are committed to preventing further victimization by the criminal justice system. To that end, we will provide evidence-based training and technical assistance designed to increase awareness of victims’ rights and best practices. The Department will work to increase the accessibility of services for all crime victims who need them, including by embedding victim services in the response to community violence. In addition, the Department will help ensure that services and support reach communities that experience crime victimization at disproportionate rates. The Department’s grant programs will coordinate with federal, state, local, and Tribal partners to promote individual and community healing, including by supporting programs (including counseling, advocacy, legal aid, housing, and mental health services) that minimize additional trauma and restore individuals’ sense of safety.Gender-Based ViolenceCombat Gender-Based Violence_b68bbaac-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.6.2The Department will reaffirm its efforts to prevent violence against women and hold perpetrators accountable. We will enforce the federal domestic violence, sexual assault, and criminal and civil anti-harassment laws. We will channel financial, training, and technical assistance resources toward the effective investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases. These efforts will include increased training of law enforcement personnel to deal with the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of gender-based violence, support for economic justice interventions, public education, and outreach, particularly in underserved communities. In addition to traditional tools, we will partner with community-based service providers to expand access. The Department will also promote collaboration between law enforcement and other community entities that serve survivors to help ensure a coordinated approach to prevention and enforcement. ^ With respect to grants, the Department will both invest in programs that have a strong track record of success and will support innovative new programs that advance community-based, culturally specific responses. The Department will also use cutting-edge information and scientific research to guide the implementation of effective strategies, policies, and practices to combat gender-based violence.ChildrenProtect Children from Crime and Exploitation_b68bc362-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.6.3ChildrenThe Justice Department is determined to make America safer for our young people. We will vigorously enforce all federal laws against those who target children online and in the physical world. We will work across the federal government to fully implement protections and address gaps in current law and services for victims of child exploitation and abuse, including in the education and juvenile justice settings. The Department will also work with its state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners to improve the response, investigation, prosecution, and support for victims in child abuse and exploitation cases. The Department will pursue these goals through training and technical assistance for justice system officials, victim service professionals, and law enforcement.Older AmericansFight Elder Fraud, Abuse, and Exploitation_b68bc88a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.6.4Older AmericansEvery year, millions of older Americans are abused, neglected, and financially exploited, often by those who are entrusted to care for them. The Justice Department is committed to using all of its tools, including enforcement actions, public awareness campaigns, training, technical assistance, victims’ services, and legal aid, to ensure that seniors receive the support and protections they deserve. In particular, the Department will use civil and criminal enforcement actions to reduce the devastating effects of fraud schemes affecting older adults, including those operated and facilitated by transnational criminal organizations. We will seek to mitigate the economic hardships caused by such crimes by protecting victims’ assets and returning forfeited funds to victims of financial scams. And we will train law enforcement and industry partners to identify, prevent, and report elder fraud and abuse schemes, and collaborate with state and local governments, private businesses, and other external stakeholders to engage in concerted outreach to vulnerable Americans, including older adults, to offer information that may prevent harm or allow victims to obtain assistance. Public education and direct outreach are crucial to help older adults recognize the warning signs of potential abuse.Indian CountryPromote Safety and Justice in Indian Country_b68bcbe6-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.6.5The Justice Department will prioritize working alongside Tribal law enforcement partners to deter and address serious crimes in Indian country. At the same time, the Department will work to empower Tribal justice systems, including by providing services, technical assistance, and other resources to allow Tribal communities to protect their members from harm. The Department will work with Tribal partners to develop strategies for early intervention and prevention with respect to Tribal victims facing trauma, mental health, and substance abuse issues.Hate CrimesProtect Communities from Hate Crimes_b68bd320-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 2.6.6CommunitiesAll people in this country should be able to live without fear of being attacked or harassed because of where they are from, what they look like, whom they love, or how they worship. Hate crimes and other bias-related incidents instill fear across entire communities and undermine the principles upon which our democracy stands. The Department will continue to combat unlawful acts of hate, including by improving incident reporting, increasing law enforcement training and coordination at all levels of government, prioritizing community outreach, and making better use of civil enforcement mechanisms. Through these steps, the Department will deter hate crimes, address them when they occur, support those who are victimized, and reduce the pernicious effects of these incidents on our society.Civil RightsProtect Civil Rights_b68bd668-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea003The Justice Department was founded during Reconstruction to protect the civil rights promised by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. This work required confronting the racist conduct of the Ku Klux Klan and others who used terror and violence to keep Black Americans from exercising their rights. Today, more than 150 years after the Department’s founding, far too many Americans still face discrimination. Among other things, discrimination persists in voting, housing, and the criminal justice system, and historically underserved communities have disproportionately borne the brunt of the harm caused by pandemic, pollution, and climate change. We honor the Department’s history by committing to a whole-of-Department approach to protecting civil rights and reducing barriers to equal justice and equal enjoyment of the rights, privileges, and immunities established by the Constitution and laws of the United States.VotingProtect the Right to Vote_b68bd8de-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea003.1Contributing DOJ ComponentsCRM, CRT, USAO, BOP, FBI, USMSThe right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy – the right from which all other rights ultimately flow. The Department has a longstanding role in protecting the right of American citizens to participate in fair and free elections. In recent years, state legislatures across the country have introduced laws that restrict eligible voters from accessing the ballot or that otherwise have the intent or effect of discriminating against voters on account of their race, color, or language minority status. Historical barriers limiting ballot access for voters with disabilities or voters with limited English proficiency also persist. There has also been an alarming increase in the number of violent and other unlawful threats against election officials, workers, and volunteers. These threats are an affront to our system of government and undermine public confidence in our election results. The Department will use every tool at its disposal to address these challenges. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Number of new Voting Rights Act matters initiated ^ • Percent of cases prosecuting threats of violence and intimidation against election officials that are favorably resolved ^ • Percent of BOP facilities providing structured curriculum on voting rights to releasing individualsRightsEnforce Federal Laws that Protect Voting Rights_b68be144-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.1.1The Department will use all appropriate tools to protect the right to vote by enforcing federal laws that protect voting rights. We will evaluate a wide range of voting statutes and practices implicating ballot access to determine whether filing a new lawsuit or filing a statement of interest or amicus brief in an existing lawsuit is appropriate. We will also investigate election methods that may result in vote dilution on account of race or language minority status in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. We will bring enforcement actions to remedy any violations identified. Additionally, we will assist state and local jurisdictions in fulfilling their obligations under federal voting rights statutes. As part of this effort, we will review existing guidance documents and, where necessary, issue new guidance to election officials and the public.ElectionsSafeguard Fair Elections_b68be57c-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.1.2The Department will increase our focus on safeguarding election workers and voters by prosecuting criminal behavior, including violence and threats of violence. Our task force to combat threats against election workers investigates criminal threats; trains federal, state, and local law enforcement; and engages in extensive outreach with state and local election officials to gain greater insight into the nature of the threats they face. The Department will continue to train personnel throughout the Department to better identify and respond to potential intimidation of, and interference with, voters. Where state or local law enforcement is the most appropriate solution to a threat, we will work with our state and local partners to respond. We will not hesitate to prosecute election crimes when they occur. Such crimes include violations of campaign finance laws, ballot fraud, and cognizable discrimination. In addition, we will maintain public confidence in federal election crime enforcement by observing, enhancing, and publicizing rigorous safeguards against improper intrusion on state and local election administration and by adhering to decades-long policies designed to ensure that partisan interests never influence our operations.BallotsIncrease Ballot Access for Eligible Voters_b68be860-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.1.3VotersThe Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), in consultation with the Civil Rights Division (CRT), will continue to promote and expand voting among eligible voters in federal custody pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 14019. The Civil Rights Division is committed to providing technical assistance to federal agencies about obligations and opportunities with respect to voter registration and the National Voter Registration Act, including by engaging with agencies that are interested in securing official state designation as “voter registration agencies” under that statute. We are also committed to working with the Department of Defense and election officials to facilitate the smooth implementation of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.Discrimination & HateCombat Discrimination and Hate Crimes_b68beffe-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea003.2Contributing DOJ ComponentsCRM, CRT, USAO, FBI, ATJ, COPS, CRS, OJP, OTJ, OVWCombating discrimination and unlawful acts of hate remain an urgent and pressing mandate for the Justice Department. Historically, more than half of all hate crimes motivated by race and ethnicity have targeted Black Americans. In recent years, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and businesses have experienced hateful, xenophobic rhetoric and violence. We have also seen sharp increases in hate crimes motivated by the sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim. And we have seen acts of hate that target houses of worship and religious communities. The Justice Department does not investigate or prosecute people because of their ideology or the views they hold, no matter how vile. However, the Department does have the authority, and will not hesitate to act, when individuals commit violent acts that are motivated by bias or hatred. More broadly, the Department will aggressively enforce federal statutes that protect against discrimination and other civil rights violations. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Number of Title VII and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA) investigations ^ • Number of Limited English Proficiency individuals who access department-funded materials in their native language to understand federal hate crimes and antidiscrimination laws ^ • Percent of United States Attorney’s Offices that meet at least annually with local law enforcement partners and community stakeholders to collaborate on efforts to prevent hate crimes and incidents ^ • Percent of criminal cases addressing civil rights violations, including hate crimes, favorably resolvedDiscriminationEnforce Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws_b68bf3dc-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.2.1The Department will enforce federal statutes that protect against discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, or disability, as well as those that protect the civil rights of servicemembers, incarcerated persons and individuals housed in public institutions, and individuals with limited English proficiency. Unlawful hate incidents may occur in the context of education, employment, or housing, and thus may violate a number of federal laws, including Title IX; Titles IV, VI, and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Fair Housing Act; and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.HateDeter and Prosecute Hate Crimes_b68bf6e8-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.2.2In October 2021, the FBI elevated hate crimes and criminal civil rights violations to its highest-level national threat priority, which will increase the resources for hate crimes prevention and investigations and make hate crimes a focus for all 56 of the Bureau’s field offices. The Attorney General has appointed a hate crimes coordinator in the Office of the Associate Attorney General and designated the Criminal Section Chief in the Civil Rights Division to facilitate an expedited review of hate incidents to determine whether they violate federal criminal laws, in accordance with the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. The Department will also maximize its use of non-criminal resources to address unlawful hate incidents, including through efforts by the Community Relations Service to promote healing after serious incidents occur.ResourcesLeverage Resources to Prevent Hate Crimes_b68bffd0-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.2.3Enforcement alone will not eradicate unlawful acts of hate or mend the wounds they create. The Department is committed to assisting communities across the country through community services and grant programs. In particular, the Department will leverage three new grant programs in the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act to prevent hate crimes. These programs provide funds for law enforcement entities to transition to the FBI’s National Incident Base Reporting System (NIBRS); for states to establish hate crime reporting hotlines; and for anti-hate law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs. The Department will also work to ensure that communities targeted for hate are at the center of policymaking decisions and are empowered to develop community-based approaches to hate crimes response and prevention.PartnersSupport State and Local Partners in Combating Discrimination and Hate_b68c035e-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.2.4The Department will improve coordination and consistency between its components in the investigation and prosecution of federal civil rights statutes. We will also work with other federal agencies, stakeholders, and Congress to develop policies, programs, legislation, regulatory action, research, and grantmaking to strengthen federal civil rights outreach, enforcement, and coordination. Enforcement efforts will address longstanding discrimination and harm to vulnerable communities, as well as meet the civil rights demands of the moment, including by developing new strategies to confront bias resulting from artificial intelligence or algorithmic decisionmaking. We will seek to ensure that recipients of federal financial assistance comply with civil rights laws, do not engage in or perpetuate discriminatory policies or practices, and provide equitable access to services and benefits, through complaint investigations and compliance reviews, training and technical assistance, and other appropriate mechanisms.Justice SystemsReform and Strengthen the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems_b68c0606-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea003.3Contributing DOJ ComponentsCRM, CRT, USAO, ATF, BOP, DEA, FBI, USMS, ATJ, COPS, CRS, OJP, OLP, OTJ, OVW, PARDONCriminal and juvenile justice systems – at the federal, state, local, and Tribal levels – serve an important role in protecting communities and seeking justice for victims. For these systems to be effective, they must be fair, open, and equitable; ensure that sanctions are proportional to the gravity of offenses committed; utilize evidence-based approaches; show mercy where appropriate; and promote rehabilitation. For too long, however, these systems have not lived up to their promise. The Justice Department is committed to using every tool available to become a national and international role model for innovative and effective criminal and juvenile justice reform. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent of federal law enforcement officers who receive Use of Force Sustained Training within a three-year period ^ • Percent of participants in Community Relations Services (CRS)-facilitated police-community relations programs who perceive stronger community capacity to address alleged inequities ^ • Percent of federal law enforcement officers equipped with body-worn cameras and associated training ^ • Percent of Justice Assistance Grant Program law enforcement grantees using innovative and evidence-based practicesTrustPromote Trust Between Communities and Law Enforcement_b68c1132-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.3.1CommunitiesLaw EnforcementCommunity trust in law enforcement is essential to making policing more effective and less dangerous for officers on the street. The Department will strengthen relationships between law enforcement officers and communities through continuous review and revisions of operating procedures. The Department will also deploy resources to facilitate productive engagement between community and law enforcement leaders. In addition, our grantmaking components will continue to provide funds to assist police departments around the country in improving their practices, including by promoting policies that benefit communities and enhance trust. Most of our nation’s law enforcement officers do their difficult jobs honorably and lawfully. Where appropriate, however, the Department will investigate whether law enforcement agencies are engaging in patterns or practices that deprive individuals of their federal or constitutional rights.TransparencyImprove Law Enforcement Transparency and Accountability_b68c15ba-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.3.2The Department must establish a culture of transparency and accountability. In working towards this goal, the Department will undertake use-of-force reviews to assess policy compliance and de-escalation training opportunities. The Department will seek to ensure that federal law enforcement and prosecutors incorporate changes in best practices, with a particular focus on trauma-information scenario-based training and social interaction skills. Our law enforcement agencies will also continue to develop and implement new Justice Department policies, including policies regarding chokehold restraints, no-knock search warrants, and bodyworn cameras. Finally, the Department will support the training of our state, local and Tribal partners to learn, apply, and promote best practices.Charging & SentencingReform Charging and Sentencing Practices_b68c18bc-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.3.3The Department will pursue reforms to charging and sentencing practices in federal cases, particularly those that involve drug trafficking offenses and crack/powder cocaine. These reforms will work to eliminate racial and other disparities in the federal criminal justice system, promote the reasoned exercise of prosecutorial discretion, and foster trust and legitimacy in the communities we serve. The Department will incentivize similar reforms for state, local, Tribal, and territorial jurisdictions through the Department’s grantmaking programs.Innovation & ReformPromote Innovation and Reform in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System_b68c20f0-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.3.4Through our grantmaking programs and partnerships, the Department will incentivize criminal justice reform efforts at the state and local level that strengthen our communities and advance racial equity. Specifically, the Department will partner with researchers and directly affected communities to identify, fund, and support innovative, evidence-informed justice reform strategies, and will subsequently circulate knowledge about these strategies across the nation. We will support training, technical assistance, and other ways of sharing knowledge and resources so that promising approaches to criminal justice reform can be tested, refined, and replicated. We will work on centering the voices of impacted individuals in planning and grantmaking activities. We will use our grantmaking and technical assistance mechanisms to support state and local governments, community-based organizations, and other federally funded entities in building data capacity, thereby ensuring that decisions related to criminal justice reform are based on reliable, valid, complete, and timely information. Finally, we will increase coordination among grantmaking and civil rights enforcement components to combat practices that push students, particularly students of color and those with disabilities, out of schools and into the criminal and juvenile justice systems.JusticeExpand Equal Access to Justice_b68c2550-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea003.4Contributing DOJ ComponentsCRT, ENRD, USTP, ATJ, EOIR, OJP, OTJ, OVW, JMD Millions of people across the United States face barriers and inefficiencies in our legal systems that undermine trust in government and the rule of law. The Department of Justice has a fundamental responsibility to expand equal access to justice for all, regardless of income, status, or identity. Equal access to justice requires innovative and community-centered approaches, including through improving the Department’s use of technology, expanding language and disability access, and pursuing culturally competent approaches. Equal access to justice also requires transparency, study, and constant evaluation through improved research and data collection to better understand access-to-justice gaps and better gauge whether programs are effective, equitable, and accessible. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent of eligible individuals represented by consistent defense counsel throughout that individual’s justice system involvement ^ • Number of Justice Department strategic partnerships established by the Office for Access to JusticeAccessibilityIncrease Justice System Accessibility_b68c28c0-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.4.1While access to justice entails more than legal assistance, the Department recognizes the crucial difference that access to counsel can make in helping people understand and make decisions about legal issues. Indeed, access to counsel is directly linked to better outcomes in legal proceedings. While legal assistance is a constitutional right in criminal cases, public defenders handle extremely large caseloads that can jeopardize their ability to provide quality and timely representation. The Department will reaffirm its commitment to supporting the highest standards in criminal defense, including through training, legal assistance, and sharing best practices with state, local, Tribal, and territorial counterparts. We will also work to support public defense and to ensure that defenders have a voice on government commissions, committees, working groups, and in legislative and policy decisionmaking. ^ In addition, we will work to close the gap between the demand for and supply of quality legal assistance in noncriminal matters. This includes coordinating interagency efforts, channeling federal grant funding, facilitating strategic partnerships outside government, and promoting policies to expand access to legal services in civil proceedings, including immigration and bankruptcy proceedings. The Department will also promote pro bono programs and facilitate pro bono work by federal government employees.InnovationAccelerate Justice System Innovation_b68c33e2-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.4.2The Department will reinvigorate the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ), positioning it to advance statutory, policy, and practice changes that improve equal access to justice, with racial equity and economic justice at the forefront. ATJ will work across the Department and across the executive branch - including through the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable - to leverage federal resources to improve equal access to justice. In particular, ATJ will focus on reducing structural barriers that hold back courts and legal service providers from successful transformation and will work to accelerate innovation in the administrative proceedings that the Department manages. ATJ will also facilitate partnerships to achieve equal access to justice objectives, establishing strategic partnerships with state, local, Tribal, and territorial governmental actors, as well as social service providers, public defenders, civil legal aid providers, courts, community members, and legal technology experts. ^ The Department also recognizes that access-to-justice policies must extend beyond the judicial process. We will expand research and innovative strategies to promote less lawyer-intensive and court-intensive solutions to legal problems. We will promote fair and efficient systems that produce resolutions based on the facts and applicable law and ensure that participants are heard, treated fairly, and understand outcomes. In addition, we will seek to ensure that the Department’s grants, and the services and programs funded by those grants, further equal access to justice.AccountabilitySafeguard Justice System Accountability_b68c38c4-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.4.3The Department will advance equal access to justice by promoting the accountability and integrity of justice systems. ATJ will work to combat economic barriers, such as unjust fines and fees, and will pursue equal access to economic justice systems, including in bankruptcy, consumer protection, and eviction and foreclosure proceedings. ATJ will strive to remove obstacles that prevent meaningful access to counsel and courts for members of underserved communities and will oppose laws and policies that criminalize poverty. ATJ will also pursue uniformity in Department- and government-wide policies and litigation positions relating to equal access to justice. In particular, ATJ will lead interagency efforts to pursue equal access to justice by housing the Executive Director and staff of the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable and will serve as the central authority in the executive branch on access to justice before international and multilateral organizations.Climate & Environmental JusticeAdvance Environmental Justice and Tackle the Climate Crisis_b68c3c70-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea003.5Contributing DOJ ComponentsCIV, CRT, ENRD, USAO, FBI, ATJ, CRS, OJP, JMD Although environmental crime and injustice can happen anywhere, communities of color, low-income communities, and Tribal communities often bear the highest burden of the harm caused by environmental crime, pollution, and climate change. Equal justice does not exist where a person’s race or income determines their level of exposure to environmental and climate hazards that trigger deleterious health effects and diminished quality of life. ^ In recent years, the instability created by natural disasters and extreme weather events associated with climate change has emerged as a national security threat. Altered weather patterns due to climate change produce fires, floods, and, most recently, hard freezes in locations without the appropriate infrastructure for tolerating such events. Low-income and underserved communities, as well as communities of color, are disproportionately impacted by these events. Additionally, the negative effects of climate change on agriculture and aquaculture impact both food prices and distribution, creating further insecurity for these communities. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Number of Environmental Justice Coordinators designated ^ • Percent of participants in CRS-facilitated environmental justice programs who perceive stronger community capacity to address alleged inequities ^ • Number of matters that address adverse environmental and public health effects brought under civil rights statutes ^ • Percent of environmental enforcement matters in or substantially affecting overburdened and underserved communities that are favorably resolved ^ • Energy intensity used by the DepartmentEnvironmental JusticeImplement a Comprehensive Strategy to Advance Environmental Justice_b68c459e-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.5.1The Department will expand efforts to collaborate with federal agencies, state, local, Tribal, and territorial government partners, and others to identify significant human health and environmental harms in overburdened and underserved low-income communities, communities of color, and Tribal and indigenous communities. The Department will prioritize the development of effective short- and long-term strategies for reducing these environmental and public health burdens. The Department will also ensure that the federal government consistently enforces anti-discrimination laws in a manner that will advance environmental justice, improve data collection from federal grant recipients to support our enforcement activities, and provide guidance to federal agencies that provide federal financial assistance to programs or activities affecting the environment and human health. ^ To ensure coordination among components and to provide leadership and guidance, the Department has established an Office of Environmental Justice. This office will integrate environmental justice work throughout the Department’s components and in each U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Department will improve efforts to engage communities with environmental justice concerns and promote greater public participation in decisions affecting human health and the environment. The Department will work to increase the availability of legal services following environmental and climate-related disasters, ensuring that underserved communities have the assistance they need to access legal protections, public benefits, and mechanisms for obtaining available remedies. The Department will also use its resources to help reduce tensions and conflicts concerning environmental justice matters that are based on differences of race, color, and national origin, and to help communities navigate complex legal and regulatory schemes to ensure their access to clean water and air and other natural resources.Climate CrisisImplement a Comprehensive Strategy to Tackle the Climate Crisis_b68c4a3a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 3.5.2The Department’s ongoing litigation is already on the front lines of the climate crisis. This litigation includes enforcement actions to address multiple aspects of the climate crisis, ranging from polluting facilities to refrigerants and illegal logging. The Department will also use tools in existing statutes to prioritize enforcement actions that will reduce greenhouse emissions, achieve emission reductions and relief that mitigate the impact of past violations, and hold violators accountable for committing environmental crimes. We will also mount defensive litigation to protect government action that addresses greenhouse gas emissions and promotes climate resilience and the health of the environment. ^ Internally, the Department is committed to combating the climate crisis by integrating the most current climate science and assessment of climate-related risks into the management of its procurement, real property, and financial programs. In response to Executive Order 14008, we will fulfill the Climate Action Plan, which commits the Department to bolstering our adaptive capacity, enhancing climate literacy among employees, and ensuring climate-ready facilities and supply of products and services.Economic Opportunity & FairnessEnsure Economic Opportunity and Fairness for All_b68c4d96-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea004A fair economy is foundational to the American dream. Fraud, theft, corruption, bribery, environmental crime, market manipulation, and anticompetitive agreements threaten the free and fair markets upon which our economy is based. They decimate the assets of individuals, organizations, and governments alike, and they increase costs for every American. Corporate crime also weakens our economic institutions by undermining public trust in the fairness of those institutions. In its pursuit of fair markets, the Department will help ensure that all companies compete by the same rules; that tax dollars flow to their intended recipients; and that corporate crime is deterred, detected, and prosecuted.Antitrust & Consumer ProtectionReinvigorate Antitrust Enforcement and Consumer Protection_b68c55c0-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea004.1Contributing DOJ ComponentsATR, CIV, CRM, TAX, USAO, USTP, FBIAntitrust and consumer protection laws are the charter of our economic liberty. The Department is committed to the vigorous enforcement of these laws. Robust enforcement ensures that all businesses play by the same rules and that Americans can compete and thrive. The Department will examine and prevent harmful mergers and will partner with other agencies to promote competition. In addition, the Department is committed to using criminal, civil, and administrative actions to protect consumers. The Department will work to ensure the safety of food, medicines, and consumer products, and will safeguard consumer information from unlawful acquisition and use. Using our full array of civil and criminal enforcement tools, we will hold accountable those who make fraudulent or misleading representations in the marketing of goods, especially where such conduct risks consumer harm. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Number of active civil non-merger investigations ^ • Percent of Consumer Protection Branch cases favorably resolvedAntitrust LawsInvestigate and Prosecute Violations of the Antitrust Laws_b68c5ade-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 4.1.1Corporate consolidation is occurring at a breakneck pace and technological changes continue to transform how consumers interact with companies and each other. The use of anticompetitive agreements and practices to unduly expand market dominance or consummate mergers that eliminate competitors or harm competition results in higher prices, lower wages, fewer products, and more harmful products, all of which impose burdens on the American public. ^ The Justice Department will aggressively enforce antitrust laws both by actively investigating and prosecuting the full range of anticompetitive practices across many sectors of the economy and by identifying gaps in our current legal system. This includes deterring, detecting, investigating, and prosecuting antitrust and related crimes that affect government procurement and the labor markets, and identifying where supply chain disruptions are used as cover for unlawful collusive conduct. The Department will also engage with state Attorneys General, the Federal Trade Commission, other federal agencies, and international enforcers to strengthen relationships and promote collaboration in maintaining free and competitive marketplaces and protecting consumers. The Department will also continue to participate in and support the President’s July 9, 2021, Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, including working collaboratively with other agencies as part of a “whole of government” approach to antitrust enforcement.MarketsPromote Competitive Markets_b68c5e3a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 4.1.2The Department will bring criminal and civil actions to prevent individuals and entities from gaining unfair advantage through fraudulent or deceptive conduct, including market manipulation and insider trading. We will also protect the interests of all stakeholders in the bankruptcy process by advocating for strict, equitable compliance with the law and by promoting management and professional accountability in business reorganization cases.Consumer ProtectionReinvigorate Consumer Protection_b68c6966-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 4.1.3ConsumersThe Department, in partnership with other agencies and foreign, state, and Tribal governments, will also advance criminal and civil actions under consumer protection laws. We will not tolerate the defrauding and obstruction of scientific and consumer protection agencies, which can jeopardize public trust in their important work. And we will protect the public from phone and email scammers and unscrupulous tax preparers.Corruption, Financial Crime & FraudCombat Corruption, Financial Crime, and Fraud_b68c6ede-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea004.2Contributing DOJ ComponentsCIV, CRM, TAX, USAO, FBIFinancial crime can be devastating for victims, wiping out a lifetime of savings. In 2020, reports of financial victimization via fraud, especially internet-enabled fraud, reached all-time highs. Even when there are no identifiable individual victims, corporate crime destabilizes markets and creates risks to consumers. To prevent and disrupt such violations, the Department will work to pursue not just corporations that participate in such practices, but also the individuals responsible. Finally, the government has an obligation to spend taxpayer dollars responsibly, which requires detecting, targeting, and reducing fraud in government contracting and programs. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent of corporate criminal cases in which individual responsibility was evaluated ^ • Percent of corporate criminal resolutions containing compliance reporting obligations that are evaluated by DOJ at least annually ^ • Number of criminal disruptions or dismantlements in public corruption and fraud against the government ^ • Percent of new contacts by the FBI with foreign anti-corruption agencies that progress to mutual sharing of information or assistance or result in a new international corruption caseCorporate CrimeDeter and Prosecute Corporate Crime_b68c7258-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 4.2.1The essence of the rule of law is that like cases are treated alike, and that there is not one rule for the rich and another for the poor. The Department will aggressively prosecute corporate crime, not only by holding companies accountable for their criminal conduct, but also by prosecuting the individuals who commit and profit from corporate malfeasance. The Department will emphasize to the private sector and the investing public that corporations, and the individuals who run them, must comply with the law. The FBI, as well as the Criminal Division and our U.S. Attorney’s Offices, will lead the Department’s corporate criminal enforcement efforts. In addition, the Department will partner with entities at every level of government and around the world to tackle corporate crime.Public CorruptionCombat Public Corruption_b68c7b7c-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 4.2.2The Department remains resolutely committed to enforcing domestic anti-corruption laws targeting the criminal corruption of federal, state, and local governments. Through enhanced coordination with law enforcement partners and prosecutors nationwide, as well as through expanded investigative analysis, the Department will seek to disrupt all efforts by government officials to criminally abuse and profit from their positions. The Department will also address the concomitant efforts of individuals seeking to corrupt these officials. Because of corruption’s corrosive effects on our democratic institutions, the Department will also continue to investigate and, as appropriate, prosecute bribery, extortion, fraud, and other criminal conduct by public officials or those who seek to corrupt them.International CorruptionCombat Corporate Corruption and Advance International Anti-Corruption Efforts_b68c7f8c-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 4.2.3The Department will continue to develop relationships and work in parallel with our foreign law enforcement partners to tackle the most complex international fraud, money laundering, and corruption schemes. Because transnational corruption can empower corrupt regimes and destabilize foreign governments – potentially resulting in significant threats to our national security – the Department will redouble its efforts to investigate and prosecute foreign corruption and to build the capacity of our foreign partners to combat corruption before those threats reach our shores.Courts & CorrectionsAdminister Just Court and Correctional Systems_b68c83b0-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea005Administering the federal prison system and immigration courts are among the Department’s most solemn responsibilities. Prison serves as a necessary deterrent to and consequence of criminal behavior, but it also provides an opportunity to prevent recidivism through rehabilitation and reentry programs that successfully reintegrate formerly incarcerated individuals into communities. Similarly, the rule of law requires that the immigration laws be enforced, but justice requires that this enforcement be humane and compassionate. In both realms, the Department strives to demonstrate the professionalism, integrity, and respect that are the Department’s hallmarks.CourtsAdminister an Equitable and Efficient Immigration Court System_b68c8c52-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea005.1Immigration Court SystemContributing DOJ ComponentsCIV, USAO, USMS, ATJ, EOIRThe Justice Department is responsible for equitably and efficiently administering our nation’s immigration courts. In January 2021, there were nearly 1.3 million outstanding cases before the immigration courts – the largest ever pending caseload. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Median case completion time ^ • Average number of vacancy-days for immigration adjudicator positions ^ • Percent of immigration judges who have received all relevant continuing legal education annually ^ • Visits to the Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR)ImmigrationReduce the Backlog of Immigration Cases_b68c90b2-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 5.1.1ImmigrantsThe Department will increase the capacity of the immigration adjudication system. We will continue to seek the necessary resources from Congress to develop a more efficient and forward-looking system for hiring immigration judges to ensure that vacancies, including any new positions provided by Congress, are filled in a timely manner. We will also work to provide both new and experienced immigration judges with process-oriented training to help them manage their courtrooms and dockets more efficiently. Finally, we will identify strategies for eliminating non-priority cases from the immigration courts to free up additional capacity.AdjudicationAdvance a Fair, Equitable, and Efficient Immigration Adjudication System_b68c947c-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 5.1.2Throughout the adjudication process, the Department will focus on both procedural and substantive fairness, including ensuring that adjudicators are impartial, that laws are applied humanely and equitably, that all parties are treated with respect and dignity, and that cases are resolved in accordance with the Administration’s priorities and all applicable laws and regulations. We will accomplish this, in part, by providing continued and increased training to immigration adjudicators and litigators—addressing topics including changes in immigration law; cultural differences that may be relevant in an adjudicatory or litigation context; and expectations about their individual responsibilities. We will also increase access to quality interpreters who provide full and complete translations during proceedings. We will enhance efforts to provide legal orientation and legal services to individuals, including those navigating immigration adjudication proceedings. Additionally, the Department will report on training efforts associated with immigration adjudication and litigation and will request from the public and relevant stakeholders suggested training topics for consideration.CourtsImprove Public Confidence in Immigration Courts_b68c9eb8-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 5.1.3Immigration CourtsThe Department will work to earn the public’s trust in the immigration court system. The Department will publicly release materials that clarify guidelines and expectations for hiring adjudicators, including the importance of diversity of professional experience. The Department will also provide greater transparency into the process for raising, adjudicating, and resolving concerns regarding the conduct and professionalism of immigration adjudicators and immigration practitioners. We will also publicize immigration adjudication and litigation data and priorities. ^ To ensure that noncitizens’ claims are fully considered, the Department will provide clear, public information in a variety of languages and formats concerning the immigration system and process; opportunities to find free or low-cost legal assistance; immigration law, regulatory, and policy information; and expectations for appropriate conduct by all parties to a proceeding—respondent, attorneys, and adjudicator. Additionally, consistent with appropriations, we will increase the reach of existing legal access programs and provide improved and new services, including the opportunity for noncitizens to seek personal guidance concerning general information not rising to the level of representation.PrisonsMaintain a Safe and Humane Prison System_b68ca304-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea005.2Contributing DOJ ComponentsCIV, BOP, USMS, OJP, USPCThe federal prison and pretrial detention systems are a critical part of the Department’s criminal justice mission. It is equally critical that prisons, detention centers, and community-based facilities are safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure. Adequate staffing is a prerequisite to safe and secure facilities, and we must ensure that even facilities in hard-to-recruit areas are fully staffed. Additionally, we must pay special attention to the changing health and safety needs of incarcerated individuals. As more individuals who have paid their debt to society complete their prison terms, we must combat barriers to reentry and proactively provide the tools and resources these individuals need to succeed and thrive. ^ ^ Key Performance Indicators: ^ • Percent of funded corrections officer positions filled at the end of each fiscal year ^ • Percent of inmates in federal custody who have successfully completed or are enrolled in an FSA program or activity ^ • Percent of inquiries from external stakeholders that BOP responds to within the target response timeHealth, Safety & WellbeingEnsure the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing of Incarcerated Individuals and Correctional Staff_b68ca656-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 5.2.1Incarcerated IndividualsCorrectional StaffThe Justice Department will confine incarcerated individuals in prisons and community-based facilities that are humane, cost-efficient, and secure. BOP will work to house inmates in the least restrictive setting necessary to ensure their own safety, as well as the safety of staff, other inmates, and the public. BOP will also ensure that any placement in restrictive housing is regularly reviewed and that restrictive housing units maintain adequate conditions for environmental, health, mental health, and fire safety. To these ends, BOP will seek to ensure that its hiring, retention, training, and evaluation practices are adequate to provide a safe environment for individuals and correctional staff. The Department will continue its hiring efforts to ensure that all BOP facilities have appropriate staffing levels to provide secure facilities and expand access to programs that reduce the risk of recidivism and in-prison misconduct. To accurately track staffing levels, BOP will develop and implement a reliable staffing model and stable hiring pipeline to anticipate vacancies and reduce the length of time positions are unfilled.ReentryFully Implement the First Step Act and Ease Barriers to Successful Reentry_b68cafde-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 5.2.2Formerly Incarcerated IndividualsThe Department must provide meaningful opportunities to incarcerated individuals for rehabilitation and reentry to the community. The Department will seek to ensure that it is faithfully executing the First Step Act (FSA) by continuing to revalidate the risk-and-needs assessment system; update any associated policies; deliver evidence-based rehabilitative programming opportunities to all incarcerated individuals; and develop performance metrics to track compliance with the statute on an ongoing, real-time basis. In addition, recognizing that contact with relatives and other loved ones is an important component of a rehabilitative environment, the Department will work to promote and facilitate family visitation. More broadly, the Department will also pursue efforts to support and promote policies that reduce unfair and disparate barriers to successful reentry to society and will coordinate with other agencies to expand access to housing, employment, health care, education, and other opportunities and supports for formerly incarcerated individuals.Accountability & OversightEnsure Transparency, Accountability, and Effective Oversight of All Federal Prisons and Detention Centers_b68cb42a-0193-11ed-a108-fa87f682ea00Strategy 5.2.3Federal PrisonsFederal Detention CentersTo ensure the heads of individual prisons and detention centers are accountable for their institutions, the Department will continuously monitor performance metrics. Additionally, the Department will empower appropriate components to thoroughly investigate allegations of improper conduct or adverse conditions at institutions, hold staff accountable for misconduct, and remedy improper conditions as promptly as possible. BOP will regularly disseminate information to the public, including data about prison populations, use of restrictive housing, availability and use of First Step Act programming, and recidivism rates of persons released from BOP custody.2021-10-012026-09-302022-07-12https://www.justice.gov/doj/book/file/1516901/downloadOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net