Rep. Costa Announces State Criminal Alien Assistance Program Reimbursement Funds

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) reimbursement funds for Kern, Kings, and Fresno Counties. SCAAP is a formula grant program which provides assistance to states and localities for correctional officer salary costs incurred for incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens. Kern County will receive approximately $942,850, Kings County will receive approximately $126,900, and Fresno County will receive approximately $1,038,345 in SCAAP funds for 2006. Overall, the State of California was awarded $91,781,092 in SCAAP funds.

"Our correctional officers are dealing with California's worst criminals on a daily basis, and these funds are badly needed to properly compensate them for the extra hours they put in dealing with illegal aliens who break the law," said Costa.

Costa has been a strong supporter of SCAAP, and has co-signed letters to House appropriators to fully fund SCAAP to ensure local law enforcement is paid back for their extra service. Today, Costa also co-signed a letter to House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wisconsin) to fund SCAAP to the Fiscal Year 2007 level of $405 million.

The SCAAP was created under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, which is part of the United States Department of Justice. Any state or locality that sustained costs for incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens is eligible to apply for SCAAP reimbursement. SCAAP payments can also be used to upgrade communications systems, construction of new jails, or to make overall improvements to the local criminal justice system.