The department shall: (1) promote the communication and coordination of all criminal and juvenile justice agencies; (2) study, evaluate, and report on: (a) the status of crime in the state; (b) the effectiveness of criminal justice policies, procedures, and programs that are directed toward the reduction of crime in the state; (c) programs initiated by state and local agencies to address reducing recidivism, including: (i) changes in penalties and sentencing guidelines intended to reduce recidivism; (ii) cost savings associated with the reduction in the number of inmates; and (iii) evaluation of expenses and resources needed to meet goals regarding the use of treatment as an alternative to incarceration, as resources allow; and (d) policies, procedures, and programs of other jurisdictions that have effectively reduced crime; (3) identify and promote the implementation of specific policies and programs the department determines will significantly reduce crime in the state; (4) provide analysis, accountability, and supervision for state and federal criminal justice grant money; (5) make recommendations to the commission regarding state and federal criminal justice grant money; (6) provide public information on the criminal and juvenile justice system and give technical assistance to agencies or local units of government on methods to promote public awareness; (7) promote research and program evaluation as an integral part of the criminal and juvenile justice system; (8) annually provide the commission with a comprehensive criminal justice plan for review; (9) review and make recommendations to the commission on agency forecasts regarding future demands on the criminal and juvenile justice system, including specific projections for secure bed space; (10) promote the development of criminal and juvenile justice information systems that are consistent with common standards for data storage and are capable of appropriately sharing information with other criminal justice information systems by: (a) developing and maintaining common data standards for use by all state criminal justice agencies; (b) annually performing audits of criminal history record information maintained by state criminal justice agencies to assess accuracy, completeness, and adherence to standards; (c) defining and developing state and local programs and projects associated with the improvement of information management for law enforcement and the administration of justice; and (d) establishing general policies concerning criminal and juvenile justice information systems and making rules as necessary to carry out the duties under Subsection (8) and this Subsection (10); (11) allocate and administer grants: (a) for approved education programs to help prevent the sexual exploitation of children; (b) for law enforcement operations and programs related to reducing illegal drug activity and related criminal activity; and (c) for pilot qualifying education programs; (12) request, receive, and evaluate: (a) data and recommendations collected and reported by: (i) agencies and contractors related to policies recommended by the commission regarding recidivism reduction, including the data described in Section 13-53-111 and Subsection 26B-5-102(2)(jj); and (ii) state agencies under Section 67-28-102; and (b) the aggregate data collected from prosecutorial agencies and the Administrative Office of the Courts, in accordance with Sections 75E-2-205, 75E-2-206, and 78A-2-109.5; (13) establish and administer a performance incentive grant program that allocates funds appropriated by the Legislature to programs and practices implemented by counties that reduce recidivism and reduce the number of offenders per capita who are incarcerated; (14) oversee or designate an entity to oversee the implementation of juvenile justice reforms; (15) make rules and administer the juvenile holding room standards and juvenile jail standards to align with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act requirements in accordance with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5633; (16) provide staff to the Victim Services Commission and to any subcommittee of the Victim Services Commission; (17) contract with a third party to assist the Victim Services Commission with reviewing and providing recommendations on: (a) the best practices and policies for crime victim services; (b) the structure and membership of the commission; (c) the purpose and duties of the commission, including any overlapping duties that the commission has with another state office, board, or commission; (d) the funding for crime victim services in this state, including the need for funding, the management of state funds for crime victim services, and the implementation of accountability and performance measures; and (e) any other issue related to the duties of the commission with which the third party may provide assistance; (18) compile a report of findings based on the data and recommendations provided under Section 13-53-111 that separates the data provided under Section 13-53-111 by each residential vocational or life skills program; (19) publish the report described in Subsection (18) on the department's website and annually provide the report to the Judiciary Interim Committee, the Health and Human Services Interim Committee, the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee, and the related appropriations subcommittees; (20) publish on the department's website: (a) the reports on genetic genealogy database utilization described in Section 53-25-401; and (b) the data and reports described in Subsection 75E-2-210(5); and (21) assist the governor with responsibilities related to extradition as directed by the governor under Section 77-30-2.5.
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