Information on public health emergencies

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Published: April 30, 2009

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) recognizes that public health emergencies, whether an epidemic or pandemic influenza, biological terrorist attack, or natural disaster with public health implications can threaten America's justice system and place the rule of law at risk.

BJA has undertaken a broad-scope initiative to identify the critical planning and response objectives for local justice systems and to identify lessons learned and promising approaches in preparing the justice system for such emergencies.

The goal of BJA's initiative is to ensure that the rule of law is upheld during any public health crisis, whether natural or manmade. This initiative's design parallels the major components of the justice system: law enforcement, courts, corrections, and communities.

Featured pandemic information:

Preparation of a guide on pandemic planning for courts: An intensive effort to create a guide for courts as they develop and implement a pandemic influenza preparedness plan.

The guide, entitled Guidelines for Pandemic Emergency Preparedness Planning: A Road Map for Courts, was produced by an eight-member, multidisciplinary task force representing expertise in the areas of judicial processes, public health administration, law enforcement, and judicial/public health system coordination.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pandemic/Pandemic_Road_Map.pdf

"A Framework for Improving Cross-Sector Coordination for Emergency Preparedness and Response: Action Steps for Public Health, Law Enforcement, the Judiciary and Corrections"
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pdf/Framework.pdf

"Coordinated Implementation of Community Response Measures (Including Social Distancing) to Control the Spread of Pandemic Respiratory Disease: A Guide for Developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Public Health, Law Enforcement, Corrections, and the Judiciary"
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pdf/CRM_MOU.pdf

BJA, with support from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), developed and released The Role of Law Enforcement in Public Health Emergencies: Special Considerations for an All-Hazards Approach, designed to guide law enforcement planning efforts related to public health emergencies.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pdf/role_law_enforce.pdf

Check out BJA's page featuring resources on pandemic preparedness:

"Preparing the Justice System for a Pandemic Influenza: Resources" on BJA's Web site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pandemic/resources.html

"Preparing the Justice System for a Pandemic Influenza and Other Public Health Emergencies" Page on BJA's Web site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pandemic/pandemic_main.html

Additional online articles:

"The Role of Local Government in Community Safety"
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/184218.pdf

Additional links:

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/