Posted on 09/03/2010 8:07:07 AM PDT by BobMcCartyWrites
If my experience with one Justice Department agency is indicative of the federal government as a whole, then I must conclude transparency causes "blindness."
Several times during the past 18 months, I've contacted people at the National Institute of Justice -- the research, development and evaluation arm of the DoJ in Washington, D.C. -- with seemingly-innocuous questions about a grant the agency awarded to a state mental health agency in Oklahoma almost five years ago. NIJ's answers would better equip me to explain to my readers how NIJ works. Unfortunately, it seems NIJ officials prefer I remain "blind" to what's going on inside the agency.
Some background: Curious to learn details about NIJ's criteria for granting non-competitive awards, I forwarded several questions to Jolene Hernon July 28. After pointing out to my contact in the NIJ Office of Communications that less than one percent of the total amount of NIJs annual awards in 2009 was non-competitive, according to the Guidelines Regarding Non-Competitive Awards published on the NIJ web site, I asked several questions as follows:
~ The applicant has proprietary information or proposes a project involving a unique idea, method, or approach toward advancing criminal justice, policy, and practice in the United States.
~ The applicant has made a substantial investment in an activity that would advance criminal justice policy and practice in the United States. The majority of NIJ's non-competitive awards to other Federal agencies fall into this category. These agreements are developed to leverage the investment or infrastructure of these agencies to criminal justice application.
~ The applicant is the only entity known to possess the capability to perform the work.
Make no mistake, I have received several short e-mail bursts from Hernon since July 28, but none qualify as answers. For instance:
"I think you would agree that 34 days should be plenty of time for any government agency to answer my questions -- unless, that is, they're trying to cover things up or rewrite history. Should I expect answers anytime soon? Please advise."
What happened to the citizen's right to know? I'm feeling blind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.