34 U.S.C. § 12102 — Authorization of grants

(a) In general
The Attorney General must give Violent Offender Incarceration grants (under section 12103) and Truth-in-Sentencing Incentive grants (under section 12104) to eligible states, so states can:
(1) Build or expand correctional facilities to hold more people convicted of a part 1 violent crime^* (or found delinquent as a juvenile for an act that would be a part 1 violent crime if committed by an adult).
(2) Build or expand facilities — including on military bases, prison barges, and boot camps — for nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens, to free up existing prison space for part 1 violent offenders.
(3) Build or expand jails.
(4) Carry out any activity listed in section 10631(b) of this title.

(b) Regional compacts
(1) In general. Subject to paragraph (2), states may join together in regional compacts to carry out this part. A compact is treated as a state^* under this part.
(2) Requirement. To count as a regional compact eligible for a grant under section 12103 or 12104, every member state must qualify individually.
(3) Limitation on receipt of funds. No state may get a grant both on its own and as part of a compact.

(c) Applicability
Despite section 12104's normal eligibility rules, a state that certifies to the Attorney General that, as of April 26, 1996, it enacted legislation relying on this part as it existed on September 13, 1994, and that it would actually qualify under those provisions, is eligible to receive a fiscal year 1996 grant as though it qualified under section 12104.