BJA FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) is a leading source of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The program provides states, tribes, and local governments with funding to support an array of program areas. Several US Department of Justice (US DOJ) formula grants — including Byrne JAG — are awarded directly to state governments, which then set priorities and allocate funds to subrecipients. The work is generally carried out by state administering agencies (SAAs), which in Connecticut is the Office of Policy and Management Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division (OPM CJPPD). OPM CJPPD’s location within the state’s budget and planning agency positions it to coordinate Byrne JAG program activities with other federal and state initiatives.
Between 2018 and 2023, Connecticut’s federal Byrne JAG award averaged $1.61 million. Connecticut’s in-state grant award allocation is guided by the Byrne JAG solicitation, the DOJ Grants Financial Guide, engagement of the assigned federal grant administrator, and other US DOJ-published resources. OPM CJPPD uses the program areas and areas of emphasis from the Byrne JAG solicitations as a foundation for how funding will be allocated. Approved program objectives, activities, and costs are reviewed using the DOJ solicitation guidance to ensure compliance. Because of federal immigration-related special conditions placed on the Byrne JAG awards from 2017 to 2020, Connecticut and seven other states did not accept awards during that four-year period. Since 2021, when the special conditions were rescinded, OPM CJPPD has cleared administrative holds and begun the allocation of funds toward projects and programs.
The strategic plan and project narrative outline the expenditure of active funds from Byrne JAG grant years 2017 to 2023, which were previously withheld, along with a plan to allocate the 2024 funds. Considering the accumulation of previously withheld Byrne JAG funds, the strategic plan and narrative seek flexibility as well as the ability to remain responsive to emerging issues with a potential for future modifications as needed. Through ongoing collaboration and feedback from subrecipients and stakeholders, OPM CJPPD will closely monitor the progress of the funded projects and asses their alignment with the evolving needs of the criminal justice system. OPM CJPPD will be seeking to fund the following program areas with the 2024 funds: Prevention and education programs; Law enforcement programs; Corrections, community corrections and reentry programs; and Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.