Supporting Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agency Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program

The Fiscal Year 2020 Supporting Small and Rural Agency Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program (SRA-BWC) will provide funding and program development support to small and rural agencies that intend to initiate expanded body-worn camera programs. The provider will be responsible for designing and administering a competitive funding solicitation that distributes microgrants to qualified small and rural agencies to implement a body-worn camera program. They will also identify the needs of micrograntee agencies and deliver standard and customized training and technical assistance (TTA) to those agencies.

CA/NCF

This project has two major purposes: 1) Create, develop, and administer a micro-grant program that distributes funds for body-worn cameras (BWCs) to small, rural, and tribal agencies, and 2) provide training and technical assistance to those agencies, as well as others who may be interested in implementing a BWC program.

Justice & Security Strategies, Inc. (JSS), CNA, and Arizona State University (ASU) are partners in this endeavor. They have the experience and capacity to manage and deliver services and products to small, rural, and tribal policing agencies. Since 2016, this team has served as BJA’s BWC Training and Technical Assistance provider. JSS will serve as the prime on this cooperative agreement.

In essence, the JSS team will administer a micro-grant program that will streamline the grant application and management process for these jurisdictions. JSS will take a data-driven, research-based approach to the project.

JSS will update the recently administered grant application kit for these agencies; implement its plan to manage these micro-grants; distribute funds as appropriate; and track their activities.

For the delivery of training and technical assistance, the JSS team will determine the needs of each micro-grantee and develop appropriate guidance for them. In addition, the program will provide an online toolkit as well as links to the primary BWC tool kit. We will create a framework for regular regional workshops and appropriate online national meetings. We will build tools to support policy development and to address basic grantee requirements. We intend to provide training on grant administration, substantive topics associated with the technology, implementation, and special issues and community engagement and education about BWCs.

Camera Policy and Implementation Program
Supporting Small, Rural, and Tribal Law Enforcement Agency Body-Worn
 

Abstract
 

This project has two major purposes: 1) continue to create, develop, and administer a micro-grant
program that distributes funds for body-worn cameras (BWCs) to small, rural, and tribal
agencies, and 2) continue to provide training and technical assistance to those agencies, as well
as others who may be interested in implementing a BWC program.

Justice & Security Strategies, Inc. (JSS), The CNA Corporation, and Arizona State University
(ASU) have the experience and capacity to manage and deliver services and products to small,
rural, and tribal (SRT) policing agencies. Since 2020, this team has provided funding to nearly
400 SRT micro-grantees and worked closely with the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make
decisions that are compatible with the needs of the field and BJA.

To accomplish the purposes of the program the JSS team adheres to these major principles: 1)
the micro-grant program is customer-focused; 2) the components of the program are easy to use;
3) program guidelines are developed in an innovative, non-traditional manner; 4) technology is
used extensively; and 5) the process is data-driven.

The JSS team has created a streamlined grant application kit and management process for these
jurisdictions. The application kit includes a series of yes/no, multiple choice, and brief narrative
questions. The application walks the respondent through the questions mirroring a framework
similar to BJA solicitations (e.g., description of the issue, program design and implementation,
capabilities and competencies, and budget). JSS established a plan to manage these micro-grants;
distributed funds as appropriate; and is tracking and monitoring their activities. Under this
supplement, JSS will issue a new application kit, select micro-grantees, and manage their
portfolios.

For the delivery of training and technical assistance, the JSS team 1) assists micro-grantees with
the grants administration process, and 2) enhances their substantive knowledge about BWCs.
The TTA program includes information about how to complete their paperwork for the grant
and how to implement a BWC program within their agencies. JSS developed a new website,
convened webinars, and wrote newsletters and information pieces that focused on small, rural,
and tribal agencies. The SRT BWC Website is the repository for both grant-related material and
substantive information (https://www.srtbwc.com/). Under this supplement, JSS will continue
to send pertinent information to SRT-funded agencies regarding grants, work closely with them
to ensure that programmatic goals are met, and develop innovative methods to enhance their
understanding of the importance of BWCs.