Past Funding

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG), administered by BJA and authorized under Public Law 109-162 (see page 136), is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions.

Applications will be submitted under this solicitation to continue AAG-approved previously competed projects which continue to have an impact in furthering BJA'€™s mission to reduce unnecessary incarceration and to improve reentry and recidivism outcomes for justice-involved individuals.

One pressing challenge facing our criminal justice system today is the recruitment and retention of qualified prosecutors and public defenders, who serve everyday to ensure that our communities are protected, the rule of law is upheld, and the rights of the citizenry are safeguarded. Both prosecutor and public defender offices consistently find it difficult to attract and retain talented attorneys. Driven by educational debt, attorneys interested in public interest law often forego opportunities to work in these offices in order to seek more lucrative private sector positions.

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG), administered by BJA and authorized under Public Law 109-162 (see page 136), is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions.

The National Center will assist BJA to coordinate and build upon existing assets and resources to serve police agencies and their mental health and social service partners. Many of the resources that BJA offers, can be adapted and maximized with specific training and technical assistance for implementation. Without TTA, agencies must implement resources in the community without specific guidance, planning, assessment, contextualization and knowledge and guidance about best practices in implementation.

The DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and DOJ, in partnership with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI); the FBI; and experts from the state and local communities— including the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) and the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC)—have worked together to facilitate the development of SLTT intelligence and analytic capabilities.

Projects funded under this solicitation will support innovative and comprehensive approaches in state, local, and tribal correctional facilities for adults and juveniles to prevent, detect, and respond to incidences of sexual abuse and sexual harassment, and to come into compliance with the National Prison Rape Elimination Act Standards.

BJA seeks applications for a Technical Assistance Provider (TA Provider) to assist in the establishment and facilitation of national-level technical assistance to approximately 20 to 25 demonstration sites in furtherance of the Sentinel Events Initiative (SEI).

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program (42 U.S.C. § 3796ff et. seq.) assists states and local governments to develop and implement substance abuse treatment programs in state, local, and tribal correctional and detention facilities. Funds are also available to create and maintain community-based aftercare services for offenders.

One pressing challenge facing our criminal justice system today is the recruitment and retention of qualified prosecutors and public defenders, who serve everyday to ensure that our communities are protected, the rule of law is upheld, and the rights of the citizenry are safeguarded. Both prosecutor and public defender offices consistently find it difficult to attract and retain talented attorneys. Driven by educational debt, attorneys interested in public interest law often forego opportunities to work in these offices in order to seek more lucrative private sector positions.

The Statewide Recidivism Reduction Strategic Planning Program will provide $100,000 awards to State Departments of Correction to develop Planning & Implementation guides to serve as the basis for an application for funds to implement a comprehensive reentry program to effect a reasonable reduction in the documented statewide recidivism rate.

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of incarcerated adults and juveniles who are released from prison, jail, and juvenile residential facilities and returning to communities. There are currently over 2.2 million individuals serving time in our federal and state prisons, and millions of people cycling through tribal and local jails every year . Ninety-five percent of all people incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities.