BCJI projects involve two phases:

1. The first is the Action Plan Development, or Planning, phase. In this phase, the cross-sector partners collaborate closely on identifying crime hot spots. The partners collaborate with local law enforcement to conduct an analysis of crime drivers and an assessment of needs and available resources. The partners then identify the range of crime prevention and reduction strategies they want to pursue during the implementation phase. To complete the planning phase, the partners must submit an Action Plan to BJA for approval that serves as a roadmap for implementing strategies. This strategy describes: the specific hot spots and crime drivers; use of various data sources to understand and prioritize crime hot spots; and a direct link between the strategies proposed and the crime drivers analyzed. The plan also demonstrates the criminal justice nexus for the strategies that are linked with revitalization and justifies innovative strategies or strategies based on the site’s theory of change and/or logic model.
2. The second phase is the Implementation phase where the partners implement the strategies identified in the approved Action Plan. In this phase, the partners continue to convene regular meetings with cross-sector partners, research partners, and the management team. The partners also identify and develop a sustainability strategy for longer-term implementation of BCJI Program core principles, including the active role of neighborhood residents.

Goals, Objectives, and Program Approach

To achieve BCJI program goals, successful BCJI cross sector teams commit to accomplishing the following objectives (these objectives may vary depending upon the type of BCJI grant award):

• Convene, lead, and meaningfully engage a broad cross-sector partnership team that must include law enforcement, other criminal justice partners, neighborhood residents, and relevant community stakeholders. Communities are also strongly encouraged to include a research partner or research team as part of the cross-sector team.
• Target communities with a concentration of chronic hot spots of crime, which can include violent and serious crime and/or drug related crime.
• Address crime issue(s) that must represent a significant proportion of crime or type of crime within the larger community or jurisdiction.
• Employ a range of data-driven, cross-sector strategies (enforcement, prevention, and intervention) connected with revitalization efforts to reduce crime and violence.
• Establish effective partnerships both to provide solutions and commit resources to sustain what works.
• Work closely with the BCJI TTA provider to implement a comprehensive and coordinated strategy.
• Assess program implementation in collaboration with research partners, and plan for sustainment of effective strategies with private and public state, local, and tribal funding.