Past News
BJA has released "Allowable Uses for Second Chance Act Program Grant Funds." These guidelines have been issued to inform Second Chance Act grant recipients that a wide range of legal services may be an appropriate use of funds where those services further the Second Chance Act's purpose.
The JAG Showcase highlights JAG projects that have demonstrated success or have shown promise in meeting the objectives and goals of JAG while positively impacting communities. Because the JAG Program provides jurisdictions with flexibility to tailor the programs to fit their needs, a wide variety of programs have been funded across the country. New success stories have recently been added, so visit BJA's JAG Showcase to learn more about successful and promising JAG-funded projects, including the Maryland Violent Offender Warrant Initiative highlighted below.
Maryland Violent Offender Warrant Initiative
At the direction of Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland set in motion an intensified effort to arrest violent offenders wanted on open arrest warrants in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Prince George's County. Using JAG grant funding provided by the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention, teams of local and state law enforcement officers worked collaboratively to aggressively target and apprehend violent offenders that prey on Maryland neighborhoods and who pose a threat to the safety and security of our citizens.
Starting in June 2011 in Baltimore City and later expanding to Prince George's County and Baltimore County, law enforcement officers were able to apprehend 2,064 offenders wanted for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape and other sexual assaults, child abuse, robbery, and aggravated assaults. In addition to the 2,064 offenders who were arrested, detainers were placed against 468 other offenders found to be already incarcerated
In March 2012, BJA launched its new web site, www.bja.gov. The site is full of new features and self-service options to enhance your visit. Among the new features:
- My BJA—by registering for My BJA, you can receive information customized to your area of interest, such as effective/promising programs from CrimeSolutions.gov, upcoming events, and publications.
- Events Near Me—search for events by city/state or zip code. The results will be rendered on a map on which you can click to get further details about a particular event. An enhanced search allows you to search specific dates and topic areas.
- My Favorites—you can save content, which will appear when you log into your My BJA account.
- Trending—quick access to hot topics.
- I Want To—links to frequently accessed pages.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has released, Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program 2011.
This technical report describes the steps used in the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) formula calculation process and presents summary results of the FY 2011 formula calculations. BJS calculates the formulas and the Bureau of Justice Assistance administers the JAG program. Funds are distributed to states and localities based on resident population and violent crime data reported to the FBI?s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. In total, approximately $368.3 million was allocated for the FY 2011 JAG awards. About $237.1 million was distributed to the states, $8.9 million to the territories and the District of Columbia, and $122.3 million to local governments.
On October 21, 2011 the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) issued a memorandum regarding the revised conference costs guidelines for OJP grantees and contractors. Click here to review the new guidelines memorandum.
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has posted a page on NIJ.gov that will link out to any questions we receive and answers we provide about specific solicitations. Only solicitations with relevant Q&As are listed.
Visit Question and Answers for Specific Solicitations on NIJ.gov.
View all current funding opportunities from NIJ.
The April 2011 OJP Justice Resource Update feature article is Addressing Youth Violence: Moving Forward Together. Other articles include Revised Proposal on Race to the Top Funding; NIJ Conference Highlights; and Peer Reviewers Wanted. Click here to download the April OJP Justice Resource Update.
The July 2011 BJA's Justice Today highlights the BJA "GrantStat" to Ensure Grant Program Performance; a highlight of a Featured Program; and the announcement of the new OJP CrimeSolutions.gov web site. Click here to download the July 2011 BJA's Justice Today Newsletter
FY 2010 Peer Review Comments
As of November 8, all peer reviewer comments for non-successful applicants have been e-mailed to the points of contacts listed on the SF-424 form. If you did not receive your comments, please send an e-mail to AskBJA@usdoj.gov.
This online version of the report was created to provide a wealth of information in an easily accessible and transparent format to keep our partners and community members informed on how we have used the funds entrusted to us to promote positive changes and advancements in local justice systems.
The OJP Financial Guide is the primary reference to assist award recipients in fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to safeguard grant funds and ensure funds are used for the purposes for which they were awarded.
OJP encourages you to:
- Review the 2011 OJP Financial guide.
- Download the complete OJP Financial Guide to keep as a ready reference (pdf, 128 page)
Past Events
The Clearinghouse Committee met during the ASCA meetings in Chicago, IL on July 31, 2010. Highlights of the meeting included a demonstration of the Grants Network web pages developed under the original BJA clearinghouse grant and demonstrations of ASCA Committee and Project web pages developed under the BJA Byrne Clearinghouse Grant.
The Grants Network web pages went live on July 20, 2010 to grants users and managers, federal partners and directors.
The ASCA Clearinghouse Committee, Chaired by A.T. Wall (RI), oversees the planning and advises staff on the development of the the Grants Network web pages. Attached are minutes from the January 2010 meeting in Tampa, FL.
A planning meeting for the development of Grants Network web pages was held at ASCA offices in Middletown CT on October 22, 2010. Click here to download the minutes.
Training Resources
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Preventions (OJJDPs) National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) is offering a new online training for OJJDP grant recipients.
Managing Your Grant Award teaches grantees how to manage projects efficiently, meet progress and financial reporting requirements, and avoid common reporting and budgeting errors. Links to other grant management courses and relevant online resources are provided. Training can be completed in approximately 1 hour and is mandatory for new grantees.
Enroll for the course.
NLECTC has developed a flyer to assist agencies to identify sources of funding opportunities for law enforcement and corrections. Click here for the grant sources NLECTC has identified
Past Grant Awards
BJA has now posted the FY 2013 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program solicitations and allocations, along with respective application due dates, on the BJA JAG web page. BJA’s JAG Program continues to be a leading source of federal justice funding to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions and supports a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution and courts, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives. In FY 2013, there are a total of 56 states/territories and 1,183 local applicants (accounting for disparate groupings) eligible for JAG funds, with a total of $278.39 million available (approximately $190 million to states and territories, and $88.39 million to local units of government).
To plan for your 2013 application, please ensure you have taken the following steps:
- Check your state or jurisdiction’s FY 2013 JAG allocation on the JAG web page.
- Review the FY 2013 solicitations and pay special attention to updated information (which has been highlighted in the table of contents) on the JAG web page.
- Review the updated JAG FAQs, including updated guidance related to the Sex Offender Notification Act (SORNA) penalty.
- Review the JAG Technical Report.
- Review the updated JAG Fact Sheet.
BJA has identified reducing gun violence, recidivism reduction and justice system realignment, indigent defense, and evidence-based “smart” programs as key priority areas in FY 2013, and each state, territory, and local JAG recipient is invited to join BJA in addressing these challenges as a part of the JAG partnership. Refer to the FY 2013 JAG solicitations for additional information on these priority areas.
Click here for the Fiscal Year 2012 Grant Awards from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA)
The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has named its 2011 grantees under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP), which was authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (MIOTCRA).
The 2011 grantees represent 40 jurisdictions from 35 states and territories. Of these, nine communities received planning grants with a maximum award of $50,000 for 12 months. 27 received planning and implementation grants, with a maximum award of $250,000 for 30 months. Six communities received expansion grants, with a maximum award of $200,000 for 24 months. All grants required a joint application from a mental health agency and the unit of government responsible for criminal and/or juvenile justice activities.
The Council of State Governments Justice Center's Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project will provide technical assistance to the new grantees.
This is the seventh round of grantees funded through MIOTCRA. Through funds appropriated in FY2010, BJA awarded 62 grants in 39 states. Through funds appropriated in FY2009, BJA awarded 43 grants in 30 states under JMHCP. Through funds appropriated in FY 2008, BJA awarded 23 grants in 18 states (and Guam) under the JMHCP. Read more about previous JMHCP grantees on the Consensus Project’s local programs database.
The FY 2012 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program solicitations and allocations have now been posted to the BJA JAG web page. The due date for applications under both solicitations is May 14, 2012. BJA's JAG Program continues to be a leading source of federal justice funding to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions and supports a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution and courts, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives. In FY 2012, there are a total of 56 states and 1,217 local jurisdictions eligible for JAG funds, with a total of $295.58 million available (approximately $193 million to states and territories, and $95 million to local units of government).
To plan for your 2012 application, please ensure you have taken the following steps:
- Check your state or jurisdiction's FY 2012 JAG allocation on the JAG web page.
- Review the FY 2012 solicitations and pay special attention to updated information (which has been highlighted in the table of contents) on the JAG web page.
- Review the updated JAG FAQs, including new guidance related to the Sex Offender Notification Act (SORNA) penalty, which are posted on the JAG web page.
- Review the updated JAG Technical Report.
- Review the updated JAG Fact Sheet.
BJA has identified Indigent Defense, Funding Evidence-Based Programs, Statewide Criminal Justice Planning, Recidivism Reduction and Community Corrections, Evidence-Based "Smart Policing" Programs, and Officer Safety and Wellness as key priority areas in FY 2012. BJA invites each state and local JAG recipient to join in addressing these challenges as a part of the JAG partnership. Refer to the FY 2012 JAG solicitations for additional information on these priority areas.
The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) today announced more than $195,000 in grant funding to 11 additional local governments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. A total of 3,416 units of local government are eligible for a direct JAG Recovery Act award. Funding is used to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system. Click this link for the Full Announcement
All BJA FY 2010 grant awards have been announced and are available.
Fiscal Year 2010 Awards to Recipients and Associated Projects designated for the Office of Justice Programs through the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2010, Public Law 111-117, and specifically identified in the congressional explanatory statements accompanying the Act. Click here to view the earmarks awards ordered by state.
Fiscal Year 2010 Grant Awards Office of Justice Programs' program grants funded through the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2010, Public Law 111-117. Click here to view the awards ordered by state, and here to view the awards ordered by solicitation title.
Follow the link to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) fiscal year 2009 list of awardees.
Follow the attached link to a list of 2009 Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Grant Awards.
Follow the attached link to the 2009 National Institute of Justice grant award list.