The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities aimed at decreasing violent crimes, assisting crime victims, and improving enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation efforts. Based on their own local needs and conditions, agencies are provided with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are needed most.
JAG funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following Federal purpose areas:
- Law enforcement and Task Force programs.
- Prosecution and court programs.
- Prevention and education programs for substance use
- Corrections and community corrections programs.
- Drug treatment and drug court programs.
- Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.
- Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation)
- Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams.
Additionally, the applicants must meet one or more of the state priority areas defined below:
- Crime/Violence Reduction - This includes Gun Violence Reduction Strategies and validated gun risk assessment tools, services, case management, and navigation programs.
- Domestic Violence/ Intimate Partner Violence Investigations and Effective Prosecutions- This area includes evidence-based early intervention programs, Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) programs, and crisis response services.
- Wellness, Mental Health, and Crisis Intervention - This area includes crisis intervention teams/mental health/suicide prevention programs, and Prevention, early intervention, and crisis and behavioral intervention programs.
- Public Safety Enhancements- This includes increasing the accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness of law enforcement personnel, NIBRS Compliance programs, and equipment assistance.
- Drug Identification, Evaluation, and Awareness Efforts- This includes detection training, awareness, and education campaigns, harm reduction programming, forensic staffing, and prosecutorial training.
- Specialized Law Enforcement Training
- Corrections, Courts, and Prosecutorial Enhancements- this includes improving the technology and virtual capacity of Jail Management Systems, Judicial training, and youth-based programming.
- Addressing Bias and Racism in the Justice System- This can include ongoing support efforts and technical assistance to address bias and racism in the justice system.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance has provided a list of JAG accountability measures to assess the validity and reliability of evidence-based practices used by each sub-recipient. Each grant's performance measures will be determined based on the corresponding purpose areas. Specific information on the measures used can be found at https://bjapmt.ojp.gov/help/jagdocs.html. For more information please refer to the application guidance.
To qualify for funding under this grant, the proposed program must support at least one of the Federal Purpose Areas and at least one State Priority area listed above.