Overview: In November 2004, Congress consolidated two long-standing local law enforcement grant programs: the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program (LLEBG). The new program, the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG), is administered at the federal level through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the Justice Department.

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne/JAG) is a partnership among federal, state, and local governments to create safer communities. BJA awards grants to states and local governments to improve the criminal justice system. The program places an emphasis on breaking the cycle of substance abuse and crime, combating violence, holding offenders accountable, enhancing law enforcement initiatives, and supporting advancements in adjudication.

Along with state Drug and Gang Enforcement Account (DEA) funds, Byrne/JAG focuses on supporting multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency drug, gang, and violent crime task forces, tandem prosecution projects, adjudication, corrections, forensic laboratory activities, drug prevention, and education programs as outlined in the 2008-2011 Arizona Drug, Gang and Violent Crime Control Strategy. The goal of the program is to leverage state and federal funds to increase the effectiveness of collaborative enforcement efforts that successfully address substance abuse, drug-related violent crime, and criminal street gang problems throughout Arizona. Grants may be used to provide personnel, overtime, training, technical assistance, and information systems for more coordinated approach to apprehending, adjudicating and rehabilitating criminal offenders.

Funding: The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) determines the total state allocations using a minimum base allocation with the remaining amount determined by population and Part 1 Uniform Crime Report (UCR) violent crime statistics. The funds are split 60/40, with 60 percent awarded to the state administering agency (SAA), which is the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC). ACJC awards the funding to state, county and local jurisdictions as competitive grants based on the priorities determined in the strategic plan as noted above.

BJA administers the balance (40 percent) directly to local jurisdictions. The funds administered to the local jurisdictions directly by BJA are not bound by the provisions of the 2008-2011 Arizona Drug Gang and Violent Crime Control Strategy, which guide the priorities for the funding administered by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission.

Eligibility: State, county, local, and tribal criminal justice agencies that meet the qualifications and can support the programs in the new 2008-2011 Arizona Drug Gang and Violent Crime Control Strategy are eligible to apply.

How/When To Apply: Immediately after enactment of the appropriations (usually in the first quarter of the federal fiscal year), the BJA notifies the SAA that the funds are available. The Drug, Gang and Violent Crime Control Act grant program application is available in late February or early March of each year on the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission web site, http://www.azcjc.gov, under "Grants."

Related Publications/Information:

Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant Program Overview:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/jag.html
Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant Program brochure:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/JAGbrochure.pdf