Justice Department Awards Nearly $187 Million to Support Community Safety
On September 24, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), has awarded almost $187 million to support state, local and tribal public safety and community justice activities.
The awards are from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program and are going to all 50 states, D.C. and U.S. territories. The JAG program is a key part of the Community Violence Intervention strategy announced by President Biden in April.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said of the awards, “These awards will help support traditional crime reduction and violence prevention efforts across the country, as well as innovative community violence intervention strategies that increase trust and make communities a full partner in protecting public health and safety.”
The JAG program provides federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions and supports law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, courts and corrections and community corrections agencies. Furthermore, it is the leading source of federal funding for crime prevention and education initiatives, drug treatment and enforcement activities, criminal justice planning and evaluation, technology improvements, crime victim and witness initiatives and mental health programs.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Amy Solomon for the OJP said of the initiative, “The resources we are making available today reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting America’s communities while ensuring that our systems of justice operate fairly, effectively and in a manner that earns the trust of the people they serve.”
The JAG allocation amounts can be found here.