The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (42 U.S.C. 3750) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives.
Eligibility
Applicants are limited to Drug and Violent Crime Task Force organizations as defined by BJA and local law enforcement agencies of the State of Alabama.
All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.
Proposed to streamline justice funding and grant administration, the JAG Program allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. JAG blends the previous Byrne Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Programs to provide agencies with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are needed most.
The JAG formula is determined by population and violent crime statistics, and is compared against any direct allocation made to units of local government within the judicial district being considered for an award.
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 purpose areas:
- Law enforcement programs.
- Prosecution and court programs.
- Prevention and education programs.
- Corrections and community corrections programs.
- Drug treatment programs.
- Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.
- Any law enforcement or justice initiative previously eligible for funding under Byrne or LLEBG is eligible for JAG funding.
To more effectively align JAG formula funding with far-reaching crime issues identified by recent data and evaluation, the Office of Justice Programs has designated the following priority areas for a heightened concentration:
- Multi-jurisdictional task forces, addressing violent crime, drug, and gun violence reduction.
- School safety and school resource officer initiatives.
- Project Safe Childhood
- Gang enforcement and prevention.
- Community prosecution activities.
- Court security and continuation of operations initiatives.
- Human trafficking enforcement and prevention.
- Synthetic drug trafficking reduction.
- Prisoner reentry initiatives.
- Cybercrime and identity theft enforcement and prevention.
- Justice information sharing planning and implementation.
- Intelligence analysis and fusion center operations.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), Law Enforcement Traffic Safety (LETS) Division has been designated the State Administrating Agency (SAA) for this grant and is responsible for:
- Coordination between JAG funds and other state and local justice initiatives.
- Preparation and submission of the state JAG application.
- Administration of JAG funds including:
- establishing funding priorities;
- distributing funds;
- monitoring awards;
- submitting reports including performance measure and program assessment data; and
- providing ongoing assistance to sub-recipients.
Federal funds must be used to supplement existing funds for program activities and cannot replace, or supplant, nonfederal funds that have been appropriated for the same purpose.
Awards are made for 12 months. Extensions beyond this period may be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Director of the Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Division (LETS) of ADECA.
JAG funds cannot be used directly or indirectly for security enhancements or equipment to nongovernmental entities not engaged in criminal justice or public safety
Awards made under JAG funds managed by ADECA/LETS require a 50% hard cash match.
Point of Contact
Randy Ray
334.353.3771
randy.ray@adeca.alabama.gov
Tom Goree
334.242.5831
tom.goree@adeca.alabama.gov