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FORMULA GRANTS

• Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) Program
  The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program will allow states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system. JAG replaces the Byrne Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) programs with a single funding mechanism that will simplify the administration process for grantees. JAG was authorized in 2004, read more on the authorization language JAG Legislation.

  The procedure for allocating JAG funds is a formula based on population and crime statistics in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share. Traditionally, under the Byrne Formula and LLEBG Programs, funds were distributed 60/40 between state and local recipients. This distribution will continue under JAG. JAG purpose areas include:

  • 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.

DISCRETIONARY GRANTS

• Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP)
  The purpose of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program is to help protect the lives of law enforcement officers by assisting states and units of local and tribal governments equip their officers with armor vests. For the BVP Program, "law enforcement officer" includes police, sheriff's deputies, correctional officers, parole and probation agents, prosecutors, and judicial officials. Federal funds may be used to pay up to 50 percent of an applicant's total vest costs.
• Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program
  The Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program, previously administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is now being administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice.

  The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. The program's primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.

• Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program
  The purpose of the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program is to reduce crimes associated with the distribution and use of alcohol and controlled substances in tribal communities. The program seeks to mobilize tribal communities to implement or enhance innovative, collaborative efforts that address public safety issues related to alcohol and substance abuse. Under the program, tribes will develop new or enhance existing strategies that prevent, interdict, and treat alcohol and drug use by members of tribal communities.
• Law Enforcement Tribute Act
  The purpose of the Law Enforcement Tribute Act is to provide one-time grants to help eligible jurisdictions complete permanent tributes to honor the men and women of law enforcement and public safety who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. Many states, counties, municipalities, and Indian tribes have undertaken various projects and efforts to honor their officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice or have been seriously injured in the line of duty. Congress understood this need and provided a means to assist jurisdictions that are actively engaged in the process and need additional financial assistance to complete their projects.
• Medal of Valor
  The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is awarded by the President to public safety officers cited by the Attorney General and recommended by the Medal of Valor Review Board.

  The Attorney General designated the Assistant Attorney General's Office, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to serve as the Federal point of contact for the Medal of Valor initiative.

• Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program
  The Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Act (codified at 42 U.S.C. 3796, et seq.) was enacted in 1976 to assist in the recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers and firefighters. Specifically, Congress was concerned that the hazards inherent in law enforcement and fire suppression and the low level of state and local death benefits might discourage qualified individuals from seeking careers in public safety, thus hindering the ability of communities to provide for public safety.
• Tribal Resources Grant Program (TRGP)
  The COPS TRGP is designed to address the serious needs of tribal law enforcement by providing a variety of funding options including salary and benefits for new sworn law enforcement officer positions, law enforcement training, uniforms, basic issue equipment, department-wide technology, and vehicles for new and existing officers.

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