The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) was created in 1984 to reduce violent crime, create safer communities, and reform our Nation’s criminal justice system. BJA strengthens the Nation’s criminal justice system and helps America’s state, local, and tribal jurisdictions reduce and prevent crime, reduce recidivism, and promote a fair and safe criminal justice system. BJA focuses its programmatic an
d policy efforts on providing a wide range of resources, including training and technical assistance, to law enforcement, courts, corrections, treatment, reentry, justice information sharing, and community-based partners to address chronic and emerging criminal justice challenges nationwide. BJA’s mission is to provide leadership and services in grant administration and criminal justice policy development to support state, local, and tribal justice strategies to achieve safer communities. BJA works with communities, governments, and nonprofit organizations to reduce crime, recidivism, and unnecessary confinement, and promote a safe and fair criminal justice system. To accomplish this mission, BJA is organized into four primary components: Programs Office, Policy Office, Operations Office, and the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Office. Reduction in violent crime, improvement in community safety, and support for public safety officers
2. Reduction in recidivism and prevention of unnecessary confinement
3. Integration of evidence-based, research-driven strategies into the day-to-day operations of BJA and the programs BJA administers and supports
4. Increasing program effectiveness with a renewed emphasis on data analysis, information sharing, and performance management
5. Ensuring organizational excellence
BJA provides a wide variety of support to:
- Fund – Invest in diverse funding streams to accomplish goals.
- Educate – Research, develop, and deliver what works.
- Equip – Create tools and products to build capacity and improve outcomes.
- Partner – Consult, connect, and convene. Grant Funding:
Through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, BJA provides critical support through formula-based grants. Visit Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program for further information. In addition, BJA issues dozens of solicitations every year for competitive and formula grant applications in the focus areas listed above. To learn more about BJA funding, visit Funding & Awards. Nongrant Awards:
BJA also recognizes and honors the extraordinary service of public safety officers through nongrant programs. Visit Recognizing Bravery & Sacrifice for further information. In addition to formula and competitive grant opportunities, BJA supports payment programs, including the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program and State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. Free Toolkits, Training, Technical Assistance, and Other Resources:
BJA offers program-specific toolkits that support the field. Visit Toolkits for the complete listing. And BJA’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) is a free resource that connects agencies needing assistance with specialized national experts who can help them address their needs. Learn more at Working with BJA NTTAC.
Official Bureau of Justice Assistance Facebook account. We do not collect comments or messages. BJA has five major strategic focus areas:
