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89 APPENDIX E: OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAM9 The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime. MISSION The mission of the BJA is to provide leadership and assistance in support of local criminal justice strategies to achieve safe communities. BJA's overall goals are to (1) reduce and prevent crime, violence, and drug abuse; and (2) improve the functioning of the criminal justice system. To achieve these goals, BJA programs emphasize enhanced coordination and cooperation of federal, state, and local efforts. BJA PROGRAM COMPONENTS BJA has four primary components: â the State and Local Assistance Division, which administers formula grant programs such as Byrne Formula Grants and Local Law Enforcement Block Grants; â the Program Development Division, which administers Byrne Discretionary Programs, including the Open Solicitation and a number of targeted funding programs; â the Office of Benefits, which administers the Public Safety Officers' Benefits, Denial of Federal Benefits, and the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program; and â the Office of Program Analysis and Communication, which provides services to all of BJA, including budgeting, publications support, and website maintenance. BJA has limited discretionary money available. Most BJA funds are awarded through BJA formula programs. Byrne Formula Grant Program funds are awarded directly to state governments, which then set priorities and allocate funds within that state. BJA also awards funds to states and units of local government through the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants (LLEBG) Program. BYRNE FORMULA GRANT PROGRAM Local practitioners may seek funding for innovative projects under the Byrne Formula Grant Program through a variety of methods. In each state, the governor appoints a State Administrative Agency (SAA) to handle the subgranting of these funds to local, as well as state, criminal justice operations. The first step is to contact the appointed office to obtain application information. Typically, advisory boards consisting of a communityâs leading criminal justice officials including police chiefs, prosecutors, chief justices, and 9 Source: the Office of Justice website mentioned above.
90 corrections commissioners make overall funding plans and decisions. These advisory boards should be contacted and apprised of the project's value and level of support. In many states, funds are subgranted to local units of government in block form with decisions made locally on individual projects. These local agencies, and any advisory boards they appoint, should be contacted in those instances. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANTS (LLEBG) The Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program was created in May 1996 and is a program within BJA. The LLEBG Program strives to work with SAAs and direct grantees to provide the necessary information to facilitate system-wide planning and support ongoing criminal justice efforts. Staff works with state and local LLEBG program managers to administer program funds expended on the seven legislatively mandated purpose areas, which include assistance to support law enforcement activities, enhanced security measures, and the development of crime prevention programs. For general information on BJA grant programs, please visit the website listed below: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/html/bfguide.htm. BJA representatives may be contacted at: Bureau of Justice Assistance 810 7th Street N.W. 4th Floor Washington, DC 20531 Phone: 202.616.6500