R2023-235 Resolution Authorizing the Certifications and Assurances of the 2023 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant

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Program Description Overview OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. With this solicitation, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks to award Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds to eligible units of local government. (BJA will issue a separate solicitation for applications from states). For more information on the JAG Program, please refer to the JAG Fact Sheet and/or JAG Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Statutory Authority: The JAG Program is authorized by Title I of Public Law 90-351 (generally codified at 34 U.S.C. 10151-10726), including subpart 1 of part E (codified at 34 U.S.C. 10151-10158); see also 28 U.S.C. 530C(a). Specific Information Statutory Formula JAG awards are based on a statutory formula that is fully described within the JAG Technical Report. Once each fiscal year's overall JAG Program funding level is determined, BJA works with the Bureau of Justice Statistics to begin a four-step grant award calculation process, which, in general, consists of: 1. Computing an initial JAG allocation for each state, based on its share of violent crime and population (weighted equally). 2. Reviewing the initial JAG allocation amount to determine if the state allocation is less than the minimum award amount defined in the JAG legislation (0.25 percent of the total). If this is the case, the state is funded at the minimum level, and the funds required for this are deducted from the overall pool of JAG funds. Each of the remaining states receives the minimum award plus an additional amount based on its share of violent crime and population. 3. Dividing each state's final award amount (except for the territories and the District of Columbia) between the state and its units of local governments at rates of 60 and 40 percent, respectively. 4. Determining award allocations for the units of local government, which are based on their proportion of the state's 3-year violent crime average. If the "eligible award amount" for a particular unit of local government, as determined on this basis, is $10,000 or more, then the unit of local government is eligible to apply directly to OJP (under the JAG Local Solicitation) for a JAG award. If the "eligible award Page 6 of 38 O-BJA-2023-171790