The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications for funding a strategic approach to crime reduction that leverages community knowledge and expertise to build public trust with law enforcement and make neighborhoods safer.

The Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Program supports Department priorities to reduce serious and violent crime, including gun violence; dismantle gang activity; and strengthen local capacity to combat drug abuse. BCJI helps communities build trust and support law enforcement agencies working with these communities by integrating enforcement strategies into community based crime reduction efforts and using this information to understand and target the issues.

Goals

The goal of the BCJI solicitation is to invest in jurisdictions with significant crime challenges that want long-term solutions, incorporating all four elements of the BCJI model. This includes programs aimed at developing or improving relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, including through community outreach and listening sessions, and supporting nonprofit organizations that focus on improving stressed relationships between law enforcement officers and communities. The BCJI model is based on the principle that sustainable reductions in violent crime require collaboration among partners in the criminal justice system, service providers, and the communities they serve. The BCJI Program approach, and the training and technical assistance (TTA) to support the model, features the following four core elements:

• A place-based strategy that targets locations where crime is occurring through approaches to deter future crime while integrating crime control efforts with revitalization strategies.
• Community engagement in shaping and sustaining crime prevention and revitalization efforts to enable success and sustainability over the long haul.
• Data-driven efforts to problem solve and guide program strategy, using the most effective strategies where they are needed the most, and targeting where crime is concentrated for maximum impact.
• Partnerships and capacity building to establish trust and promote sustainable collaboration to reduce and prevent crime in hotspots.

Objectives

Planning and Action Plan Finalization Phase (6-12 months)

• Building upon the Initial Action Plan that is submitted with the application, review and verify chronic crime hotspots within the target neighborhood, working with law enforcement, research partners, and crime analysts. Identify micro-hotspots or other specific locations for targeted prevention and/or intervention strategies.
• Update and confirm the most effective strategies to reduce serious and violent crime, particularly drugs and gun violence, resulting in a final comprehensive Action Plan that articulates the range of strategies that the BCJI partners plan to pursue. These strategies may differ from proposed strategies in the Initial Action Plan due to results from data analysis and/or input from stakeholder and community partners.
• Engage community stakeholders in trust building with law enforcement and other partners.
• Finalize the comprehensive Action Plan that includes descriptions of priority hotspots and strategies to reduce crime, and submit to BJA for final approval.

Action Plan Implementation Phase

• Implement strategies developed in the approved Final Action Plan.
• Build the capacity of residents and the BCJI management team to coordinate and engage in a crime problem-solving approach.
• Implement, modify, and evaluate strategies, as appropriate; redirect program activities when ongoing analysis indicates program goals are not being met.
• Continue to engage partners and community residents and build trust between partners, including law enforcement.
• Identify and develop a sustainability strategy for long-term implementation of BCJI, including the active role of community stakeholders.

Deliverables

The Final Action Plan must be submitted and approved by BJA prior to implementation. BJA, the BCJI training and technical assistance (TTA) provider, and the grantee will use this Action Plan to guide and track site progress toward project objectives.

Funding Information

• Period of Performance Start Date: 10/1/21 12:00 AM
• Period of Performance Duration (Months): 36
• Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under Solicitation: $13,900,000.00
• Maximum dollar amount for each award
  • Category 1: Up to $1,000,000
  • Category 2: Up to $800,000

Eligible Applicants

• Private institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• City or township governments
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• County governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

For more information, visit Grants.gov.