Edward R. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Grant Program 

Overview

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Edward R. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)

Strategic Plan FY23-25

Byrne JAG 2025 Annual Report

Fund Availability & Summary

The Edward R. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program is a federal initiative awarding justice funding to state, tribal, and local governments address needs, fill gaps, test and replicate evidence-based practices, and spur innovation. Every state has a State Administering Agency (SAA) that manages Byrne JAG funding. In Connecticut, the SAA is the Office of Policy and Management Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division (OPM CJPPD). The U.S. Department of Justice (US DOJ) allocates Byrne JAG to SAAs and provides guidance regarding use of the funds.

The Byrne JAG program is divided into two categories: state-level and local-level funds, which are detailed in the sections below.

State-Level Funds

State-level funds are expended on projects and programs addressing criminal justice issues on a state-wide level. Such entities include, but are not limited to, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, federally recognized tribal nations, coalitions, intermunicipal groups, task forces, and private entities. State-level funds may be used to support programs adhering to the following purpose areas:

  • Law enforcement

  • Prosecution and the courts

  • Crime prevention and education

  • Corrections, community corrections and reentry

  • Drug treatment and enforcement

  • Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement

  • Crime victims and witnesses

Local-Level Funds 

Local-level funds are only made available to municipalities and federally recognized tribes for projects and programs addressing criminal justice issues at the municipal and intermunicipal levels. The level of funding to each municipality is determined by a formula maintained by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, which assesses the crime rate in relation to the population over a three-year period. The project funding structure is further divided into funds allocated towards: 

Local Variable Pass-Through Funds (LVPT)& Less Than 10K (LT10K)

Statutory Authority

The JAG Program is authorized by Title I of Pub. L. No. 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).