Bureau of Justice Assistance

• Emphasize local control.
• Build relationships in the field.
• Provide training and technical assistance in support of efforts to prevent crime, drug abuse, and violence at the national, state, and local levels.
• Develop collaborations and partnerships.
• Promote capacity building through planning.
• Streamline the administration of grants.
• Increase training and technical assistance.
• Create accountability of projects.
• Encourage innovation.
• Communicate the value of justice efforts to decision makers at every level.[1]

The mission of the Bureau of Justice Assistance is to provide leadership and services in grant administration and criminal justice policy development to support local, state, and tribal justice strategies to achieve safer communities.[1]

BJA's goals are to reduce and prevent crime, violence, and drug abuse and to improve the way in which the criminal justice system functions. In order to achieve such goals, BJA programs illustrate the coordination and cooperation of local, state, and federal governments. BJA works closely with programs that bolster law enforcement operations, expand drug courts, and provide benefits to safety officers.[1]

BJA has four primary components: Policy, Programs, Planning, and the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Office.[1]

• The Policy Office provides national leadership in criminal justice policy, training, and technical assistance to further the administration of justice. It also acts as a liaison to national organizations that partner with BJA to set policy and help disseminate information on best and promising practices.
• The Programs Office coordinates and administers all state and local grant programs and acts as BJA's direct line of communication to states, territories, and tribal governments by providing assistance and coordinating resources.
• The Planning Office coordinates the planning, communications, and budget formulation and execution; provides overall BJA-wide coordination; and supports streamlining efforts.
• Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program[9] supports the recent efforts taken by the nation's public safety agencies and law enforcement organizations to increase officer safety and wellness, including through policies that require public safety officers to use seat belts and body armor

• Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Initiative[10]
• Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs)[11]
• Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program[12]
• Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI)[13]
• Community-Based Problem-Solving Criminal Justice Initiative[14]
• Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) Program[15]
• Faith-Based and Community Initiatives[16]
• Field-Initiated Program[17]
• Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global)[18]
• Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP)[19]
• Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI)[20]
• Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery (CBOB) Program[21]
• National Gang Center[22]
• Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor (MOV)[23]
• Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)[24]
• Second Chance Act (SCA)[25]
• Sexual Assault Kit Initiatives (SAKI)[26]
• Smart Policing Initiative (SPI)[27]
• Violence Reduction Network (VRN)[28]

[1]

• Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative

• This article incorporates text from Volume 61, Number 91 of the Federal Register, a publication in the public domain.

• Official website
• Office of Justice Programs website
• State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance account on USAspending.gov