The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Department of Justice (DOJ), offers formula funding to units of local government. This program supports personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual services, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal justice and civil proceedings. The JAG Program aims to promote civil rights, equity, public safety, and trust between law enforcement and communities. Eligible applicants must be local governments, including towns, cities, counties, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments with law enforcement functions.

The program has two funding categories based on allocation amounts: Category 1 for applicants with less than $25,000 (two-year grants) and Category 2 for applicants with $25,000 or more (four-year grants). The anticipated total funding for fiscal year 2024 is $84,921,048, with $9,041,009 allocated for Category 1 and $75,880,039 for Category 2. Funding amounts for eligible applicants are determined annually through a statutory formula that considers population and crime data.

JAG funds can be used across several statutory program areas, including law enforcement, prosecution, courts, crime prevention, education, corrections, community corrections, drug treatment, technology improvement, victim services, mental health programs, and crisis intervention initiatives. The funds also support programs such as hate crime prevention, election security, justice system reforms, and addressing violent crime. Additionally, funds may be allocated for equipment and technology, including body-worn cameras, body armor, drug detection tools, and other specialized systems.

Applicants must register with **SAM.gov** and submit initial forms (SF-424 and SF-LLL) through **Grants.gov** by **December 4, 2024**, followed by the full application submission through **JustGrants** by **December 6, 2024**. Each submission step requires thorough preparation to meet all technical and administrative requirements. Certifications, including "Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government" and policies for specific equipment or programs, must accompany applications as required. Trust funds must be established for JAG fund management, and funds cannot be used to supplant local or state funds.

Special conditions apply for specific uses of JAG funds, such as extreme risk protection orders, body-worn camera programs, body armor procurement, and DNA testing. For these programs, applicants must meet heightened standards, certifications, and procedural safeguards to ensure constitutional compliance, transparency, and accountability.

To promote justice reform, equity, and public safety, BJA emphasizes data-driven approaches, partnerships with communities and federal agencies, and targeted interventions in violent crime and systemic disparities. Applicants are encouraged to align projects with these priorities and coordinate with stakeholders to maximize the program's impact on crime reduction and community trust-building.