Request for Public Comment
2019 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
Please download and review the following documents:
DRAFT 2019 JAG Program Narrative
DRAFT 2019 JAG Budget
DRAFT 2019 JAG Strategic Plan
ADHOC CJPAC Subcommittee Agenda 5.21.19
ADHOC CJPAC Subcommittee Minutes 5.21.19
Comments Due - Deadline: Monday, June 16, 2019
Please provide your comments to:
Eleanor M. Michael, Esq.
Policy Development Coordinator
Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division
Office of Policy and Management
450 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-418-6298
E-mail: Eleanor.Michael@ct.gov
Grants and Programs
The Policy, Planning and Implementation Unit is involved in planning, policy development, and funding of criminal justice initiatives provided through federal grant dollars from the U.S. Department of Justice and/or state appropriated resources. Most of the programs focus on criminal justice issues within the adult population and many involve collaborations between state agencies, local governments and community-based organizations.
Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint Procedure for Grants Funded by DOJ
Policy for Responding to Discrimination Complaints from Clients, Customers, Program Participants, or Consumers of OPM/CJPPD's sub-recipients funded by U.S. Department of Justice Grant Programs.
Grants Administered by the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division
Federally Funded Programs
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program: In general, JAG funds may be used to provide additional personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal justice, including for any one or more of the following: Law enforcement programs; Prosecution and court programs; Prevention and education programs; Corrections and community corrections programs; Drug treatment and enforcement programs; Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation); Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs - including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams. Approximately 60% of the annual JAG Formula Grant Program allocation can be reserved for statewide grant projects.
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Local Pass-Through Grant Program: Approximately 40% of the annual JAG Formula Grant Program allocation must be provided to units of local government in Connecticut. Generally these allocations are made to the 93 organized police departments in Connecticut on a biennial or triennial basis.
National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP): The NCHIP grant program aims to improve the nation’s safety and security by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information and by ensuring the nationwide implementation of criminal justice and noncriminal justice background check systems.
Stop Violence Against Women (STOP VAW): The STOP Formula Grant Program provides funding to enhance the capacity of local communities to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women. Each state and territory must allocate 25 percent for law enforcement, 25 percent for prosecutors, 30 percent for victim services (of which at least 10 percent must be distributed to culturally specific community-based organizations), 5 percent to state and local courts, and 15 percent for discretionary distribution.
Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP): The Sexual Assault Services Program funding is solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. The SASP Formula Grant Program directs grant dollars to assist states in supporting rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations or tribal programs that provide services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. Funds provided through SASP are designed to supplement other funding sources directed at addressing sexual assault on the state level.
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT): The purpose of the RSAT for State Prisoners Program is to break the cycle of drug addiction and violence by reducing the demand for, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. RSAT’s objectives are to enhance the capabilities of states to provide residential substance abuse treatment for incarcerated inmates; prepare inmates for their reintegration into a community by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assist these offenders and their communities through the reentry process by delivering community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services. Given Connecticut's "unified" correctional system, 100% of these funds are awarded to the CT Department of Correction.
Bulletproof Vest Partnership: The purpose of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program is to reimburse states, counties, federally recognized tribes, cities, and local jurisdictions up to 50% of the cost of body armor vests purchased for law enforcement officers. The purpose of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program is to reimburse states, counties, federally recognized tribes, cities, and local jurisdictions up to 50% of the cost of body armor vests purchased for law enforcement officers. Eligible applicants are any recognized unit of general government (states, counties, federally recognized tribes, cities, and local jurisdictions) recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau that employs law enforcement officers. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will continue the existing policy that requires a written mandatory wear policy for uniformed patrol officers in place when applications are submitted.
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Compliance Grants: The goal of Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) is to eradicate prisoner rape in all types of correctional facilities in this country. States must certify to DOJ that their jurisdiction is in full compliance with the PREA Standards. If the governor is not able to certify to DOJ that the jurisdiction is in full compliance with the Standards and elects not to submit an assurance to DOJ, the jurisdiction will be subject to the loss of five percent of certain DOJ grant funds that it would otherwise receive including. (1) BJA’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, and (2) the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP’s) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) Formula Grant Program and (3) The Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. PREA penalty funds are then reallocated to those affected states to bring the state into compliance.
Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) Compliance Grants: State jurisdictions that fail to substantially implement SORNA are subject to a 10 percent penalty reduction in its Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) formula funds. SORNA penalty funds are then reallocated to those affected states to bring the state into compliance with Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). All SORNA penalty funds are allocated to the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection - the administrative manager of the CT Sex Offeneder Registry.
Juvenile Review Board Grant Program (2019 only) : The Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division is using the last 3 remaining years of its OJJDP Title 2 Formula Grant funds to support and enhance the operating expenses of 35 of the state's Juvenile Review Boards. The State of Connecticut has informed OJJDP that it will no longer participate in the OJJDP Title 2 Formula Grant program after the Federal Fiscal year 2017. These funds will no longer be aaibale to support the work of the state's Juvenile Review Boards.
State Funded Programs
Body-Worn Recording Equipment (BWRE) Reimbursement Grant Program: The Office of Policy and Management, as directed by Public Act 15-4 and Public Act 17-225, is offering grants-in-aid to municipal law enforcement agencies and state university police forces (special police forces established pursuant to Sec. 10a-156b) for body-worn recording equipment and digital data storage devices or services. The final deadline for applications is June 30, 2019.
Project Longevity: Pursuant to the provisions of sections 4-66a and 4-68bb of the general statutes, The Office of Policy and Management has been directed to (1) provide planning and management assistance to municipal officials in the cities of New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport in order to ensure implementation of the Project Longevity Initiative. The Project Longevity Initiative is intended to be a muti-partner community collaboration and engagement activity (police departments, community advocates and non-profit reduce social services organizations) to reduce gun violence in Connecticut's three largest cities. This project is supported by an annual allocation of state appropriated general funds.
Private Initiatives
Connecticut Safety and Justice Challenge (MacArthur Foundation): The Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) Project is a Second Chance Society Initiative that will allow the Office of Policy and Management to work partnership with some of the nation’s leading criminal justice organizations—the Institute for State and Local Governance at the City University of New York, Center for Court Innovation, the Justice Management Institute, Justice System Partners, and the Vera Institute of Justice - to generate actionable plans for reducing incarceration and creating fairer and more effective criminal justice system. The SJC Workgroup, which includes state and local government agencies as well as community-based non-profit advocacy organizations, will explore new approaches and innovations, including alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent low-risk offenders and identify improvements in the pre-trial process. Connecticut's participation is funded by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation.