Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program FY 2015 Grant Announced

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) invites eligible entities to apply for the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program (BCJI) FY 2015 competitive grant, a program to plan and implement place-based, community-oriented strategies to address targeted crime issues within a neighborhood as a part of a broader neighborhood revitalization initiative. BCJI builds the capacity of local and tribal communities to identify and address significant crime issues through collaborative cross-sector approaches that help advance broader neighborhood development goals.

Neighborhood revitalization requires working on multiple areas, including public safety, health, education, housing and economic development to effectively transform the community. As such, applicants should develop a plan to coordinate BCJI with other existing neighborhood revitalization efforts—such as Promise Neighborhoods, Choice Neighborhoods, Community Health Center grants, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) funds, or a Promise Zone’s designation—where possible.

Eligible entities to serve as fiscal agent include states, units of local governments, non-profit organizations (including tribal non-profit organizations), and federally recognized Indian tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

BJA solicits applications in two categories:

1) Planning: Under Category 1, BJA estimates that it will make up to 15 awards of up to $175,000 each for up to an 18-month project period, beginning on October 1, 2015.

2) Implementation: Under Category 2, BJA estimates that it will make up to 3 awards of up $1,000,000 for up to a 36-month project period, beginning on October 1, 2015.

To learn more, follow this link. Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. All applications are due to be submitted and in receipt of a successful validation message in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 20, 2015.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation Hosts Crime Mapping Webinar Series: Crime Mapping Level 1

Crime mapping can be a helpful tool for police and community members to track and address persistent crime problems in the neighborhood. Local Initiatives Support Corporation's (LISC) Community Safety Initiative (CSI) will facilitate a Crime Mapping Webinar Series led by crime analysis expert Julie Wartell of the Analysis Group. LISC has connected local organizations and community leaders with resources to revitalize neighborhoods and improve quality of life. LISC is a technical assistance provider for Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Program, a program that is a part of the Obama Administration's Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, focused on supporting data-driven, comprehensive responses to crime in some of the country’s most troubled communities.

The first of the series, Crime Mapping Level 1 will provide beginners who have little or no past experience using crime mapping and/or geographic information system (GIS) software an overview of how these tools can be used to inform public safety efforts. The following will be covered:

• History of crime mapping
• Basic GIS concepts
• Data sources
• Case studies/examples

These webinars are open to practitioners involved in the BCJI program, other White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI) Programs, LISC's Community Safety Initiative and other interested parties. Crime Mapping Level 1 will be held on Monday, February 23, 2015 at 2p.m. To register, follow this link.

2014 Byrne Criminal Justice Grantees Announced

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the 2014 ByrneCriminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) grantees. With more than $7 million in awards, the 17 communities will use the funding for data-driven strategies to reduce crime and violence within their neighborhoods impacted by persistent violent and serious crime.

The 17 grantees include:

• Miami-Dade County, Florida
• Maine South Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts
• Kettering University, Michigan
• City of New Haven, Connecticut
• County of Alameda, California
• City and County of Denver – Denver Policy Department, Colorado
• City of Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Colorado
• Northwest NJ Community Action Partnership, Inc., New Jersey
• Urban League of Essex County, New Jersey
• City of Durham, North Carolina
• City of Battle Creek, Michigan
• City of Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Rockdale County, Georgia
• City of Huntington/Huntington Policy Department, West Virginia
• Board of Highlight County Ohio Commissioners, Ohio
• Coahoma, County of – Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi 

BCJI awards are made to cross-sector partnerships in each city to establish a team of community partners made of law enforcement, neighborhood residents, a local research partner, and relevant community stakeholders that can design a collaborative, community-oriented plan to reduce crime within their neighborhood. Engaging stakeholders from various sectors can, together, share resources and develop comprehensive, interconnected solutions to the complex issue of crime and safety.

As mentioned in the announcement, BCJI is part of the Obama Administration’s Promise Zones Initiative, a part of federal government's commitment to invest in and partner with high-poverty urban, rural, and tribal communities to create jobs, increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, leverage private investment, and reduce violent crime.

2014 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program Funding Announced

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has announced funding for the 2014 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program (BCJI).

BCJI is focused on transforming neighborhoods of distress into neighborhoods of opportunity. Specifically, BCJI recognizes that public safety is a vital component of healthy, vibrant communities that provide residents with opportunities to thrive. As a grant program, BCJI targets neighborhoods that have significant crime challenges and strives to help these neighborhoods use data to identify the local drivers of crime and develop evidence-informed strategies that address the needs of the local community.

As part of Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, which includes initiatives such as the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program, BCJI recognizes that comprehensively addressing community safety is the role of the entire community. With strong support and guidance from criminal justice agencies, this work must be completed with all relevant stakeholders, including education, housing, health and human services, community-based organizations, faith organizations and residents. Together, a diverse group of stakeholders from various sectors can share resources and expertise and develop holistic, interconnected solutions to the complex issue of crime and safety.

As a key NRI program, BCJI is part of a network of place-based initiatives. Due to similarities in geographic targets and the inextricable link between housing, education, health, economic development, and public safety, applicants should develop a plan to coordinate BCJI with other existing neighborhood revitalization efforts—such as Promise Neighborhoods, Choice Neighborhoods, Community Health Center grants, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) funds, or a Promise Zone’s designation—where possible.

Two categories of BCJI grants are available:

• Category 1: Funding will support communities in the design of a strategic, collaborative, and community-oriented plan to reduce crime in a target neighborhood. BJA anticipates making 15 awards up to $100,000 in this category.
• Category 2: Funding will support communities in the completion of a new or existing strategic, collaborative, and community-oriented plan to reduce crime and begin implementation of the plan during the project period. BJA anticipates making up to 5 awards up to $1,000,000 in this category.

Grant applications are due May 6, 2014. Eligible applicants include states, unit of local governments, non-profit organizations (including tribal non-profit organizations), and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.

UPDATE - Monday, March 31, 2014
Want to learn more about the 2014 BCJI grants? The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) at the U.S. Department of Justice is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, April 2 from 3pm-4:30pm ET highlighting the core elements of BCJI, as well as an overview of the 2014 solicitation. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions. Click here to register.