Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Formula Grant (JAG)

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program is a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).  The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Grants & Planning Branch, is the State Administering Agency (SAA) for JAG funds.  JAG can be utilized for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, strategic planning, research and evaluation (including forensics), data collection, training, personnel, equipment, forensic laboratories, supplies, contractual support, and criminal justice information systems that will improve and enhance the criminal justice system.

JAG FEDERAL PROGRAM AREAS AND STATE PRIORITY AREAS

When applying for JAG funds, applicants must address one of the following Federal Program Areas and one of the following State Priority Areas. Projects also identify if they are an Evidence-Based Initiative and/or a Multi-Agency Collaboration to Improve the Criminal Justice System.

 FEDERAL PROGRAM AREAS

  • Corrections and Community Corrections Programs
  • Drug Treatment and Enforcement Programs
  • Law Enforcement Programs
  • Mental Health Programs
  • Planning, Evaluation, and Technology Improvement Programs
  • Prevention and Education Programs
  • Prosecution and Court Programs

STATE PRIORITY AREAS

    • Violent Crimes
    • Recidivism/Reentry
    • Forensic Science
    • Behavioral Health
    • Drugs — Specifically:

 

1. Drug Enforcement

      • Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force projects, or
      • Projects aimed at enhancing the justice system’s capacity to respond to drug threats and drug-related crime through hiring of dedicated personnel designed to improve system response and/or through the purchase of necessary equipment to enhance operations.

2. Prevention and Education

      • Projects that increase prevention and education efforts in the community to reduce the demand for methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.

3. Training

      • Multi-agency cross training projects aimed at improving system response to drug threats and drug-related crimes.

 

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

State and local government agencies.

AWARDS

Below is a list of the FY 2020 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant sub-grantee awards.

 

FY 2020 JAG SUB-GRANTEE AWARDS

Agency Awarded

Title of Application

Award
Hawaii Police Department Statewide Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force

$47,750
Honolulu Police Department Statewide Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force

$63,304
Kauai Police Department Statewide Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force

$38,442
Maui Police Department Statewide Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force

$54,927
Department of Public Safety Statewide Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force

$34,891
Maui Police Department Latent Fingerprints Backlog Reduction

$62,000
Maui Police Department Cybercrime Unit Enhancement

$42,250
Kauai County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney Methamphetamine & Opioid (Fentanyl) Focused Prosecution

$98,500
City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney Victim-Centered Prosecution

$70,660
Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center NCIC User Access Management Software Upgrade

$36,000

 

STRATEGIC PLAN

Effective with the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) award, SAAs are to develop a multi-year statewide strategy to ensure coordination and a more effective functioning of the criminal justice system.  JAG funds are intended to supplement, not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be available for activities under the JAG program.

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Strategic Plan for CY 2019-2023:  Creating Safer Communities (12-2020)

RELATED TRAININGS & EVENTS

 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

JAG recipients are required to submit the following reports:

Program Reporting

Fiscal Reporting

JAG FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

JAG FORMS

JAG INFORMATION LINKS

FEDERALLY MANDATED REDUCTIONS/PENALTIES

The JAG program has been subjected to several unfunded federal mandates. If States are unable to meet these mandates, then their respective JAG awards are reduced as stipulated by the mandate. There are two mandates that have a financial impact on the JAG grant for Hawaii: the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). The penalties only impact the state portion of the JAG award.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION ACT (SORNA)

SORNA, Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-248) “provides a comprehensive set of minimum standard for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA aims to close potential gaps and loopholes that existed under prior law and generally strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs”. The Act established a 10% penalty in JAG funding for jurisdictions that failed to “substantially implement” SORNA by July 27, 2011. Non-compliant states may request for penalized funds to be reallocated back to the state to work towards compliance. The penalty was first applied to the FY 2012 JAG award.

PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT

The PREA of 2003 (Public Law 108-79) was created to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse in confinement facilities, including: prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, lockups, and community confinements. “The purpose of the Act is to provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resources, recommendations, and funding to protect individuals from prison rape” (Prison Rape Elimination Act, 2003). The Act mandates a five percent reduction to JAG funds to non-complying States; a state whose governor does not certify fully compliance with PREA Standards. Funding reductions began with the FY 2014 JAG award. States may request a waiver to apply the penalty to cost and activities associated with meeting the Act requirements.