After describing the features and goal of the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI), this fact sheet outlines the core program elements of the BCJI model, reviews the training and technical assistance provided to BCJI grantees, and lists the 60 sites that have received BCJI funding.
Launched in 2012, The BCJI was created as part of the Obama Administration's larger National Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, whose objective is to help local and tribal communities develop place-based, community-oriented strategies to change neighborhoods of distress into neighborhoods of opportunity. As part of this effort, the BCJI provides funding and technical assistance for projects designed to reduce crime and improve community safety. The core BCJI program elements are 1) place-based targeting of crime "hot spots;" 2) the use of data to define problems and identify evidence-based solutions; 3) the involvement of community leaders and residents in community-safety projects; and 4) the maximization of local resources and partnerships. Under BCJI, the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to provide a range of training and technical assistance service to all BCJI grantees, which provides knowledge and skill to grantee personnel in planning and implementing BCJI's core elements. Since 2012, BCJI funding has been provided to 60 sites that include cities of diverse size and demographics across the country. These recipients are listed by year of initial grant for FY 2012 - FY 2015.