This Fact Sheet for the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program provides an overview of the program, its authorizing legislation, and basic information for entities interested in submitting a grant application.
The JAG Program was created as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005, which merged the discretionary Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program with the formula-based Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program. The JAG Program is the leading federal source of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. It provides states, territories, tribes, and local governments with funding necessary to support a range of program areas that include law enforcement, prosecution and courts, prevention and education, corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, and technology improvement, as well as crime victims and witness initiatives. In addition to the areas of criminal justice for which JAG programming is available, the formula used in providing grants to states and U.S. territories is explained. Information is also provided on eligibility and guidance for grant applicants, how and when to apply, the length of grant awards, grantee match requirement, reporting requirements, grounds for award reductions and penalties, and grantee use of the National Incident-based Reporting System (NIBRS) for reporting law enforcement crime data.