Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant - Florida

Grant Details:
Application Due Date: June 2012 est

Description: 

Program Strategy and Purposes
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, public information, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas:

1) Law enforcement programs
2) Prosecution and court programs
3) Prevention and education programs
4) Corrections and community corrections programs
5) Drug treatment programs
6) Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.
7) Crime victim and witness programs

Each of the old Byrne and LLEBG purpose areas is related to one of the above purpose areas. Any law enforcement or justice initiative previously eligible for funding under Byrne or LLEBG is eligible for JAG funding.

Allocation Information
The JAG formula includes a state allocation consisting of a minimum base allocation with the remaining amount determined on population and Part 1 violent crime statistics and a direct allocation to units of local government. Once the state allocation is calculated, 60% of the funding is awarded to the state and 40% to eligible units of local government. Units of local government receiving awards more than $10,000 will receive the funds directly from U. S. Department of Justice (USDOJ). Awards to units of local government of $10,000 or less will be passed through the state. State allocations also have a variable pass through requirement to locals, calculated by the Bureau of Justice Statistics from each state’s crime expenditures.

FDLE has designated the 60% funding awarded to the State of Florida as JAG Countywide. The portion of the 40% funding, designated for units of local government receiving awards of $10,000 or less, passed through the State of Florida will be referred to as the Florida JAG Direct. It is possible for a unit of government to receive funding under both JAG Countywide and JAG Direct.

Eligible Applicants
Units of local government are eligible to receive subgrants from FDLE. "Units of local government" means any city, county, town, township, borough, parish, village, or other general-purpose political subdivision of a State and includes Native American Tribes that perform law enforcement functions as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

Program Development Process - JAG Countywide
Each county is allocated a sum of money for use by all local governments within the county. This amount is determined through a funding algorithm established in administrative rule.

Chapter 11D-9.005, Florida Administrative Code, requires that units of government in each county reach consensus concerning the expenditure of these funds, including the projects to be implemented and the agency responsible for such implementation.

Maximum coordination is required to meet this program requirement and the Department requests the county board of commissioners to coordinate requests for all local governments within the county. The Chairman, Board of County Commissioners, in each county so notified is requested to return to the Department a statement of certification indicating the county's willingness to serve as the coordinating unit of government for at least 51 percent of the units of government which also represents at least 51 percent of the population located in said county. This certification must be returned within 30 days from the date of receipt of notification. In the event the county declines to serve in this capacity, the Department will request the governing body of each municipality in the county, in descending order of population, to serve as the coordinating unit of government.

Match Requirements:

There is no match requirement under the guidelines of the new JAG program.

Distribution of Funds:

Grant funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis. Requests for reimbursement can be submitted on a monthly or quarterly time frame and should include total expenditures for the period reflected. A cash advance is possible for up to 25% of the grant award if the subgrantee is able to document a hardship.

Organization Information:
Organization: Bureau of Justice Assistance
Website: http:/​/​www.​ojp.​usdoj.​gov/​BJA/​grant/​index.​html

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Clayton H. Wilder
Contact Email: claytonwilder@​fdle.​state.​fl.​us
Contact Phone: 850-617-1250

More Information:
http:/​/​www.​fdle.​state.​fl.​us/​Content/​getdoc/​f0da23e2-​ba59-​45e0-​8f3d-​9bc39c6182fd/​Jag-​information.​aspx