Byrne Memorial Grants
The Byrne Memorial Grant is a federal formula grant provided to states from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) division. The grant is intended to help law enforcement agencies enforce and strengthen local and state laws designed for serious offenders or violent criminals.
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Grant Name and Origin
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The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program--now known as the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program--was created in 1988 to honor fallen New York City police officer Edward Byrne. Officer Byrne was murdered by gang members who had been instructed to kill the police officer assigned to protect a witness during a drug trafficking trial. Officer Byrne was 22 years old when he died in the line of duty.
Eligibility
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Applicants for the Byrne Memorial Grant include all states in the continental United States, as well as U.S. territories and districts. Subgrants to local law enforcement agencies, private nonprofit neighborhood and community-based organizations can be derived from the Byrne Memorial Grant through the State Administering Agency that handles the grant funds on a case by case basis. Allocations are divided by states, which divide their portion among all eligible municipalities, counties, or townships. A portion of the state allocation (below 40 percent) is set aside to provide subgrants as needed.
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Purpose
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Byrne Memorial Grant funds can be used for 29 purpose areas. These areas cover many specified programs such as D.A.R.E., Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers In Police Service, Drug-Free School Zone Enforcement, Boot Camps, Victim Assistance, Community Service Labor, Gang Resistance Education and Training, and many others. Grant funds may be used for personnel, training, equipment, information systems, technical assistance, research and evaluation activities, and assistance to victims that is not compensatory. All materials used must result in increased apprehension, prosecution and rehabilitation of violent criminals or serious offenders.
Grant Award
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Byrne Memorial Grant awards are for a four-year period. The last period began Oct. 1, 2008, and will end Sept. 30, 2012, in the current grant cycle. There is no match required. The award period can be extended under certain individual circumstances. Extensions are allowed at the discretion of the Bureau of Justice assistance director. The next grant period will begin Oct. 1, 2012 and will end Sept. 30, 2016. Grantees who apply will be notified by email of their award.
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