Byrne Bytes
NCJA, with support from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, is proud to launch the Byrne Bytes social media campaign. Byrne Bytes highlight important programs and services funded by the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program.
States, tribes and local jurisdictions use Byrne JAG funding across the criminal justice system to improve the administration of justice, reduce incarceration, enhance fairness, improve outcomes for the justice-involved, and save taxpayer money. These funds support programming in prevention, diversion, enforcement, courts, prosecution and defense, corrections, victim assistance, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, state crisis intervention programs, and other community-based supports.
Byrne Bytes are brief factoids about the Byrne JAG program and highlight successful programs and practices in states around the country.
To find Byrne Bytes on social media, follow us or look for hashtag #ByrneBytes on NCJA’s Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Byrne Bytes
NCJA, with support from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, is proud to launch the Byrne Bytes social media campaign. Byrne Bytes highlight important programs and services funded by the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program.
States, tribes and local jurisdictions use Byrne JAG funding across the criminal justice system to improve the administration of justice, reduce incarceration, enhance fairness, improve outcomes for the justice-involved, and save taxpayer money. These funds support programming in prevention, diversion, enforcement, courts, prosecution and defense, corrections, victim assistance, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, state crisis intervention programs, and other community-based supports.
Byrne Bytes are brief factoids about the Byrne JAG program and highlight successful programs and practices in states around the country.
To find Byrne Bytes on social media, follow us or look for hashtag #ByrneBytes on NCJA’s Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Byrne Bytes
NCJA, with support from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, is proud to launch the Byrne Bytes social media campaign. Byrne Bytes highlight important programs and services funded by the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program.
States, tribes and local jurisdictions use Byrne JAG funding across the criminal justice system to improve the administration of justice, reduce incarceration, enhance fairness, improve outcomes for the justice-involved, and save taxpayer money. These funds support programming in prevention, diversion, enforcement, courts, prosecution and defense, corrections, victim assistance, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, state crisis intervention programs, and other community-based supports.
Byrne Bytes are brief factoids about the Byrne JAG program and highlight successful programs and practices in states around the country.
To find Byrne Bytes on social media, follow us or look for hashtag #ByrneBytes on NCJA’s Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Supporting Reentry
Targeting reentry services with an age and gender-responsive focus reduces recidivism rates. Connecticut used Byrne JAG funding to implement WORTH (Women Overcoming Recidivism Through Hard Work), a first-of-its-kind unit in the York Correctional Institution, Connecticut’s sole female-only prison. WORTH is an innovative housing unit designed to meet the unique needs of young adult women aged 18 to 25. The progressive curriculum was largely developed by the program’s
founding members and is designed to help women acquire and maintain the necessary skills to become successful following their release. The program has a restorative justice focus and a strong emphasis on family engagement and community involvement. Participants live alongside older mentors where they benefit from supportive staff and specialized services. The WORTH unit was featured on The NCJA Podcast.
Supporting Innovation
One of the hallmarks of the Byrne JAG program is its capacity for supporting innovative programs that later find alternative funding sources. The New Hampshire Manchester Safe Station Initiative was started with Byrne JAG funds during the opioid crisis, allowing individuals struggling with substance misuse to walk into a Manchester fire station seeking help. First responders checked vitals, referred the individual to a local hospital or provided care, if needed, and connected the person
with recovery and support services. As of late 2021, after 8,000 walk-ins, services transitioned to Doorway of Greater Manchester. Doorway receives funding from a State Opioid Response (SOR) grant.
What is Byrne JAG?
Byrne JAG funding supports programs and practices in every state and a broad cross-section of local communities, from large urban areas to smaller townships and rural counties. Funds are awarded by a formula based on each state’s population and crime rate. Sixty percent of a state’s allocation is awarded to the state criminal justice planning agency (known as the State Administering Agency, or SAA) which, in turn, makes the funding available to local governments and
Reducing Recidivism
Proper support and services are integral to ensuring these individuals returning to the community can live productive and fruitful lives. For individuals released from state prisons, recidivism rates average 68% within the first 3 years of release and 83% at 9 years post-release. Byrne JAG funds the Unlocking Doors program in Dallas, Texas which functions as a statewide reentry brokerage network to help individuals released from incarceration or living within the community on probation.
Clients, who can be referred through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice receive an individualized action plan and risk/needs assessment during the intake phase of the process; after intake, clients are referred to needed services and resources. The program collects data from clients as they work through their reentry plans to ascertain primary challenges and needs.
Who is Edward Byrne?
Named in honor of Officer Edward Byrne who was killed in the line of duty, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne JAG ) provides states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement,
crime victim and witness initiatives, mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams, and implementation of state crisis intervention programs or initiatives.
Helping States Innovate
What is the Funding For?
Byrne JAG Funds Diversion
Byrne JAG and Specialty Courts
Promoting Public Safety
Helping Ohio Find Hope
Reducing Recidivism
Paving the Way for Reentry
Protecting Public Safety
Byrne JAG and Restorative Justice
Can Byrne JAG Reduce Recidivism?
Byrne JAG and Crime Prevention
Byrne JAG is Collaborative
Law Enforcement Training
Curbing Gun Violence
Supporting Communities
Byrne JAG is Local
Funding CJ Reform
Funding Deflection
Who is Your SAA?
This series was created with the support of Grant No. 2019-YA-BX-K002 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the SMART Office, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions are those of the authors.