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.
Preventing Youth Violence
Preventing and responding to violence among young people requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach. In response to rising community and youth violence in Eastern Washington, the Safe Communities Partnership has provided more than 130 youth (ages 13-
17) with gang and group violence intervention and prevention services throughout Spokane County. Byrne JAG funds will support the expansion of intervention and prevention programming to include additional efforts throughout the city of Spokane and mentorship to incarcerated young people.
Preventing Suicide in Correctional Settings
About two in five people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness. As such, ensuring that individuals in prisons and jails have access to appropriate mental health treatment is critical. The National Alliance on
Mental Illness Kansas provides inmates access to mental health resources that help to prevent suicide and self-harm. The Justice Involved Project (JIP), supported by Byrne JAG, began at the Butler County Jail and quickly expanded to additional facilities, bringing 94 groups serving 578 inmates in the Wyandotte County Jail, Topeka Correctional Facility, Hutchinson Correctional Facility, Norton Correctional Facility and Riley County Jail. In the 12-month award period, NAMI data confirmed a decrease in suicide-related incidents and deaths.
Byrne JAG Support for Officer Health and Wellness
First responders, including law enforcement, experience higher rates of mental health symptoms than the general population, likely due to higher levels of stress, reoccurring exposure to trauma and a lack of access to
services and support. Virginia is addressing officer/first responder wellness using Byrne JAG funding to expand their resources, training and awareness, including creating public service announcements that will be distributed to the public and first responder communities, and making available website resources, training and other information regarding wellness to the first responder community.
What is Byrne JAG?
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne JAG) is the nation’s cornerstone crimefighting program, supporting the federal government’s crucial role in spurring innovation, as well as testing and replication evidence-informed practices in crime control and prevention nationwide.
Who is Your SAA?
The Justice System
Strategic Planning
Supporting Innovation
What is Byrne JAG?
Byrne JAG and
Specialty Courts
Promoting Public Safety
Byrne JAG and Restorative
Justice
Can Byrne JAG Reduce
Recidivism?
Supporting Communities
Byrne JAG is Local
Saving Lives in KY
Reducing Incarceration
Responding to Violence
Nine Program Areas
What is the Funding For?
Byrne JAG Funds
Diversion
Paving the Way for
Reentry
Protecting Public Safety
Law Enforcement Training
Curbing Gun Violence
Funding Deflection
At-Risk Youth
Information Sharing
Supporting Reentry
Reducing Recidivism
Helping States Innovate
Helping Ohio Find Hope
Reducing Recidivism
Byrne JAG and Crime Prevention
Byrne JAG is Collaborative
Funding CJ Reform
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.