This series was created with the support of Grant No. 2016-DP-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.
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.
What is Byrne JAG?
Byrne JAG funds law enforcement programs, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education programs, corrections, community corrections and reentry programs, drug treatment and enforcement programs, planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs, crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation), and mental health programs and services. Learn more about the impact of Byrne JAG.
Byrne JAG is Local
States and local communities use Byrne JAG funds to address needs and fill gaps across the entire justice system. In this way, Byrne JAG-funded investments touch cities, towns and counties all across America.
Learn more about how state and local governments are investing: How States Invest Byrne JAG
Specialty Courts
The nation’s first drug court in Dade County, Florida was established using Byrne JAG. Since then, Byrne JAG funding supports specialty courts like domestic violence, mental health, reentry, DUI, community, gun courts, and over 300 veteran’s treatment courts.
Learn more about Harnett County's Veterans Treatment Courts and how they are helping our vetserans.
Byrne JAG Funds
Diversion
There are over 50 Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion programs in place across the US. Byrne JAG funds were used to pilot @BHSBaltimore's LEAD program. With law enforcement, LEAD connects participants with treatment, reducing criminal justice system involvement.
Byrne JAG Helps
Ohio Find Hope
Byrne JAG can fund promising ways to combat the opioid epidemic and substance misuse. In OH, Byrne JAG seed money was used to launch the @HPP_RossCoOH, an effort of over 60 community partners to advocate for SUD prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services.
Byrne JAG Helps Reduce Recidivism
Stable housing is key to successful reentry. Most states use ByrneJAG to support reentry initiatives reducing recidivism, like @NECorrections, who use housing vouchers to help parolees find stable and appropriate housing, helping them transition from prison back to the community
How Does Byrne JAG
Help Promote Public Safety?
States, localities and tribal nations use Byrne JAG for pressing public safety challenges. This flexible funding lets communities design complete programs, fill gaps, leverage resources and work across city, county and state lines.
How Does Byrne JAG Help Protect Public Safety
Improving criminal justice records enhances public safety while protecting individual privacy. In AZ the Criminal Justice Commission sets aside 5% of its Byrne JAG funds to support criminal history records improvement and information sharing guided by a strategic plan.
Byrne JAG Paves the
Way for Reentry
Job training funded by ByrneJAG reduces recidivism and helps pave the transition for individuals returning to community. The J. F. Ingram State Technical College’s Education to Employment initiative in AL helps incarcerated students overcome barriers to employment.
Byrne JAG and
Restorative Justice
Victims Voices Heard is a Delaware based restorative justice program which provides victims of violent crime with the opportunity to communicate face-to-face with their perpetrator and allows perpetrators the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions.
Byrne JAG and Crime Prevention
In places with high rates of violent and drug-related crime Byrne JAG can help fund evidence based & data driven crime prevention strategies, like Tennessee's Targeted Community Crime Reduction Project which identifies and addresses systemic problems in high crime areas.
Who is your State Administering Agency?
Byrne JAG funding is administered by the State Administering Agencies, or SAAs, in all 56 states and territories. Learn more about the role of the SAA or to find the SAA in your state visit NCJA’s website.
Listen to the Strategic Planning Epidsode of the NCJA Podcast Today
How Can Byrne JAG Reduce Recidivism?
Byrne JAG funds partnerships like the It Takes a Library (ITAL) project in Denver, CO. A partnership between Denver Human Services, Denver Public Library, and Colorado Mental Wellness Network, ITAL increases access to mental health/human services and reduces crime, delinquency and recidivism.
Listen to the Strategic Planning Epidsode of the NCJA Podcast Today
How Can Byrne JAG Reduce Recidivism?
Byrne JAG funds partnerships like the It Takes a Library (ITAL) project in Denver, CO. A partnership between Denver Human Services, Denver Public Library, and Colorado Mental Wellness Network, ITAL increases access to mental health/human services and reduces crime, delinquency and recidivism.