Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2015 4095
Apply for BJA 2015 4095
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 15 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.817 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 12, 2015 and posted on Feb 19, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $175,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments.
- Eligible entities to serve as fiscal agent include states, units of local governments, non profit organizations (including tribal non profit organizations), and federally recognized Indian tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.For this solicitation, community is defined broadly as a geographic area that has social meaning to residents. In urban areas, the term community may be used interchangeably with neighborhood to describe a specific geographic area that is delineated by major streets or physical topography. In urban areas, a community is typically less than two miles wide, while in rural and tribal areas it is often larger and part of an entire county.The BCJI application requires a consortium of partners (hereinafter referred to as cross sector partnership ) to plan or implement a targeted strategy addressing crime in a specific community. The cross sector partnership must designate one eligible entity to serve as the fiscal agent.1 The fiscal agent must ensure that the cross sector partnership is committed to and can successfully oversee key enforcement, prevention, intervention, and community engagement strategies AND access and analyze key data (crime and other) with regular input from the research and law enforcement agency partners.The fiscal agent will oversee coordination of the cross sector partnership and manage any subawards for services. The fiscal agent will be legally responsible for complying with all applicable federal rules and regulations in receiving and expending federal funds. The application must demonstrate that the fiscal agent has the capacity, commitment, and community support to serve as fiscal agent. The fiscal agent must demonstrate such capacity by1 Throughout this solicitation, fiscal agent and applicant are used interchangeably.BJA 2015 40952showing experience engaging residents as well as core criminal justice and other partners in the implementation and sustainment of community justice strategies, especially in the targeted area.Jurisdictions are strongly encouraged to coordinate with and seek the support of their local U.S. Attorney and local policymakers.BJA may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations.
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Opportunity Summary:
The BJA FY 15 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, designed to help distressed communities tackle concentrated crime and the broader conditions that often surround it, such as poverty, unemployment, poor health outcomes, struggling schools, inadequate housing, and long-term disinvestment. The core idea behind BCJI is that a relatively small number of places within a city, town, county, or tribal area can account for a disproportionate share of crime and disorder, and that focusing resources on these "hot spots" using proven strategies can improve public safety in ways that support wider neighborhood revitalization. The program emphasizes that safer communities are not just a criminal justice goal; they are a practical prerequisite for residents to fully benefit from schools, housing, health services, parks, local businesses, and other community assets that contribute to healthy, vibrant neighborhoods.
BCJI is structured around a place-based, community-oriented approach that requires coordination across multiple sectors, not just police or courts acting alone. Applicants are expected to form a cross-sector partnership (a consortium) that brings together criminal justice agencies and other local stakeholders such as education partners, housing organizations, health and human services providers, community and faith-based nonprofits, residents, local volunteers, and businesses. The purpose of this partnership is to plan or implement a targeted strategy focused on a specific geographic community area that has clear social meaning to residents. In urban settings, this typically means a relatively small neighborhood-sized footprint, often less than two miles wide and bounded by recognizable features like major streets or physical geography; in rural and tribal communities, the defined area may be larger and could cover a substantial portion of a county.
A major requirement of the program is that the partnership designate a single eligible entity to serve as the fiscal agent (also referred to as the applicant). This fiscal agent is responsible for coordinating the partnership, overseeing the strategy, managing any subawards for services, and ensuring full compliance with federal grant rules. The fiscal agent must show it has the capacity, commitment, and community support to do this work, including demonstrated experience engaging residents and working with core criminal justice and community partners to implement and sustain community justice strategies in the targeted area. The solicitation highlights that strong applications will not only propose enforcement, prevention, and intervention activities, but will also show the ability to access, analyze, and regularly use crime and other relevant data, with consistent input from research and law enforcement partners, to guide decisions and measure progress.
Funding for this program comes through the Edward Byrne Memorial Criminal Justice Innovation Program appropriation under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235). BCJI was also positioned as part of a broader interagency federal effort aimed at helping distressed neighborhoods build local capacity and support community revitalization, meaning it is intended to complement other place-based initiatives across federal agencies rather than operate in isolation. The solicitation encourages jurisdictions to coordinate with and seek support from their local U.S. Attorney and local policymakers, reflecting an expectation of alignment with local leadership and existing public safety and community development priorities.
In terms of award details, the funding opportunity number is BJA-2015-4095 under CFDA 16.817, with an anticipated 18 awards. The maximum award amount listed is $175,000, with no stated minimum award (award floor of $0), and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state and local units of government (including county governments and city or township governments), and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (including tribal nonprofit organizations), as determined by the Secretary of the Interior for tribal eligibility. The application window opened in February 2015, with the posting date of Feb 19, 2015, and a closing date that shifted from Apr 20, 2015 to Apr 21, 2015, with the opportunity later archived on May 21, 2015. The announcement also notes that BJA may choose to make awards in future fiscal years based on application merit and the availability of appropriations, which signals that strong applications could remain relevant beyond the immediate cycle if funding permits.
Overall, this opportunity funds communities that are prepared to work collaboratively, use data and evidence-informed approaches, and concentrate efforts on specific high-need places where safety improvements can help unlock broader neighborhood stability and opportunity. The program is less about isolated short-term enforcement and more about coordinated, targeted strategies that blend enforcement with prevention, intervention, and community engagement, using local data to focus resources where they can have the greatest impact.
BCJI (BJA FY 15 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program) - FAQs
What is the BJA FY 15 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Program?
The BCJI Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help distressed communities address concentrated crime and disorder in specific places, while also tackling related neighborhood conditions that often coexist with crime (for example poverty, unemployment, poor health outcomes, struggling schools, inadequate housing, and long-term disinvestment).
What problem is BCJI trying to solve?
BCJI is built on the idea that a relatively small number of places within a city, town, county, or tribal area can account for a disproportionate share of crime and disorder. By focusing resources on these hot spots using proven strategies, communities can improve public safety in ways that support broader neighborhood revitalization.
How does BCJI define the relationship between public safety and community revitalization?
The program emphasizes that safer communities are not only a criminal justice goal. Safety is described as a practical prerequisite for residents to fully benefit from neighborhood assets such as schools, housing, health services, parks, local businesses, and other community supports that contribute to healthy, vibrant neighborhoods.
Is BCJI a place-based program?
Yes. BCJI requires a place-based, community-oriented approach focused on a specific geographic community area that has clear social meaning to residents. The strategy is intended to be targeted to a defined footprint rather than applied broadly across an entire jurisdiction.
What does "hot spot" mean in the context of this program?
In this solicitation, hot spots refers to the relatively small number of places within a jurisdiction that experience a disproportionate share of crime and disorder. BCJI supports concentrating resources and strategies in those locations to maximize public safety impact.
How large should the targeted geographic area be?
The solicitation indicates that in urban settings the targeted area is typically a relatively small, neighborhood-sized footprint, often less than two miles wide, and bounded by recognizable features like major streets or physical geography. In rural and tribal communities, the defined area may be larger and could cover a substantial portion of a county.
Does BCJI focus only on policing and enforcement?
No. The program is described as less about isolated short-term enforcement and more about coordinated, targeted strategies that blend enforcement with prevention, intervention, and community engagement. Applicants are expected to coordinate across multiple sectors rather than relying on police or courts acting alone.
What types of partners are expected to be involved?
Applicants are expected to form a cross-sector partnership (a consortium) that includes criminal justice agencies and other local stakeholders. Examples named in the solicitation include education partners, housing organizations, health and human services providers, community and faith-based nonprofits, residents, local volunteers, and businesses.
What is the purpose of the cross-sector partnership (consortium)?
The consortium is intended to plan or implement a targeted strategy for the defined community area. The partnership is also meant to coordinate multiple types of resources and expertise so that public safety work supports broader neighborhood stability and opportunity.
What is a fiscal agent in BCJI, and why is it required?
BCJI requires the partnership to designate a single eligible entity to serve as the fiscal agent (also called the applicant). This entity is responsible for coordinating the partnership, overseeing the strategy, managing any subawards for services, and ensuring full compliance with federal grant rules.
What capacities should the fiscal agent demonstrate?
The fiscal agent must show capacity, commitment, and community support to coordinate and manage the work. The solicitation specifically notes the need for demonstrated experience engaging residents and working with core criminal justice and community partners to implement and sustain community justice strategies in the targeted area.
Does the program require data-driven decision-making?
Yes. The solicitation indicates that strong applications will show the ability to access, analyze, and regularly use crime and other relevant data to guide decisions and measure progress, with consistent input from research and law enforcement partners.
Is BCJI intended to operate by itself or coordinate with other initiatives?
The solicitation positions BCJI as part of a broader interagency federal effort aimed at helping distressed neighborhoods build local capacity and support community revitalization. It is intended to complement other place-based initiatives across federal agencies rather than operate in isolation.
Does the solicitation encourage coordination with local leadership?
Yes. The solicitation encourages jurisdictions to coordinate with and seek support from their local U.S. Attorney and local policymakers, reflecting an expectation of alignment with local leadership and existing public safety and community development priorities.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is BJA-2015-4095 and the CFDA number is 16.817.
How many awards were anticipated?
The solicitation anticipated 18 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $175,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated. The award floor is listed as $0.
Is cost-sharing or a match required?
No. The solicitation states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments; state and local units of government (including county governments and city or township governments); and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (including tribal nonprofit organizations), as determined by the Secretary of the Interior for tribal eligibility.
When did the application period open and close?
The application window opened in February 2015. The posting date was Feb 19, 2015. The closing date shifted from Apr 20, 2015 to Apr 21, 2015. The opportunity was later archived on May 21, 2015.
Can BJA make awards in future fiscal years based on this solicitation?
The announcement notes that BJA may choose to make awards in future fiscal years based on application merit and the availability of appropriations. This signals that strong applications could remain relevant beyond the immediate cycle if funding permits.
What federal appropriation funded this program?
Funding came through the Edward Byrne Memorial Criminal Justice Innovation Program appropriation under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235).
What kinds of community conditions does BCJI recognize as connected to crime?
The solicitation highlights broader conditions that often surround concentrated crime, including poverty, unemployment, poor health outcomes, struggling schools, inadequate housing, and long-term disinvestment.
What is the core emphasis of a strong BCJI application, based on the solicitation summary?
Based on the solicitation description provided, strong applications emphasize collaboration across sectors, a targeted place-based focus on high-need areas, a mix of enforcement/prevention/intervention and community engagement activities, and consistent use of crime and other relevant data (with research and law enforcement input) to guide strategy and measure progress.
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