Governor's Crime Commission Grants: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program provides vital federal funding to support criminal justice initiatives in North Carolina. It addresses law enforcement, courts, and community programs, promoting equitable public safety solutions. Established by the Governor's Crime Commission, the program adapts to evolving needs, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to enhance safety for over 10 million residents. This initiative empowers local agencies to implement innovative strategies in law enforcement, mental health, and crisis intervention.

About the Criminal Justice Improvement Committee
The Criminal Justice Improvement Committee is a committee within the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission (GCC) that has existed for well over three decades. The Committee is comprised of GCC Commissioners who are peers in law enforcement and the courts. Over that time, the Committee has strived to help address the public safety needs for 100 elected Sheriffs, 400 plus appointed Police Chiefs, multiple State Agencies, and multiple Non-Profit entities to best serve the over 10 million residents of our fine state.
In the last several years, there has been a change in how public safety funding is allocated nationally and statewide. World-wide pandemics, civil unrest, legislation, increase in population have all impacted the direction of criminal justice needs in North Carolina. The Committee will strive to make decisions that are equitable and fair. It will strive to look at national and state priorities as well as ever changing needs in criminal justice. It will debate, discuss, and decide what it believes is the best for the entire state of North Carolina given the current funding and applications.
Grant Program Background
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program 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 court proceedings and related programs or initiatives including, but not limited to, mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts, and extreme risk protection order programs.