BJA FY 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) ProgramLocal Formula

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Local Formula is a federal formula grant administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The program supports the Department of Justice mission to keep the country safe and secure, uphold the rule of law, protect the rights of American citizens, support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect children, provide services to crime victims, and address public safety challenges. The goal of this funding opportunity is to improve the administration of the criminal justice system by providing eligible units of local government with additional personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance, information systems, and other resources addressing their criminal justice needs. JAG funds may support law enforcement programs; prosecution and court programs; prevention and education programs; corrections and community corrections programs; drug treatment and enforcement programs; planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; crime victim and witness programs other than compensation; mental health and related law enforcement and corrections programs; state crisis intervention court proceedings and related initiatives; public safety unmanned aircraft systems; and authorized counter-UAS systems. Agency priorities include directly supporting law enforcement operations, combating violent crime, supporting services to American citizens, protecting American children, and supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault. Areas of emphasis include combating violent crime, immigration enforcement, safe communities, and safe houses of worship. The program provides up to $96,518,469 in expected total funding and anticipates 1,190 awards. The anticipated award amount is up to $4,964,030. Awards under $25,000 have an expected period of 24 months, while awards of $25,000 or more have an expected period of 48 months, with award periods starting October 1, 2025. No cost sharing or matching is required. JAG funds may not supplant state or local funds and instead must increase amounts that would otherwise be available. No more than 10 percent of a JAG grant may be used for grant administration. Additional restrictions apply to prohibited items, UAS and counter-UAS expenditures, body armor, body-worn cameras, extreme risk protection order activities, DNA testing of evidentiary materials, and other restricted costs or activities. Eligible applicants include county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and other eligible units of local government. For JAG purposes, units of local government include towns, townships, villages, parishes, cities, counties, boroughs, other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state, and federally recognized American Indian tribal governments that perform law enforcement functions as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Certain law enforcement or judicial enforcement districts established under state law may also qualify when they have authority to independently establish a budget and impose taxes. Applicants must be listed on the applicable JAG allocation charts to receive a direct BJA award. For a disparate group, only one eligible member may apply as fiscal agent for the other members. Submission occurs in two required steps. Applicants must first complete the SF-424 and submit it through Grants.gov by October 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. They must then submit the complete application through JustGrants by October 16, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Required components include Standard Applicant Information, a Proposal Abstract limited to 2,000 characters, the Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire, the JAG Survey, Proposal Narrative, Budget Detail Separate Attachment, applicable indirect cost rate and consultant rate documentation, certifications and assurances, and applicable project-specific certifications or waiver requests. The Proposal Narrative must address Description of the Need, Project Design and Implementation, and Capabilities and Competencies. OJP reviews applications to ensure that the information provided is reasonable, understandable, measurable, achievable, and consistent with the goals of the funding opportunity. Applicants should identify criminal justice resource gaps, explain how JAG funding will be coordinated with state and related justice funding, describe programs and any subawards to be supported during the grant period, and demonstrate administrative and technical capacity to implement the project and collect required performance information. Budgets must clearly identify each cost, show cost computations, explain connections to project activities, and include only reasonable, allocable, necessary, and allowable expenses. Disparate groups should clearly distinguish proposed costs among participating jurisdictions. Recipients must submit regular performance reports communicating progress toward program goals and objectives. The NOFO was released August 25, 2026. Applicants are instructed to begin SAM.gov registration or renewal by September 1, 2026 and no later than September 9, 2026. The required Step 1 Grants.gov deadline is October 9, 2026, and the final Step 2 JustGrants deadline is October 16, 2026. The NOFO does not explicitly establish a recurring schedule or future application cycle, so recurrence is not inferred. Program questions may be directed to the OJP Response Center at OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov or 800-851-3420. JustGrants technical assistance is available at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175.

Ensure the application is reasonable, understandable, measurable, achievable, and consistent with the funding opportunity goals. Identify specific gaps in local criminal justice resources and clearly explain how proposed activities address them. Describe coordination of JAG funds with state and related justice funding and identify programs and subawards to be supported. Demonstrate administrative and technical capacity to implement the project and collect required performance data. Clearly name and describe each budget cost, show its computation, and connect it to project goals, objectives, and activities. For disparate groups, clearly distinguish proposed costs among participating jurisdictions. Verify direct-award eligibility on the applicable JAG allocation chart before applying.