Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program

The Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program is a federally funded initiative administered in Kentucky by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet through its Grants Management Division. The program originates from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and is authorized under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022. This funding opportunity represents a subaward process in which the state distributes federal formula funds to eligible local entities. The overarching goal of the program is to prevent and reduce crime and violence, with a particular emphasis on gun violence and the identification of risk factors that may lead to such incidents. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the development and implementation of crisis intervention programs that proactively address risk before harm occurs. Eligible activities include court-based interventions such as mental health courts, drug courts, and veterans treatment courts, as well as broader behavioral health and community response initiatives. The program explicitly excludes efforts that focus solely on responding to crimes already in progress or completed, emphasizing instead preventative strategies and early intervention mechanisms. Kentucky does not currently implement extreme risk protection order programs, and therefore such activities are not included in the scope of this funding. Funding may be used across a range of allowable cost categories, including personnel, overtime, contractual services, travel and training, equipment, and operational expenses. These expenditures must directly support one or more of the established priority areas, which include court-based diversion programs, behavioral health crisis response, community-based intervention models, suicide prevention efforts, and gun safety initiatives. Funds may also be used for evaluation and research activities related to the effectiveness of crisis intervention programs. However, there are strict prohibitions on certain costs such as fundraising, lobbying, incentives, food and beverage, and capital construction. All expenditures must comply with federal cost principles outlined in 2 CFR Part 200. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to units of local government, which include cities, counties, townships, and similar general-purpose political subdivisions, as well as certain law enforcement or school districts with independent taxing authority. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to administer the grant, including appropriate staffing, financial systems, and compliance with federal and state administrative requirements. All subrecipients must operate on a non-profit basis for this program, as profit or management fees are not permitted. Applications submitted by entities outside this eligibility definition will not be considered. The application process requires submission through the Intelligrants system and includes a comprehensive set of components such as agency information, project narrative, budget details, and supporting documentation. Applicants must provide a detailed proposal describing the problem to be addressed, the design and implementation of the project, organizational capacity, and evaluation methods. Required attachments include letters of support, certifications, and potentially documentation related to lobbying disclosures or conflict of interest. Applications are reviewed by the State Crisis Intervention Advisory Board and JPSC staff using a structured scoring process. The application timeline for this funding opportunity begins with a release date of January 26, 2026, and closes on February 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Award decisions are anticipated by September 1, 2026, with a performance period running from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, totaling 12 months. Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis, requiring quarterly financial reporting. This opportunity is part of an ongoing federal program and may be repeated in future cycles depending on federal allocations and state priorities.

Ensure strong alignment with priority program areas provide current data to justify need and clearly demonstrate capacity and measurable outcomes