BJA FY 21 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program (BCJI)

The Department of Justice is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights, increases access to justice, supports crime victims, protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. The Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Program supports Department priorities to reduce serious and violent crime, including gun violence; dismantle gang activity; and strengthen local capacity to combat drug abuse. BCJI helps communities build trust and support law enforcement agencies working with these communities by integrating enforcement strategies into community- based crime reduction efforts and using this information to understand and target the issues. A critical pillar of the BCJI Program is neighborhood empowerment. Community-oriented approaches build trust, facilitate a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources, enhance the community's perception of the fairness and effectiveness of policies and interventions, and increase the willingness of the community and those in the criminal justice system to comply with the social mores in the community. Implementing these approaches without strong community collaboration will likely be unsuccessful and may overlook a community or neighborhood's unique needs and challenges as well as the ability to develop and implement sustainable change. Community leaders and residents are often in the best position to motivate, implement, and sustain change over time; therefore, applications should be developed in collaboration with community members to build community support for community needs as they evolve over time and indicate how community residents will be involved as full partners throughout the project.