Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2020 17118
The BJA FY 20 Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to help communities address persistent, place-based crime problems in neighborhoods experiencing both high crime and concentrated socioeconomic distress. The program centers on identifying and targeting crime hot spots, then pairing enforcement with community-driven strategies so that reductions in violence and related harm are meaningful and sustainable. A key theme is integration: the grant encourages law enforcement officers and enforcement strategies to be embedded within broader community-based crime reduction efforts rather than operating in isolation, with the goal of improving safety while strengthening collaboration and trust at the local level.
This opportunity aligns with Department of Justice priorities in three main ways. First, it supports efforts to reduce violent crime, including violence that can be connected to gang activity in certain jurisdictions. Second, it is meant to assist communities struggling with drug abuse, recognizing how substance use, drug markets, and related disorder can concentrate in specific places and contribute to violence and victimization. Third, it emphasizes support for law enforcement by promoting coordinated approaches in which officers work alongside community partners as part of a comprehensive strategy, rather than relying solely on traditional enforcement tactics.
The grant is offered under Funding Opportunity Number BJA-2020-17118 and is associated with CFDA 16.817. Funding is provided through a grant instrument, and the activity categories span law, justice and legal services along with related community and workforce dimensions reflected in the listing. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $1,000,000, and BJA anticipated making about 9 awards under this solicitation, indicating a competitive program intended to fund a limited number of robust, well-structured local initiatives.
Eligibility is broad and designed to accommodate the range of organizations that typically lead or anchor local public safety partnerships. Eligible applicants include county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) may also apply. This mix of eligible entities reflects the program’s emphasis on collaboration among local government, law enforcement, community-based organizations, and academic or research partners who can support data-driven planning, implementation, and assessment.
In terms of timing, the solicitation was created on March 13, 2020, with an original closing date of June 11, 2020. Overall, CBCR is structured for communities that can clearly define a high-need geography, demonstrate crime concentration and community distress, and implement an integrated set of strategies that blend targeted enforcement with community engagement and problem-solving to reduce violence, address drug-related challenges, and improve public safety outcomes in a measurable way.Apply for BJA 2020 17118
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 20 Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.817.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2020. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BJA FY 20 Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) Program?
The BJA FY 20 Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help communities address persistent, place-based crime problems in neighborhoods experiencing both high crime and concentrated socioeconomic distress.
What types of problems is this grant intended to address?
This program is focused on persistent, place-based crime issues in specific neighborhoods, especially where crime is concentrated and socioeconomic distress is high. The program emphasizes reducing violence and related harm in a way that is meaningful and sustainable for the community.
What is meant by "place-based" crime problems and "hot spots"?
In this context, "place-based" refers to crime problems that are concentrated in particular locations or neighborhoods rather than being evenly spread across a jurisdiction. The program centers on identifying and targeting crime hot spots, then using integrated strategies to address the underlying conditions that allow crime and disorder to persist in those places.
How does the CBCR approach differ from traditional enforcement-only strategies?
A key theme of CBCR is integration. The program encourages law enforcement officers and enforcement strategies to be embedded within broader community-based crime reduction efforts rather than operating in isolation. The intent is to improve safety while also strengthening collaboration and trust at the local level through community-driven strategies paired with targeted enforcement.
What are the main goals of the CBCR Program?
The program aims to reduce violence and related harm in high-need locations by combining targeted enforcement with community engagement, problem-solving, and community-driven strategies. The goal is to achieve measurable public safety improvements that are meaningful and sustainable over time.
How does this opportunity align with U.S. Department of Justice priorities?
The solicitation aligns with DOJ priorities in three main ways: (1) supporting efforts to reduce violent crime, including violence connected to gang activity in some jurisdictions; (2) assisting communities struggling with drug abuse, including how substance use, drug markets, and related disorder can concentrate in specific places and contribute to violence and victimization; and (3) supporting law enforcement through coordinated approaches where officers work alongside community partners as part of a comprehensive strategy, rather than relying only on traditional enforcement tactics.
Is this grant specifically focused on violent crime?
Yes. One of the central priorities described is reducing violent crime, including violence that may be connected to gang activity in certain jurisdictions. The program is structured around reducing violence and associated harms in targeted locations.
Does the program address drug-related issues?
Yes. The program is intended to assist communities struggling with drug abuse and recognizes that substance use, drug markets, and related disorder can cluster in specific places and contribute to violence and victimization.
What does the program mean by supporting law enforcement?
Support for law enforcement is framed as promoting coordinated approaches in which officers work alongside community partners as part of a comprehensive strategy. The grant emphasizes embedding enforcement within community-based crime reduction efforts, rather than operating enforcement strategies separately from broader community work.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BJA-2020-17118.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA 16.817.
What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?
Funding is provided through a grant instrument.
What activity categories are associated with this grant?
The activity categories span law, justice, and legal services, along with related community and workforce dimensions reflected in the listing.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $1,000,000.
How many awards did BJA anticipate making under this solicitation?
BJA anticipated making about 9 awards under this solicitation, indicating a competitive program intended to fund a limited number of robust, well-structured local initiatives.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) may apply.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible applicants.
What types of communities is CBCR designed to support?
CBCR is structured for communities that can clearly define a high-need geography, demonstrate crime concentration and community distress, and implement an integrated set of strategies that blend targeted enforcement with community engagement and problem-solving.
What are the key characteristics of a strong CBCR target area?
Based on the solicitation description, strong target areas are neighborhoods where crime is concentrated (hot spots) and where there is also concentrated socioeconomic distress. The program emphasizes clearly defining the geography and demonstrating both high need and place-based crime concentration.
What kinds of strategies does the program expect applicants to implement?
The program emphasizes an integrated strategy that pairs targeted enforcement with community-driven strategies. It promotes community engagement and problem-solving approaches designed to reduce violence, address drug-related challenges, and improve public safety outcomes in a measurable way.
Does the program require community involvement?
The program description strongly emphasizes community-driven strategies, community engagement, and collaboration. It encourages efforts that strengthen collaboration and trust at the local level, with enforcement integrated into broader community-based initiatives.
Why does the solicitation emphasize "integration" and collaboration?
The grant encourages law enforcement and enforcement strategies to be embedded within broader community-based crime reduction efforts to improve safety while strengthening collaboration and trust. The overall idea is that coordinated efforts across partners are more likely to produce sustainable results than isolated enforcement activity.
When was the solicitation created?
The solicitation was created on March 13, 2020.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was June 11, 2020.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
Yes. The solicitation indicates BJA anticipated making about 9 awards and describes the program as intended to fund a limited number of robust, well-structured local initiatives, which signals a competitive process.
What outcomes does the program want communities to achieve?
The program seeks reductions in violence and related harm that are meaningful, measurable, and sustainable. It also emphasizes improving public safety outcomes while strengthening collaboration and trust at the local level.
How does CBCR connect crime reduction to socioeconomic distress?
The program is designed specifically for neighborhoods experiencing both high crime and concentrated socioeconomic distress. The focus on community-driven strategies alongside enforcement reflects an intent to address persistent, place-based problems in contexts where social and economic conditions may be intertwined with crime and disorder.
What kinds of partnerships does the program encourage?
The eligibility mix and program description reflect an emphasis on collaboration among local government, law enforcement, community-based organizations, and academic or research partners who can support data-driven planning, implementation, and assessment.
Is data-driven planning and assessment part of the program’s intent?
Yes. The description notes the role of academic or research partners in supporting data-driven planning, implementation, and assessment, aligning with the program’s emphasis on measurable outcomes and targeted hot spot strategies.
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