The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is the criminal justice planning office within the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Division of Public Safety Planning. Its primary function is the administration of federal grant programs funded through the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.
OJP also administers various state-appropriated grant programs, conducts criminal justice planning and grant workshops and provides technical assistance to local communities and law enforcement agencies. OJP administers approximately $107 million in federal dollars each year. A summary of the federal and state grant programs are provided below.
EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG)
In FY 2005, the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program (BYRNE) and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Program were merged into the newly authorized JAG Program to streamline justice funding and grant administration. The JAG program allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on local needs, conditions and flexibility to prioritize funds where most needed.
Justice initiatives funded under BYRNE or LLEBG, in the state priority spending plan are eligible for JAG funding in the following purpose areas: law enforcement programs, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education programs, drug treatment programs, as well as planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs. Emphasis is placed on helping law enforcement and related agencies control violent and drug-related crimes, improve operations and build coordination and cooperation among components of the criminal justice system.
The JAG program requires a 25% cash match. Grant programs funded under JAG include the following: Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Task Forces, Victim/Witness Assistance Programs, Local Law Enforcement grants, Certified Investigator Training Program and other related law enforcement support programs.
FY 2021 JAG Proposal Narrative
JUVENILE JUSTICE
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is the state’s administering agency for funds under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 (JJDPA) which includes Title II Formula funds, Title V Delinquency Prevention funds, and Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) funds. Additionally, the Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) funds are administered by the Juvenile Justice Division of the Office of Justice Programs.
The Formula Grants Program (also known as Title II) provides funding to support alternatives to detention, compliance monitoring, delinquency prevention, and improvements to the juvenile justice system. Funding is administered through sub-grants to units of local government (city, county, townships, etc.) local private agencies, and Indian tribes for programs that meet federal requirements. Title II 3-year plan
Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) refers to the disproportionate number of minority youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 broadened the scope of the DMC initiative from "disproportionate minority confinement" to "disproportionate minority contact," requiring an examination of potential disproportionate representation at all decision points within the juvenile justice continuum and implementation of data-based prevention and system improvement efforts to reduce identified disproportionality.
The Federal Compliance Monitoring Unit is responsible for monitoring the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act of 2002. Each state is required to develop and implement an adequate monitoring system for achieving and maintaining compliance with the four core protections of the act.
The Federal Compliance Monitor works to achieve and maintain full compliance with three of the four core requirements listed below:
- Deinstitutionalization of status offenders (DSO);
- Separation of juveniles from adults in institutions (Separation);
- Removal of juveniles from adult jails and lockups (Jail removal); and
- Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) – this requirement is the responsibility of the DMC Coordinator.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The Office of Justice Programs issues Request for Proposals (RFP) and application guidelines for each program area. Applications are accepted during the designated application period for each program. Contact the appropriate program manager to be added to the notification list for RFP if you would like to receive an application packet. For the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant, application kits are automatically sent to the chief executive officer of each eligible jurisdiction.