The Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP), under the Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant Program, provides financial assistance to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system. The JAG program places an emphasis on violent crime, drug offenses, serious offenders, and justice system improvement.
The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program provides funding to units of government in developing and implementing residential substance use disorder treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities. RSAT programs provide individual and group treatment activities for offenders and must meet the following requirements: Correctional Facility - last between 6 and 12 months or Jail – last at least 3 months; be provided in residential treatment facilities set apart from the general correctional population; focus on the substance abuse problems of the inmate; include drug/alcohol testing of participants including periodic and randomized testing; and develop the inmate's cognitive, behavioral, social, vocational, and other skills to solve substance abuse and related problems.
Funding for this solicitation is available through Iowa’s Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant and Residential Substance Abuse Treatment allocations. Approximately $2,000,000 will be committed through this competitive grant process for use in State Fiscal 2024. Of the JAG program funds, federal guidelines currently require a minimum of 61% to be passed through to local jurisdictions and a maximum of 39% to be passed to state agencies.
JAG applications within six federally-approved “Program Purpose Areas” and addressing at least one of the state-established “Priorities” will be considered for funding.
Byrne-JAG Program Purpose Areas
A. Law Enforcement Programs
B. Prosecution and Court Programs
C. Prevention and Education Programs
D. Corrections and Community Corrections Programs
E. Drug Treatment Programs
F. Planning Evaluation and Technology Improvement Programs
Priorities
Funding will be prioritized to projects that employ equitable strategies supporting the broad goals outlined in the 2023 Iowa’s Drug Control Strategy and Iowa’s Byrne Justice Assistance Grant ( JAG) Strategy.
2023 Iowa Drug Control Strategy
· Reduce deaths related to the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
· Reduce injuries associated with the use of drugs, including from drug-impaired driving
· Reduce youth use alcohol, nicotine and marijuana (THC)
· Increase access to substance use disorder (SUD) services
· Increase employment among those in or completing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment
· Reduce incarcerations for drug-related offenses, and the disproportionate number of minorities referred to the justice system
Iowa 2021 Byrne-JAG Strategy
· Strengthen Efforts that Lead Iowans to be Healthy & Drug Free
· Safeguard Iowa Communities from Illegal Drug Activities
· Break the Cycle of Drug Use, Crime, Delinquency, and Incarceration
Examples of Possible Program Responses Include, but are Not Limited to:
· Diversion of non-violent drug-affected individuals from jail/prison to treatment
· Offender reentry to the community
· Mental health and/or substance use disorder treatment for justice system clients
· Data-driven criminal justice policy and programming enhancements which improve efficiency, effectiveness, and/or reduce cost.
· Criminal justice/service enhancements to address justice system deficiencies in rural areas
· Case management for criminal justice clients
· Jail-based treatment
· Multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement task forces
· Community substance abuse and crime prevention
· Intensive supervision addressing the specific needs of clients
· Problem-solving courts (e.g., drug, family treatment, etc.) to address the special needs of clients and increase accountability
· Therapeutic community programs for justice system clients
· Enhanced access to and outcomes for public defenders
· Improve equity and access to services for criminal justice clients
· Reduced recidivism, victimization, and crime
· Other evidence informed, innovative programs, in one of the six Byrne-JAG Program Purpose Areas listed above.
The Iowa Byrne-JAG Strategy and the Iowa Drug Control Strategy are available for review on the ODCP website .
Evidence-Informed and Innovative Programs/Practices
The Office of Drug Control Policy places strong emphasis on the use of data and evidence in policy making and programming. Applicants should document and describe, to the extent possible, a data/evidence focused response to particular crime and substance abuse problem(s) in their grant applications. Applicants are encouraged to propose initiatives that use sound criminal justice principles, and innovation to create strategies that are effective, economical, and sustainable in response to one or more of the priorities listed above.
For more information about evidence-based programs, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Justice, go to www.crimesolutions.gov .
