The Iowa Department of Public Safety, 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.
Funding for this solicitation is available through Iowa’s Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant allocation. Approximately $1,800,000 will be committed through this competitive grant process for use in State Fiscal 2025. 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 funding can be used to support programs within six federally-approved “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
Examples of Possible Program Responses to address Crime and Substance Abuse Prevention, Intervention/Recovery/Treatment, Drug Enforcement and Supply Reduction Include, but are Not Limited to:
· Multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement task forces
· Programs that promote data driven policy development
· Diversion to treatment for low-risk non-violent alcohol and other drug addicted offenders
· Programs to provide case management resources for community-based criminal offenders receiving treatment services
· Programs that use intelligence systems to increase law enforcement effectiveness
· Jail-based treatment programs
· Criminal justice training opportunities
· Crime lab enhancements which reduce the turnaround time for evidence analysis
· Programs that link correctional resources with other partner sectors to enhance correctional client compliance with the conditions of probation/parole
· Intensive supervision programs for drug and other high-risk probation/parole clients
· Programs to assist offender transition from jail/prison to the community
· Programs that increase treatment resources for juvenile or adult offenders
· Programs that provide substance/crime-free supervised transitional housing
· Co-occurring disorder community-based programs
· Programs that support mental health services to increase public safety/wellbeing
· Anti-drug/crime coalitions programs which establish environmental prevention strategies and activities
· Specialty court programs
· Prevention programs with local community coalition participation
· Programs which provide information to the public on emerging drugs
· Prevention and development services targeting high risk youth and their parents
· Programs that integrate substance use prevention services with other programs
· Programs that address underage and binge drinking
· Programs that improve early identification of substance use issues in high-risk populations
· Innovative programs that improve the operational effectiveness of the justice system
The Iowa Byrne-JAG Strategy is 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.
