With resources limited and lives at risk, leaders should embrace a culture of learning that assesses every strategy to determine if it is saving lives and reducing violence. This requires engaging with both research partners and multi-sector stakeholders to analyze performance and when necessary, implement course corrections that can maximize impact.
DOJ resources can help localities establish an infrastructure to support continuous improvement and innovation. Key resources are identified below, followed by links to additional resources.
Key Resources
Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative
CVIPI funding, training & technical assistance, and other supports can be used to implement evidence-informed strategies, as well as provide resources to initiate locally specific responses to violence.
Through this opportunity, BJA, in coordination with OJJDP and OVC, provides support to prevent and reduce violent crime in communities by supporting comprehensive, evidence-based violence intervention and prevention programs.
The Smart Policing Initiative is designed to support localities in partnering with researchers to design, implement and evaluate innovative responses to violence. It can be used to support initiatives that implement and test innovative approaches to common law enforcement challenges, enable law enforcement agencies to appropriately support the implementation of community violence intervention and prevention initiatives in their jurisdiction, and develop, implement and test new technologies that promote information sharing and data transparency.
Field Initiated: Encouraging Innovation
This funding opportunity supports new and innovative strategies for preventing and reducing crime, improving community safety, and strengthening criminal justice system outcomes. This funding seeks to accomplish this by promoting collaborations with the field to identify, define, and respond to emerging or chronic crime problems or justice system challenges. In particular, this funding can support work that builds trust, responds to precipitous increases in crime, and tracks and responds to violent crime.
Additional Resources
Funding Opportunities
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Program is a formula award administered to each state and territory, based on their population and violent crime. The award is divided between state (60%) and direct to local (40%) units of government. JAG funding is administered by a state agency. JAG funds are extremely flexible in ways they can support violent crime reduction. Localities should contact their State Administering Agency or the National Criminal Justice Association.
Training & Technical Assistance
Bureau of Justice Assistance - National Training and Technical Assistance Center
The BJA National Training and Technical Assistance Center connects justice agencies with national experts to help reduce violent and drug-related crime. NTTAC provides no-cost training and specialized guidance matched to the needs of the requesting agency. A specific Violence Reduction Response Center connects localities with resources to help address these needs. Jurisdictions interested in implementing strategies outlined in the Roadmap may also contact NTTAC to request TTA from the Police Executive Research Forum. In collaboration with BJA and a cadre of subject matter experts, PERF will coordinate no-cost TTA services designed to enhance jurisdictions’ capacity to reduce community gun violence and promote community trust.
National Public Safety Partnership
The National Public Safety Partnership is a network of communities who have committed to implementing evidence-informed approaches to reducing violence and enhancing public safety. It is a DOJ-wide program that connects communities with peers and experts to receive coordinated training and technical assistance. Many of these resources are for grantees, but there are many more resources, through the National Public Safety Partnership Clearinghouse available to all. These resources include guides and toolkits on innovative responses to preventing and intervening in violence.