Summary
The Edward Byrne Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program is a Department of Justice (DOJ) formula grant
program. The JAG program allocates funds to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories (collectively
referred to as "states" hereinafter) for a variety of state and local criminal justice purposes. The program is administered
by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). JAG funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance,
training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems related to law enforcement,
prosecution and courts, correctional, crime prevention, drug treatment, and crime victim assistance programs.
Information as of May 14, 2025. Prepared by Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy and Jamie Bush, Visual Information Specialist.
Additional information can be found in CRS In Focus Report IF10691, The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
Under the JAG formula, each state's
allocation is based on the state's share of
the U.S. population and its respective share
of reported violent crimes.
Under current law, each state receives at
least 0.25% of the annual JAG
appropriation (i.e., the minimum
allocation). States whose formula allocation
would have been less than the minimum
only receive the minimum allocation.
After each state's allocation is determined,
40% is awarded directly to units of local
government in the state.
Each state is required to "pass-through" to
units of local government a certain
percentage of the funds directly awarded to
the state. The pass-through percentage is
calculated using data on criminal justice
expenditures collected by the Bureau of
Justice Statistics.
STATE
= 0.25% x appropriated amount
to local governments
directly from BJA
Grants to local
governments directly
from BJA
Disparate; must
apply together
for total amount.
State retains this
amount for its own use.
Grants to local
governments via
the state
Less than $10,000
jurisdictions. Funds
administered by the state.
pass through to
local governments
certain %
calculated using criminal
justice expenditures data
40%
awarded
Violent crimes = murder, rape, robbery and
aggravated assault.
STATE
Population
+
Violent Crime
60% to
the state
When BJA certies that there is a disparate
allocation—i.e., the award for one city is
1.5x more than the county in which it's
located or the total award for multiple cities in
the county is 4x more than the county's
award—the jurisdictions must apply together
for a single joint award. The city or cities and
county must agree how the joint award will
be allocated and used.
The remaining funds are allocated among
the non-minimum allocation states using
the JAG formula. Both the population and
violent crime data for the states that
received the minimum allocation are
excluded when allocating the remaining
funds.
Remaining funds
applies to all states
Population
+
Violent Crime
Non-minimum
State
Allocation
Total
State
Allocation
Allocations are based on each unit of local
government's share of reported violent
crimes in the state. Allocations of less than
$10,000 are given to the state for it to
administer.
Some local governments may overlap
(e.g., a city within a county).