By Laura DeKoven Waxman
March 23, 2009

Top officials from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office provided mayors, police chiefs and other city officials with information about how to apply for Recovery Act Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and COPS hiring grants during a March 17 webcast hosted by the Conference of Mayors and sponsored by the Justice Department. Conference CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran moderated the session in which Acting Assistant Attorney General for Justice Programs Laurie Robinson and Acting COPS Office Director Tim Quinn briefed viewers on the program funding available and application details.

In introducing the session, Cochran said that the Conference of Mayors has called for rebuilding the federal-local partnership on fighting crime. He commented that, working with their police chiefs, mayors know that street crime, gun violence, and illegal drugs continue to plague cities, and that during this recession, the ability of cities to address crime is greatly challenged by severe budget shortfalls.

Robinson explained that overall there are $2.7 billion available for seven justice assistance programs, including $2 billion for the Byrne JAG formula program and $225 million for Byrne JAG competitive program. Local allocations for the formula program are available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/recoveryallocations.html. The application period opened March 6, and will close May 18. Robinson said they anticipate receiving 12,000 applications and want to move the money out quickly. She indicated that they plan to start making awards in late April, and are trying to act on applications within 15 days of receipt.

Robinson said that eligible program areas include law enforcement, prosecution, corrections, and prevention and education. She discussed the flexible uses of the funds, which include personnel, training, and equipment, and that the funds can be used retain law enforcement personnel, both sworn and non'sworn, who would otherwise be laid off.

Robinson indicated that the solicitation for the competitive grants program will be available soon. Among program areas OJP intends to fund under the competitive grants are retention of law enforcement personnel and support for DNA and other forensic laboratories.

Quinn explained that the $1 billion in COPS funding will support 5,500 sworn officers. The funds may be used to hire new officers, prevent layoffs of existing officers, and bring back officers who have been laid off. There is no non-federal match requirement and no cap on the amount of funding available per officer. The funds will support an officer for three years; the department must retain the officer for one year after the COPS grant has ended.

Quinn announced that the application period for COPS funding opened on March 16, and that it will close at midnight on April 14. After April 14, the COPS Office will review the applications and begin to make awards. All awards will be announced by September 30.

The webcast can be viewed at www.usmayors.org. Questions regarding the Byrne JAG and COPS recovery act programs may be submitted at the site as well, and will be forwarded to the Justice Department for response.