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About the Bureau of Justice Assistance

UPDATED! State and Territory Fact Sheets
BJA is excited to release the recently updated BJA State and Territory Fact Sheets. The enhanced web site features updated state and territory statistics related to BJA investments, Byrne JAG Program highlights, crime trends, and other criminal justice information. In addition to the web site, each state has an easily accessible PDF version of the fact sheet and detailed funding information that can be used for distribution. BJA hopes these fact sheets will continue to be useful to criminal justice agencies, as they can easily obtain and reference criminal justice data across the nation for a variety of purposes.

BJA's Strategic Plan
BJA has released its Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2013-2016. The plan is based on one overarching guiding principle: Reduce crime, recidivism, and unnecessary confinement, and promote a safe and fair criminal justice system. Recognizing the need to be innovative, yet evidence-based and results-driven, BJA will focus on major strategic areas during this 5-year period. To learn more about the specific goals and strategies that will guide the efforts of the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the future, read BJA's Strategic Plan.

Meet BJA's Director, Denise E. O'Donnell

Read the About BJA fact sheet

BJA Resources for State and Local Policymakers

BJA is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, which also includes the Bureau of Justice StatisticsNational Institute of JusticeOffice of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency PreventionOffice for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking.

BJA Mission

BJA's mission is to provide leadership and services in grant administration and criminal justice policy development to support local, state, and tribal justice strategies to achieve safer communities. BJA supports programs and initiatives in the areas of law enforcement, justice information sharing, countering terrorism, managing offenders, combating drug crime and abuse, adjudication, advancing tribal justice, crime prevention, protecting vulnerable populations, and capacity building. Driving BJA's work in the field are the following principles:

  • Emphasize local control.
  • Build relationships in the field.
  • Provide training and technical assistance in support of efforts to prevent crime, drug abuse, and violence at the national, state, and local levels.
  • Develop collaborations and partnerships.
  • Promote capacity building through planning.
  • Streamline the administration of grants.
  • Increase training and technical assistance.
  • Create accountability of projects.
  • Encourage innovation.
  • Communicate the value of justice efforts to decision makers at every level.

BJA has four primary components: Policy, Programs, Planning, and the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Office. The Policy Office provides national leadership in criminal justice policy, training, and technical assistance to further the administration of justice. It also acts as a liaison to national organizations that partner with BJA to set policy and help disseminate information on best and promising practices. The Programs Office coordinates and administers all state and local grant programs and acts as BJA's direct line of communication to states, territories, and tribal governments by providing assistance and coordinating resources. The Planning Office coordinates the planning, communications, and budget formulation and execution; provides overall BJA-wide coordination; and supports streamlining efforts.

BJA Programs

Contact BJA