Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) Program

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) Program for Juvenile Detention Centers is administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). This grant program is designed to support local and regional juvenile detention centers across the Commonwealth of Virginia by providing financial assistance for training, equipment, and essential supplies. DCJS functions as the state administrative agency responsible for managing the coordination, oversight, and distribution of Byrne/JAG funds within Virginia. These funds are federal in origin and form part of a broader national effort to address local and state criminal justice needs. The Byrne/JAG program supports a wide spectrum of crime control and prevention activities, allowing applicants to tailor their projects based on localized needs and conditions. Eligible applicants under this specific funding opportunity are exclusively local and regional juvenile detention centers operating within Virginia. These centers can seek funding for training—both for staff and juveniles—equipment purchases, consultant services, and supplies that directly support programmatic efforts within their facilities. The funding must be used within the grant period and cannot be used for personnel expenses, capital improvements, vehicles, firearms, lobbying, entertainment, or indirect costs, among other restrictions. The grant award period runs from April 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026. Purchases and expenditures must be completed by the end of the grant period, and there are no provisions for extensions or continuation funding. Approximately $300,000 in federal funding has been allocated for this competitive opportunity. All funds will be disbursed on a cost-reimbursement basis, and grantees are required to provide a 25% local match, which may be fulfilled through cash or in-kind contributions. Federal funds must be used to supplement, not replace, existing funding sources, and any new positions proposed must add significantly to service delivery. Applications must be submitted via the DCJS On-line Grants Management System (OGMS), and all applicants must be registered in the federal System of Award Management (SAM) with an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The application deadline is February 17, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. noon. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances. OGMS registration should be completed at least two weeks prior to submission to avoid access issues. The review process is competitive, with each application evaluated on a 100-point scale. Major scoring areas include the project narrative (40 points), goals and objectives (25 points), budget forms (25 points), and technical compliance (10 points). Applicants who have overdue grant reports from other DCJS awards may be disqualified from consideration. Awards are expected to be announced at the Criminal Justice Services Board meeting on March 19, 2026. Technical assistance is available via virtual office hours scheduled for February 2, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Additional guidance can be obtained by contacting Natasha Fortune, the Juvenile Justice Analyst, via email at [email protected] or by phone at (804) 659-7593. Questions regarding OGMS can be directed to [email protected]. The full program guidelines and procedures are available in PDF format at https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/sites/dcjs.virginia.gov/files/Byrne-JAG_2026_Juvenile_Detention_Centers_0.pdf.