BJA FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program State Formula

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program – State Formula is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP). BJA supports law enforcement and criminal justice agencies through funding, technical assistance, and policy development, aiming to enhance public safety, uphold the rule of law, and ensure the protection of civil rights. This funding opportunity aligns with the broader mission of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and specifically targets state-level justice system needs through formula-based grants. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides an avenue for eligible state governments to access fiscal year 2025 JAG Program funds. The JAG Program is one of the leading sources of federal criminal justice funding, and its scope is wide-ranging. These formula grants support a broad set of public safety initiatives, including law enforcement programs, prosecution and court enhancements, crime prevention and education efforts, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and mental health and related law enforcement programs. The flexibility of the JAG program allows states to prioritize funding based on their unique public safety needs. The FY25 JAG State Formula Program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, allowing states to fully utilize their award allocations without contributing additional resources. A total estimated funding pool of $199,222,278 is available under this solicitation, with awards allocated among all 56 states and territories. The largest possible single-state award is capped at $20,135,051. The minimum award threshold is not specified in the announcement, suggesting that amounts may vary significantly based on the federal formula used for distribution, which considers population and crime statistics. Applications must be submitted by state governments, with eligibility explicitly limited to this category. A separate NOFO is available for units of local government, emphasizing the state-level focus of this specific solicitation. All eligible applicants are required to submit complete applications through Grants.gov by April 7, 2026. The solicitation does not indicate any pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers, nor does it specify intermediate steps like multiple application phases or post-submission interviews. Applications must be submitted electronically through the designated federal grants portal. Although no detailed evaluation criteria or scoring rubrics are disclosed within the announcement, applicants are expected to align with OJP’s stated goals to support rule of law, enhance safety, combat violent crime, and respond to pressing public safety issues such as the opioid crisis and human trafficking. Additional program information is available on the BJA’s dedicated JAG overview page (https://bja.ojp.gov/program/jag/overview). For assistance, applicants may contact the OJP Response Center at [email protected]. The FY25 cycle is currently open, and given that the JAG State Formula Program is issued annually, it is considered a recurring opportunity. Assuming the program follows a consistent annual timeline, the next cycle is expected to open in March 2027, with internal planning checks suggested by March 1, 2027. The closing date of April 7, 2026, provides applicants several weeks from the posting date (March 13, 2026) to prepare and submit their applications.