BJA FY25 Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative | O BJA 2025 172495

FY25 Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative (BJA) - FAQs

1) What is the FY25 Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) intended to help rural communities strengthen their capacity to prevent, respond to, and reduce violent crime. The program centers on helping rural law enforcement agencies and prosecutors offices put a targeted violent crime reduction strategy into action.

2) What is the main purpose of this funding?

The core purpose is to provide practical resources so an eligible rural jurisdiction can identify a specific violent crime problem in its area and then implement a strategy designed to address that defined challenge in a measurable way. The focus is on moving from recognizing a problem to executing a concrete solution.

3) Is this funding meant for broad public safety improvements?

No. The emphasis is not on broad or unfocused public safety efforts. The opportunity is designed to support a targeted approach tied to a specific violent crime problem affecting the applicant's jurisdiction, with an implementation strategy aimed at measurable improvement.

4) What kind of strategy does BJA want applicants to propose?

Based on the program description provided, BJA is looking for a targeted violent crime reduction strategy that starts with identifying a specific violent crime issue and then outlines how the applicant will implement actions to address it. Strong proposals are expected to clearly connect the requested resources to the defined problem and the strategy for reducing or responding to it.

5) Who is the funding intended to benefit?

The intended beneficiaries are rural law enforcement agencies and prosecutors offices. While multiple government entity types may apply, the program description indicates the strongest alignment is with projects that directly support operational law enforcement and prosecution functions in rural jurisdictions.

6) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• "Others" (as listed), though the program narrative emphasizes local, rural implementation supporting law enforcement and prosecutors offices

7) Does the opportunity specifically target rural jurisdictions?

Yes. The opportunity is explicitly framed around rural communities and is intended to strengthen rural capacity to prevent, respond to, and reduce violent crime. The program is described as supporting rural law enforcement agencies and prosecutors offices.

8) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is O-BJA-2025-172495.

9) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number and program category?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 16.039, and the activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.

10) What type of award is this?

Awards are structured as grants.

11) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $400,000.

12) How many awards will be made?

The source information provided indicates that awards are expected, but it does not specify the number of anticipated awards. Applicants should plan with the published $400,000 ceiling in mind and the standard uncertainty of federal competitive grant funding.

13) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on April 15, 2026.

14) What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date is May 27, 2026.

15) What does "capacity-building" mean in the context of this program?

In the context provided, capacity-building means helping rural jurisdictions gain the personnel, tools, training, partnerships, and implementation support needed to carry out an effective, targeted violent crime reduction strategy. The intent is practical execution and measurable outcomes, not simply maintaining existing operations.

16) What types of activities might be supported under this initiative?

The description indicates the grant is meant to support practical resources needed to implement a targeted strategy, including items such as personnel, tools, training, partnerships, and steps required for implementation. The key requirement implied in the description is that these resources must be tied directly to a defined violent crime problem and a measurable plan to address it.

17) What makes an application "strong" based on the information provided?

Based on the description, stronger applications are likely those that:

• Are anchored by a unit of local government that can directly support rural law enforcement and prosecution functions
• Identify a specific violent crime problem affecting the jurisdiction (not a general public safety concern)
• Propose a clear, targeted strategy designed to address that problem
• Connect requested resources directly to implementation steps and measurable outcomes

18) Does the program support maintaining current operations?

The stated intent is not to fund efforts that simply maintain current operations without a targeted plan. The program emphasizes implementation of a focused violent crime reduction approach linked to a specific local problem.

19) Are prosecutors offices included in the program focus?

Yes. The description explicitly references rural law enforcement agencies and prosecutors offices as the intended recipients of practical resources to implement a targeted violent crime reduction strategy.

20) What is the overall outcome this grant is trying to achieve?

The overall intent is to enable rural agencies and prosecutors to execute a focused approach that improves violent crime response and reduction, with an emphasis on measurable progress against a defined violent crime challenge.