The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks applications to fund the development and testing of new or innovative approaches to improving community safety and trust that are alternatives to traditional enforcement mechanisms for neighborhoods experiencing high rates of less serious and low level criminal offenses. This model will involve coordination with law enforcement entities to improve public safety and community residents’ perceptions of law enforcement and procedural fairness and legitimacy. This program furthers the DOJ’s mission by advancing the Department’s priorities on community trust, safety, and equity. 

With this solicitation, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks applications to fund the development and testing of new or innovative approaches to improving community safety and trust that are alternatives to traditional enforcement mechanisms for neighborhoods experiencing high rates of less serious and low level criminal offenses. This model will involve coordination with law enforcement entities to improve public safety and community residents’ perceptions of law enforcement and procedural fairness and legitimacy.

BJA’s Reimagining Justice: Testing a New Model of Community Safety Program will invest in a collaborative network of community-based organizations and institutions as well as local nonlaw enforcement government agencies. This collaboration will address these increases in less serious/lower-level crimes through the delivery of coordinated programs and services in order to avoid any unnecessary criminal justice system involvement. This new community safety model will support the development of community-led responses to the needs and objectives of community leaders, residents, and other stakeholders through a community engagement process. This approach can include coordination with law enforcement entities, where appropriate, in order to focus on a locality or one or more neighborhoods experiencing a precipitous increase in less serious crime. 

Deadline: June 20, 2023