The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) was created in 1984 to reduce violent crime, create safer communities, and reform our Nation’s criminal justice system. BJA’s mission is to provide leadership and services in grant administration and criminal justice policy development to support state, local, and tribal justice strategies to achieve safer communities. BJA works with communities, governments, and nonprofit organizations to reduce crime, recidivism, and unnecessary confinement, and promote a safe and fair criminal justice system.
The grant program by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is designed to provide funding to states and local government entities that operate existing crime laboratories. The primary goal is to solve crimes and enhance public safety by leveraging DNA technology. This includes processing DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), ensuring that DNA analysis contributes effectively to the criminal justice process. Applicants are required to register with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) before applying, with deadlines emphasized to facilitate timely application submissions.