BJA FY24 Extreme Risk Protective Order and Firearm Crisis Intervention Training and Technical Assistance Initiative- Invited to Apply | O BJA 2024 172224

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the BJA FY24 Extreme Risk Protective Order and Firearm Crisis Intervention Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Initiative?

It is a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) FY24 continuation cooperative agreement opportunity that funds training and technical assistance (TTA) providers. The goal is to help jurisdictions strengthen and sustain state crisis intervention court processes and related firearm-risk interventions, including extreme risk protection order (ERPO) programs, by providing specialized guidance, tools, and training.

What is the main purpose of this grant?

The core purpose is to fund organizations that deliver structured support, expertise, and implementation assistance to jurisdictions receiving funds under BJA's companion program, the FY 2024 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Formula Solicitation. It is designed to improve how states and subrecipients stand up, improve, and sustain crisis intervention and ERPO-related work through practical, implementation-focused support.

Does this opportunity fund states directly to run crisis intervention or ERPO programs?

No. Based on the information provided, this initiative is not meant to directly fund states to run programs. It funds TTA providers that support the grantees funded under the companion SCIP Formula program.

How is this initiative connected to the FY 2024 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Formula Solicitation?

This initiative is closely tied to the SCIP Formula program. SCIP provides funding to states and their subrecipients to create and/or implement state crisis intervention court proceedings, ERPO programs, and other gun violence reduction programs or initiatives. The TTA providers funded under this opportunity are expected to help SCIP recipients implement, improve, and sustain those efforts.

What kinds of activities might SCIP-funded jurisdictions be implementing that TTA providers would support?

The solicitation describes work such as creating and/or implementing crisis intervention court proceedings, ERPO programs, and other firearm-related violence prevention initiatives. It also highlights that strategies may build on problem-solving court models, including drug courts, mental health courts, and veterans treatment courts, and may emphasize consistent assessment of risks and needs for people involved in gun-related offenses.

What types of courts or justice programs are mentioned as relevant models?

The opportunity mentions problem-solving court models, including drug courts, mental health courts, and veterans treatment courts. The intent described is to leverage established court infrastructure, potentially expand scope where appropriate, and support more consistent assessment of risks and needs in gun-related contexts.

What is meant by a "research-driven" approach in this context?

Based on the description provided, the initiative emphasizes approaches that address underlying needs and risk factors (such as behavioral health concerns, substance use, or other risk factors) with the goal of preventing future violence. TTA providers would help grantees translate these concepts into workable policies, procedures, training curricula, and operational practices.

Why does the solicitation reference the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022?

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 modified the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) statute to explicitly include a program area focused on implementing state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives (including mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts, and ERPO programs). It also added reporting and evaluation components for grants awarded for crisis intervention programs or initiatives.

How does this initiative relate to the Byrne JAG program?

Because JAG was updated to include crisis intervention program areas and new reporting/evaluation expectations, this TTA initiative is positioned to provide assistance that is relevant not only to SCIP recipients, but also to JAG recipients implementing or reporting on crisis intervention and related court-based or ERPO activities.

What kinds of support are TTA providers expected to deliver?

The opportunity describes support that helps jurisdictions implement and sustain crisis intervention and firearm-risk interventions. This includes helping grantees turn concepts into practical, operational components such as policies, procedures, training curricula, and implementation practices, as well as support connected to reporting and evaluation expectations tied to crisis intervention funding.

Is this a new competitive opportunity open to any applicant?

No. This is an invited, limited-eligibility continuation opportunity. Only applicants that received an official request from BJA to apply (to continue work connected to a prior BJA grant award) are eligible.

Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Applications will only be accepted from three named organizations: The John Hopkins University, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the National Criminal Justice Association.

What does "continuation" mean for this funding opportunity?

It is listed as a continuation opportunity and is described as continuing work connected to a prior BJA grant award. This structure indicates BJA is continuing or scaling existing lines of TTA work with experienced providers rather than opening the competition broadly.

What type of award will be made under this opportunity?

Awards will be made as cooperative agreements. In general, cooperative agreements indicate substantial federal involvement in shaping, guiding, or collaborating on the project during the period of performance.

How many awards does BJA expect to make?

BJA expects to make three awards.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $1,500,000.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is O-BJA-2024-172224.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?

The CFDA (assistance listing) number provided is 16.738.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.

What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date is August 5, 2024.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on July 29, 2024.

In plain terms, what does this funding support nationwide?

It supports national implementation infrastructure by funding expert organizations that provide training and technical guidance to help states and local partners implement effective, legally sound, evidence-informed crisis intervention court proceedings and related firearm-risk reduction initiatives (including ERPO programs), while also helping grantees align with evolving federal reporting and evaluation requirements.