FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 21, 2023) – Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Kerry Harvey announced applications will be available on April 24 for state and local law enforcement to apply for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG).
“Our law enforcement are heroes who step up daily to protect Kentuckians and make our communities safer," said Gov. Beshear. “After the challenges we've seen, and the bravery and compassion our officers have shown, we must do everything we can to support them and their ongoing efforts to make Kentucky a safer place for our families."
Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has awarded almost $8 million in grant funding to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in purchasing the tools and resources that will not only allow them to protect Kentucky communities but will also ensure their safety as they stand on the front lines every day. In September 2022, the administration announced nearly $2 million in grant funding to enhance public safety, curb the sale of illegal drugs and fight addiction.
Based on population and crime rates, an anticipated $1.6 million in federal funds is expected to be allocated to Kentucky from JAG, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, the leading source of federal justice funding to agencies serving the criminal justice system, to hire additional personnel and/or purchase equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance and information systems.
Eligible applicants are state and local government agencies and nonprofit entities seeking critical funding necessary to support a wide range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, crime victim and witness initiatives, mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams.
“Communities are safer and public safety is heightened when law enforcement and correctional personnel are equipped with the latest technology, protective equipment, training and additional personnel," Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Kerry Harvey said. “Every day that our state can award funding to our public safety professionals is worth it to protect them as they protect us."
JAG funds may be used to enforce state and local laws that establish offenses similar to those established in 21 U.S.C.§ 801 et seq. and/or to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, with emphasis on violent crime and serious offenders, by providing additional personnel, equipment, training, technical assistance, and information systems for the more widespread apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation of persons who violate these laws and to assist the victims of such crimes (other than compensation).
Applications for Federal Fiscal Year 2023 state solicitations are due by May 19 at 6 p.m. EST and awards are expected to be announced in September.
All applications must be submitted online via Intelligrants 10 (IGX), the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet's electronic Grants Management System. New applicants will be required to establish an account and become familiar with the system well in advance of the due date. Applicants should also note that validating a new user account requires 48 to 72 hours.
Assistance with the application process may be obtained by contacting Grants Management staff at JUSGMB@ky.gov.
For more information on the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, click here.
For a full list of 2022-2023 JAG sub-award recipients, please visit the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet's website.
Beshear-Coleman Administration Commitment to Making Kentucky a National Leader in Public Safety
The Beshear-Coleman administration's top priority is the safety of all Kentuckians. The Governor's public safety actions are creating safer communities and a better Kentucky now and into the future.
In March, Gov. Beshear signed House Bill 380 and House Bill 540 to further support law enforcement and increase public safety. These pieces of legislation expand the eligibility of potential peace officers to include individuals who are not yet 21 years of age but will reach this statutory requirement by the time certification is completed and help increase the number of school resource officers in the commonwealth's private and parochial schools as well as public schools. The Governor's signature on these bills increases the number of peace officers throughout the commonwealth and provides a safe learning environment at all the commonwealth's schools so students can thrive, grow and reach their dreams.
To increase the safety of Kentucky's children the Governor signed legislation that strengthens child abuse, neglect and human trafficking reporting requirements, clarifies the legal definition of incest and ensures that registered sex offenders cannot come within 1,000 feet of a high school, middle school, elementary school, preschool, publicly owned or leased playground, or licensed day care facility.
In February of this year, Gov. Beshear and the KSP welcomed 103 cadets, the largest starting class since 2014, to the state police training academy. Due to the recent $15,000 salary increase for KSP sworn personnel and tireless efforts from the recruitment branch, sworn numbers for the agency have increased. KSP now employs 899 troopers, which is an increase of approximately 22% from 736 troopers in Nov. 2021.
The bipartisan state budget signed by Gov. Beshear and enacted last year allows the commonwealth to take additional steps to make Kentucky a leader in public safety by enhancing law enforcement training, creating safer communities and improving the safety of both law enforcement officers and Kentuckians. In July 2022, the Governor announced additional steps to enhance public and officer safety, including funding for a new firearms training facility, a Western Kentucky training site feasibility study and an increased training stipend for law enforcement officers.
In October 2022, the administration took another step forward in creating safer communities by awarding more than $350,000 in grant funding to prevent youth crime across the commonwealth.
In June 2022, Gov. Beshear announced the Military to Law Enforcement Program (M-2-LE). M-2-LE allows local law enforcement agencies in Kentucky to hire active service members within all U.S. military branches during their last 180 days of service. Upon being contracted by a law enforcement agency, the military member will continue to receive their pay and benefits from the U.S. Military while they undergo law enforcement training at the Department of Criminal Justice Training.
In April 2022, the Governor signed legislation he championed the previous year that funds a $15,000 raise for all troopers and a starting pay increase for sworn officers from $37,887 to $55,888 annually. In signing Senate Bill 209, Gov. Beshear established paid vacation, sick leave and holiday pay, as well as enhanced health insurance contribution payments for retired KSP troopers and commercial vehicle enforcement officers.
Also, as the Governor recommended in January 2022, $12.2 million was included in the state budget for KSP to purchase body cameras, which is the first time in the commonwealth's history that funding has been allocated for this much-needed expense. Earlier this year, KSP demonstrated the new recording system, which will be distributed to approximately 780 sworn personnel.
In March 2022, the Governor and KSP announced that 71 cadets had graduated the agency's basic training academy and are reporting for duty across the commonwealth with a focus on creating a better and safer Kentucky. Cadet Class 101 is the largest KSP basic training academy graduating class since 2014.
In 2021, the Governor allocated $500,000 for KSP to expand their recruitment efforts. KSP expanded the recruitment department by hiring minorities and females into the recruitment branch and developed a marketing initiative to reach individuals from Kentucky's 120 counties. Innovative, digital ads were launched in unique venues, such as colleges and universities, outdoor billboards in rural communities, and social media and streaming television platforms. Additionally, KSP is partnering with Dr. Aaron Thompson of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and Vikki Stone of the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet and working closely with retired minority KSP Troopers to further improve their diversity recruitment efforts.
During the 2022 legislative session, Gov. Beshear championed legislative action like Senate Bill 64 and House Bill 254, making it easier for law enforcement to conduct undercover stings and increase the chances of stopping a horrific crime against a child from being facilitated through the internet. These actions will also provide law enforcement officers with the authority to charge offenders with harsher crimes to keep them away from the public, preventing further interactions with Kentucky's most vulnerable population.
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