Grants for Body Cameras for LEOs with 25 or Fewer Officers
- Grant Website
- Guidelines
- Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST, Wed., Apr. 27, 2016
$1,600,000 available for body-worn camera programs and policies
The FY2016 Small Agency Body Worn Camera (BWC) Policy Implementation Program will support the implementation (including the purchase, deployment, maintenance, data storage, and policy development) of a body-worn camera program, and the necessary policies for law enforcement agencies. The program will play a critical role in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of problem solving approaches that incorporate BWCs into officer practice in selected jurisdictions.
What this grant does for your agency
Law enforcement agencies across the country and worldwide are using body-worn cameras (BWCs) as a promising tool to improve law enforcement interactions with the public. BWCs can provide a visual and audio record of interactions. Some preliminary evidence indicates that the presence of BWCs helps strengthen accountability and transparency, and can assist in deescalating conflicts, resulting in more constructive encounters between the police and members of the community. This competitive solicitation is for small law enforcement agencies, with 25 or fewer sworn officers, seeking to establish or enhance BWC Policy and Implementation Programs (PIP). Successful applicants will be responsible for a mandatory 50 percent in-kind or cash match.
The FY 2016 Small Agency BWC Policy and Implementation (PIP) Pilot Program is specifically designed to support the implementation of body-worn camera programs in small law enforcement agencies across the country. The intent of the program is to help agencies with 25 or fewer sworn officers develop, implement, and evaluate a BWC program as one tool in a law enforcement agency’s comprehensive problem-solving approach to enhance officer interactions with the public and build community trust.
Successful applicants will develop and implement policies and practices required for effective program adoption, and will address program factors including the purchase, deployment, and maintenance of camera systems and equipment, data storage and access, and privacy considerations. BJA expects the BWC programs to have a positive impact on the quality of policing in these jurisdictions and to inform national efforts to improve the use of BWCs more broadly. While BWC equipment may be purchased under this program, successful applicants must demonstrate a commitment and adherence to a strong BWC policy framework, including comprehensive policy adoption and requisite training.
Agencies awarded the BJA Small Agency Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program Grant receive funds to purchase BWCs and implement the programs and policies needed for their usage.
Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,600,000. Award Ceiling: $40,000. Only a limited number of grants will be awarded. The current expected number of awards is 43.
Grant Eligibility
Eligible applicants for this announcement are limited to agencies with 25 or fewer sworn law enforcement officers.
For full eligibility details, see the Grant Guidelines:
- City or township governments
- County governments
- State governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Eligible applicants are limited to public agencies of state government, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments that perform law enforcement functions (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior); or any department, agency, or instrumentality of the foregoing that performs criminal justice functions (including combinations of the preceding, one of which is designated as the primary applicant).To ensure this program can assist as many law enforcement agencies as possible, applicants that were awarded funds under the 2015 Body-Worn Camera Pilot Implementation Program or the 2015 Smart Policing Body Worn Camera Initiative solicitation are not eligible to submit applications for this solicitation.
About the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
BJA’s mission is to provide leadership and services in grant administration and criminal justice policy development to support local, state, and tribal justice strategies to achieve safer communities. BJA supports programs and initiatives in the areas of law enforcement, justice information sharing, countering terrorism, managing offenders, combating drug crime and abuse, adjudication, advancing tribal justice, crime prevention, protecting vulnerable populations, and capacity building. More
Grant Deadline
Grant applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. EST, Wed., Apr. 27, 2016.
Apply
Funding Opportunity Number: BJA-2016-9276. CFDA Number(s): 16.835 — Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation. Apply for the BJA Small Agency Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program Grant