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LESS Grants Unit

LESS Grants Unit members coordinate grant program activities, provide grant technical assistance, review grant applications, and monitor law enforcement-related grant programs to Virginia counties, cities, and towns. Grants Unit members who deal directly with grantees, the Grant Coordinators, are Kathi Lee, Shelia Anderson, Neadie Lee, and Heather D'Amore. Each is responsible for all DCJS-awarded law enforcement grants that go to the agencies or jurisdictions of a particular region of the Commonwealth.

In FY06, the LESS Grants Unit administered 219 grants totaling $10,670,072 in federal funds and $1,087,834 in state funds. These included:

• 65 Byrne Memorial Fund Grants: $2,428,726 in federal funds
• 20 Byrne Discretionary Anti-Gang Grants: $1,871,315 in federal funds
• 99 Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Grants: $6,370,031 in federal funds
• 35 School Resource Officer Incentive (Trust Fund) Grants: $1,087,834 in state funds

Grant Coordinator Regions and Contact Information

For contact information and to view the regions of Virginia the four coordinators are assigned to: Click Here

The New Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG)

Historically, the largest funding source for DCJS law enforcement grants has been the Edward Byrne Memorial Formula Grant Program (federal funds). This program allowed considerable latitude in the funding of projects and was used to fund drug investigation task forces, crime analysts, crime prevention personnel and programs, criminal justice planners, school resource officers, and a wide variety of other law enforcement needs.

In 2005, Congress combined the Byrne grant program and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) program and named it the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. JAG funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support and information systems for criminal justice or any one or more of the following purpose areas: law enforcement, prosecution, courts, prevention, corrections, drug treatment, planning, evaluation and technology improvement.

Information on when and how to apply for a JAG grant will be posted under "Announcements."

Community Policing Fund Grants

Small grants (up to $3,500) to help develop or expand local community policing programs are available as funds become available. Funding for these grants comes from the Virginia Income Tax refund check-off program. To review a description of this grant program from 2006: Click Here.

School Resource Officer (SRO) Grants

Historically, the bulk of DCJS funding of SRO positions came from federal Byrne Memorial Grant Program money. This funding peaked in FY03 and has now declined to the point that, for FY2009, it only supports one SRO position. Today, DCJS funding for SRO positions comes almost entirely from state revenue through the SRO Incentive Grant Program (also referred to as SRO Trust Fund Program). For FY2009, 41 grants were awarded for a total of $1, 205,989.

To find out when and how to apply for a SRO Incentive Grant, please check the "Announcements" link on the left side of this page periodically. To see a copy of the latest guidelines for this grant program, Click Here.

Archived Grant Information

Notice of the Availability of Funds - Youth Summer Program Initiative (11/03/09)

Announcing 2010 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds (10/21/09)

Information on Reductions in “599” Funding for FY 2010. (09/16/09)

Additional Recovery Act V-STOP Funding for Law Enforcement Agencies (08/24/09)

2010/2011 V-STOP Grant Application and Guidelines (08/06/09)

Announcing the Availability of Bryne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Funds for Continuation Programs (07/06/09)

Announcing the 2008 State Homeland Security Grant Program Guidelines and Application Instructions for Police and Fire Department Bomb Squad Equipment Training. (06/18/09)

V-STOP Recovery Act Grant Application and Guidelines (05/01/09)

Grants for New Pretrial Officers/Investigators (04/20/09)

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services announces the availability of grant funds to support new positions in currently understaffed grant funded Victim/Witness Programs. (04/16/09)

FY 2010-2011 Recovery Act- Sexual Assault Grant Program Guidelines released (04/16/09)

Amended state budget for FY2010 keeps 599 funds at FY’09 level. (04/15/09)

CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM (CIT) GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR NEW PROJECTS STARTING JUNE 1, 2009 - (Invited Applicants Only) (04/03/09)

Announcing the direct and indirect local awards for the JAG/Byrne appropriation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (03/17/09)

Crisis Intervention Team Grant Funding - Solicitation for Concept Papers (02/27/09)

Announcing availability of continuation funding for School Resource Officer (SRO) projects currently receiving School Resource Office Incentive Grants Funds (02/10/09)

Announcing the availability of state funding through the School Resource Officer Incentive Grants Fund Program for new School Resource Officer (SRO) projects (02/10/09)

Notice of Intent to Apply For Federal Funds (01/15/09)

Further Information

If you have further questions about grant coordinators or the grants they administer, please contact Karen SuttLESS, LESS Section Administrative Assistant at 804.371.0536.