BJA FY24 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies | O BJA 2024 172141

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2024 172141

The BJA FY24 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), focused on helping publicly funded law enforcement and corrections agencies build, expand, or strengthen body-worn camera (BWC) programs. The central idea is not just buying cameras, but supporting comprehensive BWC efforts that are guided by clear, well-developed policies and shaped through broad stakeholder input. In practical terms, the program is meant to help agencies implement BWCs in a way that improves accountability and professionalism, supports fair and consistent treatment of the public, and strengthens the quality and usability of recorded evidence.

A major portion of the funding is aimed at the purchase or lease of body-worn cameras and related needs that typically come with rolling out a complete camera program. BJA emphasizes that BWCs should be implemented as part of an overall program framework rather than as a stand-alone equipment purchase, meaning applicants are expected to think through the operational and policy side of deployment. That includes having (or developing) sound policies that address the real-world issues agencies face with BWCs, such as when cameras must be activated, how to handle sensitive situations, how footage is reviewed and used, and how the agency manages the full lifecycle of digital video evidence. Stakeholder input is highlighted as an important part of that policy foundation, signaling that agencies should involve relevant internal and external voices (for example, personnel, local leadership, community partners, and others affected by how BWCs are used) to increase legitimacy and effectiveness.

Beyond basic implementation, the solicitation also supports demonstration projects designed to advance digital evidence management. This part of the opportunity targets agencies that already have established BWC programs and are ready to take the next step by improving how they handle, store, organize, and use digital footage as evidence. The intent is to leverage BWC video to promote evidence-based practices and procedurally just approaches, meaning agencies are encouraged to use footage and related data in ways that reinforce fairness, transparency, and respectful treatment, while also improving decision-making, training, supervision, and operational outcomes. In other words, the program is interested in helping agencies move from simply collecting video to using digital evidence systems and practices that strengthen case work, internal learning, and community trust.

Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of public entities that operate or support law enforcement functions. The solicitation lists eligibility for state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, along with special district governments and independent school districts where applicable. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are also eligible, which can matter when a university or a research partner is helping with implementation, evaluation, policy development, training, or demonstration activities. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments may apply, as can public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities. The eligibility statement also includes "others," and the description clarifies that any authorized agency or consortium that serves in an instrumental capacity to assist law enforcement agencies in performing law enforcement functions may be eligible, including regional or state-level authorities, as well as units of local government. This allows for multi-agency collaborations or regional approaches when that structure better supports implementation and digital evidence management.

Administratively, the opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number O-BJA-2024-172141 and is tied to CFDA number 16.835 under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category. The solicitation was created on May 21, 2024, with an original application closing date of July 15, 2024. The award ceiling is $2,000,000 per award, and BJA anticipates making approximately 52 awards. Taken together, those details suggest a competitive program designed to fund a significant number of agencies, with award sizes large enough to support meaningful BWC deployment and the supporting infrastructure and policy work that make these programs function effectively over time.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY24 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.835.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 52 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Others.

Apply for O BJA 2024 172141

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