The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and Justice & Security Strategies (JSS) specifically designed this body-worn camera program to fund small, rural, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the United States and its territories. As a “micro-grant” program, SRT BWC focuses on its customer base by emphasizing the need to make grants administration easier while maintaining high standards. Thus, using innovative technology and data are the foundations for the program.
Our customers include:
Justice & Security Strategies, Inc (JSS)
JSS is a consulting firm that works with law enforcement and criminal justice agencies throughout the country and internationally. We specialize in research, evaluation, training, and technical assistance. Dr. Craig D. Uchida and Dr. Shellie E. Solomon have experience in all facets of grants management, having worked at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), U.S. Department of Justice. JSS has served on the Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Project (BWCPIP) since 2015. Importantly, JSS has conducted extensive research on BWCs including an evaluation of LAPD’s program and more recently on digital evidence (BWC footage) in seven sites.
Bureau of Justice Assistance
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) assists the criminal justice system by providing grants, training and technical assistance, and policy development services to state, local, and tribal governments. One of its major initiatives is to assist agencies with body-worn cameras. Since 2015 the Body-Worn Camera Policy Implementation Program (BWCPIP) has provided over $100 million to over 500 criminal justice agencies to support their BWC efforts. In 2021, BJA established the Small, Rural, and Tribal BWC program (SRT BWC) by working with Justice & Security Strategies to provide micro-grants to those agencies.
BJA is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
Customer focused. Ease of use. Technology-oriented. Data-driven. These are the four major principles that guide the SRT micro-grant program.
Customer Focus
We are committed to customer service and assisting micro-grantees as they wind their way through the grant process. Our help desk will answer questions within 48 hours of the call or email. Our experts are available to assist with substantive issues related to body-worn cameras.
Ease of Use
We recognize the difficulties of applying for grants. We also know that once you receive the grant the paperwork may be cumbersome at times and not understandable We strive to make things easier. Our on-line application is designed to minimize the time spent on writing a grant proposal, while asking specific questions that allow us to gather information, assess the answers, and make decisions. This principle applies throughout the program.
Technology-oriented
We use technology every day and make use of software, hardware, conference platforms, social media, and communications via the internet all the time. We seek to leverage technological advances and use innovative and state-of-the art products to assist our micro-grantees.
Data-Driven
We use data and data analytics to formulate strategies, answer questions, guide decision making, and stay on top of information. As researchers, we utilize evidence-based resources and make use of appropriate findings from evaluations of BWCs and other police issues.