BJA FY 19 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies | BJA 2019 15087

Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2019 15087

The BJA FY 19 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), designed to help law enforcement agencies plan, launch, and strengthen body-worn camera (BWC) programs. The program is built around the idea that body-worn cameras are not just a piece of equipment, but one part of a broader, agency-wide problem-solving strategy aimed at improving day-to-day policing outcomes. In practical terms, the grant is meant to help agencies use BWCs to improve officer safety, increase the evidentiary value of recorded interactions and incidents, and support better interactions between officers and the public in ways that can build community trust and encourage more cooperative engagement.

A key feature of this opportunity is that it goes beyond simply buying cameras. While funding can support the purchase of BWCs, BJA emphasizes that a successful program also requires strong policy and implementation work. That includes developing clear, workable camera use policies (for example, when recording is required, how citizens are notified, how officers handle sensitive situations, and how exceptions are documented), establishing procedures for video storage and retention, and addressing legal and privacy considerations that come with recording the public. The program also highlights the need to keep pace with changing technology, training practices, and legal standards, recognizing that BWC programs operate in a fast-evolving environment where expectations and requirements can shift over time.

The opportunity also places real weight on collaboration. Applicants are expected to think about how their BWC program connects with prosecutors, courts, defense counsel, public records staff, and other criminal justice partners who may rely on video evidence. In addition, agencies are encouraged to engage community stakeholders as part of program design and rollout, reflecting the program goal of improving legitimacy and trust, not just internal operations. The inclusion of implementation and evaluation in the program intent signals that BJA is looking for agencies to assess how BWCs are working in their local context, learn from results, and refine their approach rather than treating deployment as a one-time purchase and distribution effort.

Administratively, this is a grant (funding instrument type: Grant) under CFDA 16.835, categorized under law, justice, and legal services. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The funding opportunity number is BJA 2019 15087. The posting was created on April 5, 2019, with an original closing date of June 5, 2019. Awards could be as large as $2,000,000 per award (award ceiling), and BJA anticipated making about 70 awards, indicating a nationally competitive program with the potential to support a wide range of agencies at different sizes and stages of BWC adoption.

Overall, the grant can be understood as support for a complete body-worn camera program lifecycle: planning and policy development, stakeholder coordination, acquisition of needed technology, training and operational rollout, and ongoing attention to legal standards and program performance. The central message is that cameras alone are not the goal; the goal is a well-governed, legally sound, and community-informed BWC program that strengthens safety, evidence quality, and public confidence.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 19 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 Apr 05, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 05, 2019. (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 70 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).

Apply for BJA 2019 15087

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