# Bureau of Justice Assistance *Bureau within the United States Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs* The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is a component of the Office of Justice Programs within the [[United States Department of Justice]].[^1] It supports local criminal justice programs, with the stated aim of strengthening the criminal justice system nationally.[^1] Deputy Director Tracey Trautman led the bureau on an acting basis from January to December 2017. In December 2017 President Donald Trump appointed Jon Adler as director.[^1] Adler resigned on September 16, 2019. Trautman returned as acting director the same day and stayed until March 2020.[^1] President Trump nominated Mike Costigan as acting director on March 9, 2020, and Costigan held the post until October 8, 2020. Kendel Ehrlich took the acting post when she was sworn in on October 13, 2020, and held it until January 20, 2021.[^1] Kristen Mahoney then served in the acting role through February 28, 2022. Karhlton F. Moore has been director since that date.[^1] The bureau describes its mission as grant administration and policy development in support of local, state and tribal justice strategies. Its stated goals include working with programs that expand [[Drug court]] programs.[^1] In Minnesota, the documented output of that mission in this record is a $750,000 FY22 Adult Drug Court Discretionary enhancement award to Carver County Drug Court in [[Chaska]].[^2] That award followed an earlier implementation grant. According to a local newspaper, Carver County applied for $500,000 for that grant in April 2019.[^4] ## Principles BJA's published principles begin with local control and with building relationships in the field. They also call for training and technical assistance to help prevent crime, drug abuse and violence at the national, state and local levels.[^1] The bureau further lists collaboration and partnership, capacity building through planning, simpler grant administration, more training and technical assistance, and project accountability.[^1] Its last two principles are encouraging innovation and making the value of justice work known to decision makers at every level.[^1] ## Mission statement BJA states that its 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."[^1] In this record, the bureau's grant administration in Minnesota is documented by its award file for Carver County Drug Court.[^2] ## Goals BJA names two goals. The first is to reduce and prevent crime, violence and drug abuse. The second is to improve how the criminal justice system operates.[^1] The bureau presents its programs as examples of cooperation among local, state and federal governments. It says it works closely with efforts that strengthen law enforcement operations, expand drug courts and provide benefits to safety officers.[^1] ## Organization BJA is organized into four main components: Policy, Programs, Planning, and the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Office.[^1] The Policy Office leads on national criminal justice policy, training and technical assistance. It is also the bureau's link to national partner organizations that help set policy and share information on practice.[^1] The Programs Office runs all state and local grant programs and is the bureau's direct channel to states, territories and tribal governments.[^1] The Planning Office is responsible for planning, communications, and preparing and carrying out the budget. It also coordinates work across the bureau and supports streamlining.[^1] The PSOB Program supports public safety agencies' efforts on officer safety and wellness. These efforts include policies requiring officers to wear seat belts and body armor.[^1] ## Programs administered The bureau's listed programs fall into several areas:[^1] - Law enforcement equipment and practice: Body-Worn Cameras, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership and the Smart Policing Initiative. - Grant funding: the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program and Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation. - Violence and crime reduction: Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Violence Reduction Network, the National Gang Center and the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Initiative. - Reentry and corrections reform: the Second Chance Act, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program. - Investigations and information sharing: the Sexual Assault Kit Initiatives and the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative. - Officer recognition: the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor and the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery. ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The award's recipient is Carver County Drug Court, 604 E. 4th St., Chaska, MN 55318-2102.[^2] - The award record names Hon. Michael Wentzell and Andrew Lynes as key personnel.[^2] ### What - Award 15PBJA-22-GG-03955-DGCT is an FY22 BJA Adult Drug Court Discretionary, Category 2 Enhancement Grant.[^2] - The award states three purposes:[^2] - to "increase capacity to serve an expanded network of individuals"; - to operate both before and after adjudication; - to hire a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. - Carver County maintains a program page for its drug treatment court.[^3] ### When - The Chanhassen Villager reported the following about the earlier implementation grant:[^4] - the county submitted its application on April 16, 2019; - the grant period was 48 months; - the court would launch on January 1, 2020. - The Star Tribune reported the county's plan to launch the drug court "next month."[^5] - The FY22 award record states that the prior Implementation Grant was projected to end September 30, 2022.[^2] ### Where - The drug court is in Carver County, Minnesota, and its award address is in Chaska.[^2] - Carver County's court services department also lists a veterans court, which the project's notes date to 2014. The record here does not connect it to a BJA award.[^6] ### Why - The Chanhassen Villager quoted Metz as saying: "Drug courts have proven to be an effective and novel approach to address the serious problem of substance abuse and crime."[^4] ### How much - The FY22 enhancement award is $750,000.[^2] - The Chanhassen Villager reported that the 2019 implementation application sought $500,000 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.[^4] ### How many - The Chanhassen Villager reported two program figures:[^4] - a capacity of 25 participants; - a program length of 16 months. ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Bureau of Justice Assistance* (revision 1376574558, retrieved 2026-10-26) — description, leadership succession, principles, mission statement, goals, organization and programs administered; CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Justice_Assistance [^2]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, *Award 15PBJA-22-GG-03955-DGCT* — FY22 Adult Drug Court Discretionary, Category 2 Enhancement Grant of $750,000 to Carver County Drug Court, Chaska; key personnel; stated purpose; prior Implementation Grant projected to end September 30, 2022. https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/awards/15pbja-22-gg-03955-dgct [^3]: Carver County, Minnesota, Court Services/Probation, *Drug Treatment Court* — county program page for the Carver County drug court. https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/court-services-probation/drug-treatment-court [^4]: Chanhassen Villager, *Carver County to pursue federal drug court grant* — $500,000 BJA application submitted April 16, 2019; 48-month grant period; court launch January 1, 2020; capacity 25; program length 16 months; Metz quotation. https://www.swnewsmedia.com/chanhassen_villager/news/carver-county-to-pursue-federal-drug-court-grant/article_0d68c4ae-57de-5f19-a0c1-49a3f4487983.html [^5]: Star Tribune, *Metro briefs: Carver County to launch drug court next month* — report of the county's planned drug court launch. https://www.startribune.com/metro-briefs-carver-county-to-launch-drug-court-next-month/565929882 [^6]: Carver County, Minnesota, Court Services/Probation, *Veterans Court* — county program page for the Carver County veterans court. https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/court-services-probation/veterans-court