Biometric Funding Challenges?
Improving biometric technology for public safety is an expensive venture, but resources are at your disposal! Federal grants give agencies a chance to secure additional funding for AFIS/ABIS, livescan, mugshot, iris, rapidDNA, and mobileID technology.
Grant initiatives backed by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), overseen by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), play a crucial role in aiding public safety and law enforcement agencies, particularly in the realm of biometrics programs. These grants offer valuable funding opportunities to implement or refresh biometrics technologies, contributing to evidence-based identification and overall improvement of the criminal justice process.
Grants Focused on Biometrics Technology
Grant programs that can be used to implement new biometrics identification technologies or upgrade existing systems include:
$ Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) is a primary source of federal criminal justice funding, including biometrics improvements for state and local governments to enhance criminal justice systems. Grant awards are based on population, violent crime statistics, and local needs. JAG supports planning, evaluation, and improvement of biometric technology like ABIS purchase or upgrade, and peripherals such as livescan, iris, rapidDNA, mobileID, and mugshots. In 2023, Byrne grants totaled ~$312M.
$ National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) plays a crucial role in assisting state agencies by elevating the quality and completeness of electronic criminal history records. State agencies use this grant for biometric technology as an efficient method to streamline public safety processes and validate record integrity within the criminal history ecosystem. In 2023 ~$64M in funding was available through NCHIP grants.
$ Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants focus on advancing community policing nationwide. COPS Technology and Equipment Program (TEP) Funds can be used to develop and acquire effective equipment, technologies, and interoperable communications to improve law enforcement effectiveness and information sharing. Biometrics technology can include mobileID, improved booking stations, or information exchange among law enforcement systems. The COPS TEP grants awarded ~$178M in technology funds during 2023, and no local matching funds are required for these grants.
$ Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement grants are awarded to improve accuracy, fairness, and timeliness of forensic science for forensics laboratories (operated by state and local governments) and medical examiner services to improve backload elimination, data analysis, and uploading results to CODIS. Because DNA collection fits efficiently into livescan booking, grants can cover modifications to existing livescans and data handling software. Coverdell and DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) grants are managed by a third party, Forensics TTA. In 2023, ~$27M in Coverdell funds was distributed among 53 recipients.
Links for Government Biometric Funding Grants
Each grant application begins with a focused government solicitation. The BJA and OJP then provide significant online assistance for completing a detailed response. This document must include an overview, proposed use of funds, program narrative, budget narrative, and detailed yearly budget for equipment. A knowledgeable consultant can help with targeting a grant that meets your agency’s needs. They can also assist with the grant writing and review process.
BCP has experience working with grant teams, and our Resources page offers links to all of these public safety biometric grants:
● Byrne JAG grant assistance.
● NCHIP grant assistance.
● COPS grant assistance.
● Coverdell and CEBR grant assistance.
