The General Victim Assistance grant program provides funding to support the delivery of services and assistance directly to victims of crime to help speed their recovery and to guide them through the criminal justice process. Services may include the following:

• Responding to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims
• Assisting victims in stabilizing their lives after a victimization
• Assisting victims to understand and participate in the criminal justice system
• Providing victims with safety and security

Federal Funding is authorized for these projects under the Victims of Crime act of 1984 (VOCA) and under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2005.

The purpose of the Violent Crimes Against Women Criminal Justice and Training Projectsgrant program is to assist in developing and strengthening effective law enforcement, prosecution and court strategies to combat family violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in such cases.

Federal Funding is authorized for these projects under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2005.

The purpose of the General Criminal Justice Program is to reduce crime and improve the criminal justice system.

State funds are authorized under the State Fund 421 program. 421 funds are made available through fines and court fees collected across the State of Texas. Fund 421 is an all-purpose program that provides funding to support efforts to reduce crime and improve the criminal or juvenile justice system.

Federal funds are authorized under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG). JAG funds are made available through a Congressional appropriation to the United States Department of Justice. These funds provide local governments with funding to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime.

The purpose of the General Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program is to support programs that prevent violence in and around schools and to improve the juvenile justice system and develop effective education, training, research, prevention, diversion, treatment, and rehabilitation programs in the area of juvenile delinquency.

Federal funding is authorized for these projects under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDP); the No Child Left Behind Act; and the Safe and Drug Fee Schools and Communities Act (SDFSC)

The Panhandle Regional Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC) builds the schedule for the annual Criminal Justice Grants program around the grant submission deadlines established by the Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division and the dates when the PRPC Board meets to consider the CJAC’s criminal justice grants prioritizations. Being subject to these two factors, the schedule may be updated from time to time during the course of the year. Potential criminal justice grant program applicants are encouraged to contact the PRPC’s Regional Criminal Justice Program Coordinator to confirm important workshop, grant submission and CJAC meeting dates. The CJAC’s meetings are always open to the public.