Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative

OJP response center:
800.851.3420
OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov

SAM.gov help desk:
SAM.gov Help

Grants.gov help desk:
800.518.4726
support@grants.gov
Grants.gov Support Center

JustGrants service desk:
833.872.5175
JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov

The Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative supports local law enforcement in rural jurisdictions to prevent, respond to, and reduce violent crime. The goal is to equip rural law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices with the resources necessary to implement a violent crime reduction strategy to solve a specific violent crime challenge utilizing one or more of the following approaches:

• Personnel, tactics, training, and equipment: Records management systems, vehicles, vests, firearms that assist with responding to and preventing violent crime as well as hiring personnel to address persistent crimes, early case management, and increased police training
• Technological enhancements: Hardware, software, communications systems, intelligence centers, and equipment that create the infrastructure for actionable intelligence, enhance officer safety, support efficient operations, shorten case filing timelines, and manage risk
• Data analytics and intelligence: Personnel, training, and software enhancements to identify crime hotspots, predict high-risk times and locations, and allocate resources more effectively to prevent violent incidents before they occur

Projects may also include other approaches that align with DOJ priorities and provide a significant reduction in violent crime rates. The goal for this funding opportunity is to increase capacity of law enforcement agencies or prosecutors' offices to implement programming and activities that combat violent crime through:

• Developing and implementing a strategy, informed by jurisdictional data, that addresses one or more violent crime challenges facing the communities served
• Tracking violent crime and demonstrating how efforts have resulted in violent crime reduction or enhanced prosecution

Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, special district, tribal, or other units of local governments.

Applicants must demonstrate that proposals serve a rural area or rural community. Exceptions are made for federally recognized Native American tribal governments which are statutorily identified as rural. More information on the rural requirements is available in the application instructions.

Award ceiling: up to $250,000
Project period: 36 months
Estimated number of awards: 10
Estimated total program funding: $2,637,041

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov and the program website.

Applicants should submit an SF-424 in grants.gov by October 30, 2026.

Submit the full application, including attachments, in the JustGrants grants management system by November 6, 2026.