Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP/BSCI)

Overview

Description

Authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) of 2022 (Pub. L. No. 117-159, 136 Stat. 1313, 1339), the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP) provides states with funding to implement firearm violence reduction strategies at the intersections of behavioral health and domestic violence including but not limited to state crisis intervention court proceedings and extreme risk protection orders (ERPO).

History

As the first federal firearm legislation passed since 1994, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) amends the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (BJAG) Program, rooted in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, for the allocation of Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP). Byrne SCIP is a formula-based funding program administered in Maryland by GOCPYVS, the State Administering Agency.

Byrne SCIP is designated funding that focuses on addressing gun violence and improving responses to behavioral health crises. In signing BSCA into law, President Biden noted that this historic act “invests in anti-violence programs that work — that work directly with the people who are most likely to commit these crimes or become victims of gun crimes.” 

Mission and Goals of the Funding 

Per the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Byrne SCIP provides funds to implement state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives, including but not limited to extreme risk protection order (ERPO) programs that work to temporarily remove guns from the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others, mental health courts, drug courts, and veteran treatment courts. In addition to ERPO programs, funds may be used for:

• Training for those implementing ERPO programs; 
• Communication, education, and public awareness initiatives;
• Specialized court-based programs such as drug, mental health, and veterans treatment courts, including those that specifically accept clients with firearms violations; 
• Behavioral health deflection for those at risk to themselves or others; and
• Funding for law enforcement agencies to safely secure, store, track, and return relinquished guns.

Resources

Internal Resources

• Grant tips and guidance

External Resources

• BJA Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Overview
• BJA FY 2022 - 2023 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Formula Solicitation
• BJA Byrne SCIP Performance Measures Questionnaire 
• BJA Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Frequently Asked Questions
• National ERPO Resource Center - Maryland

Documents

Notices of Funding Availability (NOFA)

• SFY 2025 Byrne State Crisis Intervention (BSCI) - Regional and Local ERPO Liaison Site NOFA

Additional Documents

• SFY2025 BSCI Technical Assistance Session – Slides/Presentation - 8/1/2024

Dates

Projected NOFA Release Month

July

Projected Application Month

August

Contacts

Program Manager

Quentin Jones

Funding Chief

Quentin Jones

Video

N/A