PART 33—BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAMS Authority: 42 U.S.C. 3701 through 3797y-4; 5 U.S.C. 301. Source: 50 FR 22990, May 30, 1985, unless otherwise noted. Subpart A—Criminal Justice Block Grants General Provisions § 33.1 General. This subpart defines eligibility criteria and sets forth requirements for application for and administration of block grants by state and local governments. [50 FR 22990, May 30, 1985, as amended at 63 FR 50761, Sept. 23, 1998] § 33.2 Statutory authority. The statutory authority for the regulations is the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. 3701, et. seq., § 33.3 OMB approval of information collection requirements. The information collection requirements in this subpart A have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control no. 1121-0113. [50 FR 22990, May 30, 1985, as amended at 63 FR 50761, Sept. 23, 1998] Eligible Applicants § 33.10 State government. All states are eligible to apply for and receive block grants. Section 404 of the Act. State, as defined in the statute, means any state of the United States and includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Section 901(a)(2) of the Act. § 33.11 Units of local government. (a) Units of local government are eligible to receive subgrants from a participating state. Unit of local government means any city, county, township, borough, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a state and includes Indian tribes which perform law enforcement functions as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Section 901(a)(3) of the Act. (b) If the Bureau determines, during any fiscal year, that a portion of the funds allocated to a state will not be required, or that a state will be unable to qualify and receive funds, or that a state chooses not to participate in the program, then the Bureau shall award the funds allocated to the state directly to urban, rural, and suburban units of local government or combinations thereof within the state, giving priority to those jurisdictions with the greatest need. Section 407(d) of the Act. § 33.12 Establishment of State Office. (a) Section 408(a) of the Act provides that the chief executive of each participating state shall designate a State Office for the purposes of: (1) Preparing an application to obtain funds; and (2) Administering funds received from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, including receipt, review, processing, monitoring, progress and financial report review, technical assistance, grant adjustments, accounting, auditing, and fund disbursements. (b) An office or agency performing other functions within the state's executive branch may be designated as the State Office. Section 408(b) of the Act. Allocation of Funds § 33.20 Fund availability. Section 407(a) of the Justice Assistance Act provides that 80 percent of the total amount appropriated for part D (block grants) and part E (discretionary grants) shall be allocated for block grants. (a) Allocation to States. (b) Allocation of funds within the State. (2) To request approval of a distribution ratio other than that based on data of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the head of the State Office must certify in writing to the Bureau of Justice Assistance that the ratio it proposes is a correct reflection of the local share of total state and local criminal justice expenditures and that the state has notified its major local governments of the request and informed them of the opportunity to contact the Bureau within 30 days, if they have any objections. The written request must also cite the expenditure data used to substantiate the proposed change. (c) Allocation based on greatest need. § 33.21 Match. (a) Funds may be used to pay up to 50 percent of the cost of a program or project. Section 403(b)(1) of the Act. The remaining non-Federal share shall be in cash. Section 403(b)(2) of the Act. Match will be provided on a project by project basis. However, states may request the Bureau to approve exceptions such as match on a program by program basis, state-wide basis, unit-of-government basis, or a combination of the above. States must include any requests for approval of other than project-by-project match in their applications to the Bureau. (b) Funds subgranted to an Indian tribe which performs law enforcement functions (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior) shall be used to pay 100 percent of the cost of a program or project. Section 403(b)(1) of the Act. § 33.22 Title to personal property. Section 808 of the Justice Assistance Act provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, title to all expendable and nonexpendable personal property purchased with funds made available under this title, including property with funds made available under this title as in effect before the effective date of the Justice Assistance Act of 1984, shall vest in the criminal justice agency or nonprofit organization that purchased the property if it certifies to the State Office that it will use the property for criminal justice purposes. If such certification is not made, title to the property shall vest in the State Office, which shall seek to have the property used for criminal justice purposes elsewhere in the state prior to using it or disposing of it in any other manner. If a State Office does not exist, certification will be made directly to the Bureau of Justice Assistance. § 33.23 Limitations on fund use. In order to insure the most efficient and effective use of grant funds, the Justice Assistance Act places restrictions on the award of block monies for routine equipment, personnel costs, construction, supplanting of state and local funds, and land acquisition. (a) Equipment and hardware. (b) General salaries and personnel costs. (c) Construction. (d) Land acquisition. (e) Ineffective programs. Federal Register (f) Administrative costs. (g) Period of project support. (h) Non-supplantation. Purposes of Block Grant Funds § 33.30 Program criteria. The Justice Assistance Act requires that block grant funds assist states and local governments to carry out specific programs which offer a high probability of improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, with special emphasis on violent crime and serious offenders. Section 403(a) of the Act. (a) High probability of improving the criminal justice system. High probability of improving the criminal justice system (b) Special emphasis on violent crime and serious offenders. Special emphasis on violent crime and serious offenders (c) Criminal justice. Criminal justice § 33.31 Eligible purposes and programs. (a) Eligible purposes. (1) Providing community and neighborhood programs that enable citizens and police to undertake initiatives to prevent and control neighborhood crime; (2) Disrupting illicit commerce in stolen goods and property; (3) Combating arson; (4) Effectively investing and bringing to trial white-collar crime, organized crime, public corruption crimes, and fraud against the Government; (5) Identifying criminal cases involving persons (including juvenile offenders) with a history of serious criminal conduct in order to expedite the processing of such cases and to improve court system management and sentencing practices and procedures in such cases; (6) Developing and implementing programs which provide assistance to jurors and witnesses, and assistance (other than compensation) to victims of crimes; (7) Providing alternatives to pretrial detention, jail, and prison for persons who pose no danger to the community; (8) Providing programs which identify and meet the needs of drug-dependent offenders; (9) Providing programs which alleviate prison and jail overcrowding and programs which identify existing state and Federal buildings suitable for prison use; (10) Providing, management, and technical assistance to criminal justice personnel and determining appropriate prosecutorial and judicial personnel needs; (11) Providing prison industry projects designed to place inmates in a realistic working and training environment in which they will be enabled to acquire marketable skills and to make financial payments for restitution to their victims, for support of their own families, and for support of themselves in the institution; (12) Providing for operational information systems and workload management systems which improve the effectiveness of criminal justice agencies; (13) Not more than 10 percent of the state's block grant funds for providing programs of the same types as described in section 501(a)(4) of the Act which: (i) The Bureau establishes under section 503(a) of the Act as discretionary programs for financial assistance; or (ii) Are innovative and have been deemed by the Bureau as likely to prove successful; (14) Implementing programs which address critical problems of crime, such as drug trafficking, which have been certified by the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance as having proved successful, after a process of consultation coordinated by the Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs with the Director of the National Institute of Justice, Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; (15) Providing programs which address the problem of serious offenses committed by juveniles; (16) Addressing the problem of crime committed against the elderly; (17) Providing training, technical assistance, and programs to assist state and local law enforcement authorities in rural areas in combating crime, with particular emphasis on violent crime, juvenile delinquency, and crime prevention; and (18) Improving the operational effectiveness of law enforcement by integrating and maximizing the effectiveness of police field operations and the use of crime analysis techniques. (b) Programs. Certified Programs). Program Briefs Federal Register. § 33.32 Certified programs. (a) The Act encourages the implementation of programs that have been proven successful. Pursuant to section 403(a)(14) of the Act, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, after a process of consultation coordinated by the Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs with the National Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, certifies that the following programs have been proven successful: (1)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: Community crime prevention. Program Brief on Community Crime Prevention. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (B) Optional activities: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 ( 6 ( 7 ( 8 ( 9 ( 10 (C) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (2)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: Property Crime (STING) Program. storefronts Program Brief on Property Crime (STING) Program. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( i ( ii ( iii ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (B) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 (3)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: Arson Prevention and Control Program. Program Brief on Arson Prevention and Control. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( i ( ii ( iii ( iv ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (B) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 ( 6 ( 7 ( 8 (4)(i) Purpose: (5)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certificate program: Career Criminal Prosecution Program. Program Brief on Career Criminal Prosecution. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 ( 6 (B) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 (iii) Certified program: Court Delay Reduction Program. Program Brief on Court Delay Reduction. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 Planning ( i ( ii ( iii ( iv ( 2 Implementation ( i ( ii ( iii ( iv (B) Performance indicators. 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (6)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: victim assistance. Program Brief on Victim Assistance. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 (B) Optional activities: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 ( 6 (C) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (7)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: Jail overcrowding/alternatives to pretrial detention. Program Brief on Jail Overcrowding/Alternatives to Pretrial Detention. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (B) Optional activities: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 ( 6 ( 7 ( 8 (C) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 ( 6 ( 7 (8)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime Program (TASC). Program Brief on Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 ( 6 ( 7 ( 8 (B) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 (9) Purpose: (10)(i) Purpose: (11) Purpose: (12)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: Prosecution Management Support System (PMSS). Program Brief on Prosecution Management Support System. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 (B) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 (13) Purpose: (i) The Director establishes under section 503(a) of the Justice Assistance Act as discretionary programs for financial assistance; or (ii) Are innovative and have been deemed by the Director as likely to prove successful. (14) Purpose: (15)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: Restitution by juvenile offenders: Program Brief on Restitution by Juvenile Offenders. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( i ( ii ( iii ( 4 ( i ( ii ( 5 (B) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( i ( ii ( 2 ( i ( ii ( iii ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 ( 6 ( 7 ( 8 ( 9 ( 10 (16) Purpose: (17) Purpose: (18)(i) Purpose: (ii) Certified program: Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program (ICAP). Program Brief on the Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program. (A) Critical elements: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (B) Performance indicators: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 Application Requirements § 33.40 General. Sections 33.40 and 33.41 set forth the required programmatic content of block grant applications. [50 FR 22990, May 30, 1985, as amended at 63 FR 50761, Sept. 23, 1998] § 33.41 Application content. (a) Format. (b) Programs. (1) Section 33.32 of the regulations identifies specific programs which have been certified by the Bureau to meet the requirements of the Act. Approval will be given for implementation of any of these programs, if the applicant agrees to include all the critical elements in the program design. An applicant need only identify the program, which purpose it is intended to achieve, the state agency or unit of local government which will implement it, the funding level (including amount and source of match). (2) Applicants may request approval of programs other than one of those certified by the Bureau. The application must contain, in addition to the information in § 33.41(b), a description of the program (including its critical elements and performance indicators) and evidence that it meets the criteria of offering a high probability of improving the functions of the criminal justice system. Evidence may include, but is not necessarily limited to, the results of any evaluations of previous tests or demonstrations of the program concept. (3) Applicants may also request approval to expend up to 10 per centum of their funds for programs which the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance has established as priorities for discretionary grants under section 503 of the Act, or which are innovative programs that are deemed by the Director as likely to prove successful. For a program the same as a discretionary program, the applicant may identify it by name only and provide the information required under § 33.41(b)(1) of the regulations. For an innovative program, the applicant must describe the program (including its critical elements and performance indicators) and provide evidence that it is likely to prove successful. (c) Confidential information. (d) Audit requirement. (e) Civil rights contact. (f) Application assurances. (1) An assurance that, following the first fiscal year covered by an application and each fiscal year thereafter, the applicant will submit to the Bureau of Justice Assistance, where the applicant is a state or jurisdiction in a non-participating state, a performance report concerning the activities carried out, and an assessment of their impact; section 405(1) of the Act. (2) A certification that Federal funds made available under this title will not be used to supplant state or local funds, but will be used to increase the amounts of such funds that would, in the absence of Federal funds, be made available for criminal justice activities; section 405(2) of the Act. (3) An assurance that funds accounting, auditing, monitoring, and such evaluation procedures as may be necessary to keep such records as the Bureau of Justice Assistance shall prescribe will be provided to assure fiscal control, proper management, and efficient disbursement of funds received under this title; section 405(3) of the Act. (4) An assurance that the applicant shall maintain such data and information and submit such reports, in such form, at such times, and containing such information as the Bureau of Justice Assistance may require; section 405(4) of the Act. (5) A certification that the programs meet all the requirements, that all the information contained in the application is correct, that there has been appropriate coordination with affected agencies, and that the applicant will comply with all provisions of the Justice Assistance Act 1984 and all other applicable Federal laws; section 405(5) of the Act. (6) If the applicant is a state, an assurance that not more than 10 percent of the aggregate amount of funds received by a State under this part for a fiscal year will be distributed for programs and projects designated as intended to achieve the purpose specified in section 403(a)(13) of the Act; section 405(6) of the Act. (7) An assurance that the state will take into account the needs and requests of units of general local government in the state and encourage local initiative in the development of programs which meet the purposes of the Act; section 405(7) of the Act. (8) An assurance that the state application and any amendment to such application, has been submitted for review to the state legislature or its designated body (for purpose of this requirement, an application or amendment shall be deemed to be reviewed if the state legislature or its designated body does not review it within 60 days from the time it was submitted to it); section 405(8) of the Act. (9) An assurance that the state application and any amendment thereto was made public before submission to the Bureau and, to the extent provided under state law or established procedure, an opportunity to comment thereon was provided to citizens and to neighborhood and community groups; section 405(9) of the Act. (10) An assurance that the applicant will comply, and all its subgrantees and contractors will comply, with the non-discrimination requirements of the Justice Assistance Act; title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; and the Department of Justice Non-Discrimination regulations 28 CFR part 42, subparts C, D, E, and G; (11) An assurance that in the event a Federal or state court or Federal or state administrative agency makes a finding of discrimination after a due process hearing on the grounds of race, color, religion, national orgin or sex against a recipient of funds, the recipient will forward a copy of the finding to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC) of the Office of Justice Programs; (12) An assurance that the applicant will require that every recipient required to formulate an Equal Employment Opportunity Program (EEOP) in accordance with 28 CFR 42.301 et. seq., (13) An assurance that the applicant will provide an EEOP, if required to maintain one, where the application is for $500,000 or more and provide the EEOP of any subgrantee of $500,000 or more; (14) An assurance that the applicant will comply with the provisions of the Office of Justice Programs “Financial and Administrative Guide for Grants,” M 7100.1; (15) An assurance that the applicant will comply with the provisions of 28 CFR applicable to grants and cooperative agreements including part 18, Administrative Review Procedure; part 20, Criminal Justice Information Systems; part 22, Confidentiality of Identifiable Research and Statistical Information; part 23, Criminal Intelligence Systems Operating Policies; part 30, Intergovernmental Review of Department of Justice Programs and Activities; part 42; Non-discrimination Equal Employment Opportunity Policies and Procedures; part 61, Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act; and part 63, Floodplain Management and Wetland Protection Procedures. (g) Non-participating State. Additional Requirements § 33.50 General financial requirements. Grants funded under the criminal justice block grant program are governed by the provisions of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars applicable to financial assistance. These Circulars along with additional information and guidance are contained in “Financial and Administrative Guide for Grants,” Guideline Manual 7100.1, available from the Office of Justice Programs. This Guideline Manual provides information on cost allowability, methods of payment, audit, accounting systems and financial records. § 33.51 Audit. Pursuant to Office of Management and Budget Circular A-128 “Audits of State and Local Governments,” all grantees and subgrantees must provide for an independent audit of their activities on a periodic basis. For additional information on audit requirements, applicants should refer to the “Financial and Administrative Guide for Grants,” Guideline Manual 7100.1, Office of Justice Programs. § 33.52 Civil rights. The Justice Assistance Act provides that “no person in any state shall on the ground of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under or denied employment in connection with any programs or activity funded in whole or in part with funds made available under this title.” Section 809(c)(1) of the Act. Recipients of funds under the Act are also subject to the provisions of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; and the Department of Justice Non-Discrimination regulations 28 CFR part 42, subparts C, D, E, and G. § 33.53 Participation by faith-based organizations. The funds provided under this part shall be administered in compliance with the standards set forth in part 38 (Equal Treatment for Faith-based Organizations) of this chapter. [Order No. 2703-2004, 69 FR 2838, Jan. 21, 2004] Submission and Review of Applications § 33.60 General. This subpart describes the process and criteria for Bureau of Justice Assistance review and approval of state applications and amendments. § 33.61 Review of State applications. (a) Review criteria. (1) Compliance with the statutory requirements of the Justice Assistance Act and the regulations of the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Section 406(a)(1) of the Act. (2) Compliance with Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” This program is covered by Executive Order 12372 and Department of Justice Implementing regulations 28 CFR part 30. States must submit block grant applications to the state “Single Point of Contact”, if there is a “Single Point of Contact”, and if this program has been selected for coverage by the state process, at the same time applications are submitted to the Bureau of Justice Assistance. State processes have 60 days starting from the application submission date to comment on applications. Applicants should contact their state “Single Point of Contact” as soon as possible to alert them of the prospective application and receive instructions regarding the process. (b) Sixty day rule. (c) Written notification and reasons for disapproval. (d) Affirmative finding. Reports § 33.70 Annual performance report. (a) Section 405 of the Justice Assistance Act requires that the state, or a local unit of government in the case of a non-participating state, submit annually to the Bureau of Justice Assistance a performance report (including an assessment of impact) concerning the activities carried out under the grant. These performance reports will provide the basis for the annual report from the Bureau to the President and the Congress as required by section 810 of the Act. (b) The performance report will describe the activities undertaken and results achieved of each project funded. It will include the data gathered on the approved performance indicators. The report is due to the Bureau by no later than December 31 and must cover projects for the prior Federal fiscal year that have either been completed or been in operation for 12 months or more. The first performance report shall be due to the Bureau by December 31, 1986. (c) In order to help states and localities prepare these performance reports, the Bureau will provide data collection forms and instructions that will enable information to be gathered and reported in the most convenient manner possible. These forms and instructions will be developed in consultation with states and localities. § 33.71 Initial project report. States are required to provide to the Bureau of Justice Assistance within 30 days after the award of a subgrant, an initial project report which provides information on the subgrant recipient (name, address, contact person), the subgrant period, the type of award (new or renewal), the subgrant funding level, and the general target area (geographic area, population group) to be impacted. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will provide a form to assist the states in reporting this information. Suspension of Funding § 33.80 Suspension of funding. The Bureau of Justice Assistance shall, after reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing on the record, terminate or suspend funding for a state that implements programs or projects which fail to conform to the requirements or statutory objectives of the Act, or that fails to comply substantially with the Justice Assistance Act, these regulations or the terms and conditions of its grant award. Hearing and appeal procedures are set forth in Department of Justice regulations 28 CFR part 18. Subpart B—Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Applying for the Program Source: 63 FR 50761, Sept. 23, 1998, unless otherwise noted. § 33.100 Definitions. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will use the following definitions in providing guidance to your jurisdiction regarding the purchase of armor vests under the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998— (a) The term program (b) The terms you your (c) The term armor vest (d) The term State (e) The term unit of local government (f) The term Indian tribe et seq. (g) The term law enforcement officer (h) The term mandatory wear policy § 33.101 Standards and requirements. This program has been developed to assist your jurisdiction with selecting and obtaining high quality armor vests in the quickest and easiest manner available. The program will assist your jurisdiction in determining which type of armor vest will best suit your jurisdiction's needs, and will ensure that each armor vest obtained through this program meets the NIJ standard. (a) Your jurisdiction will be provided with model numbers for armor vests that meet the NIJ Standard in order to ensure your jurisdiction receives the approved vests in the quickest manner; (b) If you are a State or unit of local government, your jurisdiction will be required to partner with the Federal government in this program by paying at least 50 percent of the total cost for each armor vest purchased under this program. These matching funds may not be obtained from another Federal source; (c) If you are an Indian tribe, your jurisdiction will be required to partner with the Federal government in this program by paying at least 50 percent of the total cost for each armor vest purchased under this program. Total cost will include the cost of the armor vests, taxes, shipping, and handling. You may use any funds appropriated by Congress toward the performing of law enforcement functions on your lands as matching funds for this program or any funds appropriated by Congress for the activities of any agency of your tribal government; (d) BJA will conduct outreach to ensure that at least half of all funds available for armor vest purchases be given to units of local government with fewer than 100,000 residents; (e) Each State government is responsible for coordinating the needs of law enforcement officers across agencies within its own jurisdiction and making one application per fiscal year; (f) Each unit of local government and Indian tribe is responsible for coordinating the needs of law enforcement officers across agencies within its own jurisdiction and making one application per fiscal year; (g) Your individual jurisdiction may not receive more than 5 percent of the total program funds in any fiscal year; (h) The 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, together with their units of local government, each may not receive less than one half percent and not more than 20 percent of the total program funds during a fiscal year; (i) The United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, together with their units of local government, each may not receive less than one fourth percent and not more than 20 percent of the total program funds during a fiscal year; and (j) If your jurisdiction also is applying for a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG), then you will be asked to certify: (1) Whether LLEBG funds will be used to purchase vests; and, if not, (2) Whether your jurisdiction considered using LLEBG funds to purchase vests, but has concluded it will not use its LLEBG funds in that manner. § 33.102 Preferences. BJA may give preferential consideration, at its discretion, to an application from a jurisdiction that— (a) Has the greatest need for armor vests based on the percentage of law enforcement officers who do not have access to an armor vest; (b) Has, or will institute, a mandatory wear policy that requires on-duty law enforcement officers to wear armor vests whenever feasible; and (c) Has a violent crime rate at or above the national average as determined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; or (d) Has not received a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. § 33.103 How to apply. BJA will issue Guidelines regarding the process to follow in applying to the program for grants of armor vests.