REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 6, 2026
FROM
BRENT MARTIN, Chair, Law and Justice Group
SUBJECT
Title
Application for the FY 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs for the FY 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, in the amount of $836,780, for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029.
2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer, the Chair of the Law and Justice Group, or the assigned grant administrator of the Law and Justice Group, as required by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, to sign and electronically submit the grant application identified in Recommendation No. 1, including any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the grant application, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Approve Interlocal Agreement, as required by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, with the Towns of Apple Valley and Yucca Valley, and the Cities of Adelanto, Barstow, Chino, Colton, Fontana, Hesperia, Highland, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Victorville, and Yucaipa.
4. Direct the Chair of the Law and Justice Group to transmit the grant application and any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Brent Martin, Law and Justice Group Chair, 387-5786)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Overall grant revenue expected to result from this application is $836,780, of which $125,372 will be used specifically for County projects. No matching funds are required. The Interlocal Agreement (Agreement) between recipients also provides for an additional administrative fee of $41,839, which will be used to offset administrative costs within the Law and Justice Group (Group). If submission of the grant application is successful, as recommended, the grant award in the amount of $836,780 will be accepted and distributed as follows: $669,569 will be passed through to the 19 local municipalities participating in the grant program, and $167,211 will be retained by the County ($125,372 for County projects, and $41,839 allocated to the Group for the cost of administering the grant).
Appropriation and revenue adjustments will be presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval at a future date.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance announces the availability of grant funds to state and local units of government through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program annually. The County has participated in the JAG program since 2005. This program provides funding to state and local governments for support of a broad range of activities intended to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system. Distribution of funds by the federal government is calculated using a formula, which considers both population and crime statistics. Awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Units of local government identified by DOJ as “disparate” relative to funding eligibility per 34 United States Code § 10156(d)(4) must select a fiscal agent that will submit a joint application for the allocation to include all associated municipalities. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 JAG program funding certifies that the County, the Towns of Apple Valley and Yucca Valley, and the Cities of Adelanto, Barstow, Chino, Colton, Fontana, Hesperia, Highland, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Victorville, and Yucaipa (Towns and Cities) qualify as disparate jurisdictions; therefore, a joint application for the aggregate funds is required. DOJ requires disparate jurisdictions to enter into an Interlocal Agreement that outlines who will serve as the applicant/fiscal agent for the joint funds.
The proposed Agreement meets the JAG requirement and provides that the County will serve as the fiscal agent to administer the grant funding. The Agreement enables the County to reduce each recipient’s allocation by 5% (a total of $41,839), which represents an administrative fee charged by the County. The County will be responsible for tracking performance measures, preparation and submittal of financial reports, budget review, evaluation of expenditure plans, and the coordination of all pass-through amounts and reimbursement requests. The Agreement provides for allocation to the Towns and Cities in the aggregate amount of $669,569 and to the County in the amount of $125,372 for use by the County’s law and justice departments (San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, San Bernardino County Probation Department, Law Offices of the Public Defender San Bernardino County, and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department).
Delegation of authority is requested for the Chief Executive Officer, Chair of the Law and Justice Group, or the assigned grant administrator of the Law and Justice Group to sign and submit all application documents, as stipulated by DOJ for the JAG program.
The FY 2026 JAG grant solicitation was released on August 25, 2026. Applications are due in Grants.gov by October 9, 2026 and in JustGrants by October 16, 2026. The grant term, as established by the federal government, is retroactive to October 1, 2025, with a period of performance ending September 30, 2029. The County, and Towns and Cities may claim expenditures as of October 1, 2025.
The County’s law and justice departments have identified projects for funding under the grant, including enhancements to digital forensic and investigative capabilities, cellular device detection technology, and forensic equipment and technology to enhance evidence processing and support criminal investigations.
The grant solicitation requires the application to be reviewed by the governing body and made available for public comment. This requirement is satisfied by presenting this item to the Board for consideration.
The Group will seek Board approval at a later date to accept an award under this program in accordance with County Policy 05-13.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Daniella V. Hernandez, Deputy County Counsel, 387-3121) on September 16, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-3076) on September 18, 2026.