Organizations within the criminal legal system oftentimes work with limited resources. Whether the challenge is time, funds, or expertise, organizations don't always have the ability to start new initiatives or even address issues as they arise. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) connects criminal justice agencies and professionals with training and technical assistance resources to help fill these gaps, keep organizations moving forward, and, ultimately, create safer and stronger communities.
BJA provides access to training and technical assistance (TTA) resources for organizations within the policing and crime, courts, corrections and criminal and legally connected community-based spaces. Below you will find categorized listings of TTA providers and programs that offer specialized expertise and support across the criminal legal system.
Training & Technical Assistance Resources
Learn about training and technical assistance resources and services for the following areas:
Community-based Training & Technical Assistance
Community-based agencies focused on reducing crime, interrupting violence, and/or providing services to individuals involved in or leaving the justice system may be eligible for support from the TTA providers listed below.
Forensics TTA Program: In collaboration with BJA, the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program offers a team of subject matter experts who provide expertise and assistance to grantees in support of BJA's overall mission to strengthen America's criminal justice system.
Health and Reentry Project (HARP): Access to health care is vital for successful second chances, yet many people returning to communities after incarceration do not get care when they need it. HARP builds safer, healthier communities by improving access to health care for people who are leaving incarceration. HARP advances this mission by providing policy analysis, helping governments implement policies, and convening diverse stakeholders, including people who are directly impacted by the justice system, to drive collective progress.
Improving Community Preparedness TTA Program (ICPTTA): The National Mass Violence Center ICPTTA program provides no-cost, evidence-based resources to prepare for MVIs. Our vision is to ensure local, state, regional, and tribal jurisdictions across the country are better prepared to respond to the needs of victims following incidents of criminal mass violence and domestic terrorism.
National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD): NACJD provides free, comprehensive access to high-quality criminal justice datasets for researchers, policymakers, and students. Discover a wealth of information to advance knowledge, support innovative analysis, and promote evidence-based decision-making in the field of criminal justice.
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): NamUs provides technology, forensic services, and investigative support to resolve missing person and unidentified remains cases.
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms (NRCDVF): NRCDVF was established in 2013 through a grant from the Office on Violence Against Women of the U.S. Department of Justice. This project's goal is to enhance the implementation and enforcement of firearms prohibitions in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Training and Technical Assistance Center (OJJDP TTA360): TTA360 is a centralized TTA request system that allows you to submit a request to any of OJJDP's providers, create and manage your own account, and view progress on your requests in real time.
Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC): OVC TTAC is the gateway to current training and technical assistance for victim service providers and allied professionals who serve crime victims. Our aim is building the capacity of victim assistance organizations across the country.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Training and Technical Assistance Program (PDMP TTAC): The PDMP TTAC at the Institute for Intergovernmental Research provides a comprehensive array of services, support, resources, and strategies to PDMPs, federal partners, and other stakeholders to further the efforts and effectiveness of PDMPs in combating the misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription drugs. PDMP TTAC's focus is to improve consistency and alignment among PDMPs, facilitate coordination between PDMPs and state and national stakeholders, increase PDMP efficiencies, measure performance and effectiveness, and promote best practices.
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI): SAKI provides funding through a competitive program to enhance the criminal justice response to sexual assault and hold offenders accountable by maximizing evidence found in sexual assault kits.
Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC): SPARC is a federally funded project providing education and resources about the crime of stalking. SPARC aims to enhance the response to stalking by educating the professionals tasked with keeping stalking victims safe and holding offenders accountable. SPARC ensures that allied professionals have the specialized knowledge to identify and respond to the crime of stalking.
Corrections Training & Technical Assistance
State, local, tribal, and federal correctional agencies can access resources, education, and strategic connections to promote successful rehabilitation and officer safety through the providers listed below.
In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Congress authorized Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to cover certain services provided to Medicaid-eligible youth and young adults in correctional facilities. Specifically, starting January 1, 2025, Medicaid and CHIP will cover screening and diagnostic services and targeted case management services for eligible, post-adjudicated youth and young adults. The requirements aim to facilitate more successful community transitions as young people leave the justice system. The requirements apply to prisons, jails, and youth facilities in every state, including youth corrections, youth detention, and adult correctional facilities. Additionally, a new option for states to use Medicaid to provide comprehensive services to youth who have been incarcerated and young adults who are pre-adjudication takes effect next year. To carry out these policies and successfully connect youth and young adults leaving corrections to services, corrections agencies will need to build new partnerships with state Medicaid and other entities. Section 5121 resources:
Forensics TTA Program: In collaboration with BJA, the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program offers a team of subject matter experts who provide expertise and assistance to grantees in support of BJA's overall mission to strengthen America's criminal justice system.
Health and Reentry Project (HARP): Access to health care is vital for successful second chances, yet many people returning to communities after incarceration do not get care when they need it. HARP builds safer, healthier communities by improving access to health care for people who are leaving incarceration. HARP advances this mission by providing policy analysis, helping governments implement policies, and convening diverse stakeholders, including people who are directly impacted by the justice system, to drive collective progress.
National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD): NACJD provides free, comprehensive access to high-quality criminal justice datasets for researchers, policymakers, and students. Discover a wealth of information to advance knowledge, support innovative analysis, and promote evidence-based decision-making in the field of criminal justice.
National Institute of Corrections (NIC): NIC stands as a pillar of public safety in America, embodying a mission critical to the well-being of our communities and the integrity of our justice system. As the only federal agency with a legislative mandate (Public Law 93-415) to provide specialized corrections services on a national scale, NIC plays an indispensable role in shaping practices that protect citizens and uphold justice.
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): NamUs provides technology, forensic services, and investigative support to resolve missing person and unidentified remains cases.
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms (NRCDVF): NRCDVF was established in 2013 through a grant from the Office on Violence Against Women of the U.S. Department of Justice. This project's goal is to enhance the implementation and enforcement of firearms prohibitions in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Training and Technical Assistance Center (OJJDP TTA360): TTA360 is a centralized TTA request system that allows you to submit a request to any of OJJDP's providers, create and manage your own account, and view progress on your requests in real time.
Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC): OVC TTAC is the gateway to current training and technical assistance for victim service providers and allied professionals who serve crime victims. Our aim is building the capacity of victim assistance organizations across the country.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Training and Technical Assistance Program (PDMP TTAC): The PDMP TTAC at the Institute for Intergovernmental Research provides a comprehensive array of services, support, resources, and strategies to PDMPs, federal partners, and other stakeholders to further the efforts and effectiveness of PDMPs in combating the misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription drugs. PDMP TTAC's focus is to improve consistency and alignment among PDMPs, facilitate coordination between PDMPs and state and national stakeholders, increase PDMP efficiencies, measure performance and effectiveness, and promote best practices.
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI): SAKI provides funding through a competitive program to enhance the criminal justice response to sexual assault and hold offenders accountable by maximizing evidence found in sexual assault kits.
Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC): SPARC is a federally funded project providing education and resources about the crime of stalking. SPARC aims to enhance the response to stalking by educating the professionals tasked with keeping stalking victims safe and holding offenders accountable. SPARC ensures that allied professionals have the specialized knowledge to identify and respond to the crime of stalking.
Expanding Medicaid and CHIP's Role in Corrections: Implementing Section 5121: Starting in January 2025, Section 5121 requires Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to cover some services provided in correctional facilities to youth and young adults immediately before and after they are released. These requirements were included as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 with a goal of improving the health and safety of youth and young adults leaving correctional facilities. Implementation will require active partnership between correctional facilities and state Medicaid programs. During this webinar, the audience will hear from experts at the Health and Reentry Project (HARP) about the new requirements and learn about next steps for implementation in jails and prisons. They will also hear insights on initial policy implementation from a panel of leaders in the criminal justice field and receive information about new resources HARP and BJA are publishing to support implementation.
Courts Training & Technical Assistance
Court systems looking to clear cases, decrease dockets, lower recidivism, and administer justice in an efficient and fair manner can access resources, education, and assistance through the programs listed below.
National Treatment Court Resource Center (NTCRC): NTCRC's mission is to serve as a virtual hub for resources related to all treatment court types. Our work provides the information needed to design and implement new programs that align with best practice standards, expand and enhance existing programs, and collect, analyze, and disseminate program data. The NTCRC website includes original publications, interactive maps, materials organized by court type and team role, seminal readings for stakeholders, a newsletter, blog, podcast, a calendar of professional development opportunities, and more.
Capital Case Litigation Initiative (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, NACDL): NACDL supports capital defense practitioners and death penalty reform through its Capital Case Litigation Initiative (CCLI). The CCLI provides training and technical assistance to state trial-level capital defense teams.
Forensics TTA Program: In collaboration with BJA, the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program offers a team of subject matter experts who provide expertise and assistance to grantees in support of BJA's overall mission to strengthen America's criminal justice system.
International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN): IAFN is the recognized authority on forensic nursing. The Association is the catalyst for universal access to forensic nursing care for patients impacted by violence and trauma.
National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD): NACJD provides free, comprehensive access to high-quality criminal justice datasets for researchers, policymakers, and students. Discover a wealth of information to advance knowledge, support innovative analysis, and promote evidence-based decision-making in the field of criminal justice.
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): NamUs provides technology, forensic services, and investigative support to resolve missing person and unidentified remains cases.
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms (NRCDVF): NRCDVF was established in 2013 through a grant from the Office on Violence Against Women of the U.S. Department of Justice. This project's goal is to enhance the implementation and enforcement of firearms prohibitions in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Training and Technical Assistance Center (OJJDP TTA360): TTA360 is a centralized TTA request system that allows you to submit a request to any of OJJDP's providers, create and manage your own account, and view progress on your requests in real time.
Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC): OVC TTAC is the gateway to current training and technical assistance for victim service providers and allied professionals who serve crime victims. Our aim is building the capacity of victim assistance organizations across the country.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Training and Technical Assistance Program (PDMP TTAC): The PDMP TTAC at the Institute for Intergovernmental Research provides a comprehensive array of services, support, resources, and strategies to PDMPs, federal partners, and other stakeholders to further the efforts and effectiveness of PDMPs in combating the misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription drugs. PDMP TTAC's focus is to improve consistency and alignment among PDMPs, facilitate coordination between PDMPs and state and national stakeholders, increase PDMP efficiencies, measure performance and effectiveness, and promote best practices.
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI): SAKI provides funding through a competitive program to enhance the criminal justice response to sexual assault and hold offenders accountable by maximizing evidence found in sexual assault kits.
Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC): SPARC is a federally funded project providing education and resources about the crime of stalking. SPARC aims to enhance the response to stalking by educating the professionals tasked with keeping stalking victims safe and holding offenders accountable. SPARC ensures that allied professionals have the specialized knowledge to identify and respond to the crime of stalking.
Centralized Services in Pretrial: What Is Working in Three Leading States: This webinar discussed centralized pretrial functions, drivers for the change to centralized functions, evaluation of centralized functions, and lessons learned during the transition from previous operations to centralized operations.
Jury Selection: Sheila Ross of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia shares her years of insight and experience with the capital case jury selection process, providing attendees with a practical toolkit to immediately apply to their next trial. This presentation is suitable for all levels of experience. This webinar is part of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys' Capital Litigation Improvement Project Series.
Mass Shootings and Victim Considerations: In this presentation, District Attorney George Brauchler, widely known as the prosecutor of James Holmes, the Aurora, Colorado gunman, discusses issues district attorneys face while prosecuting mass shootings cases. He provides anecdotal insights and lessons learned along the way. Also available: presentation slides.
Victim Counsel Coordination Part II: Preserving Victims' Rights: Randy Udelman of the Arizona Crime Victim Rights Law Group presents on victim counsel coordination, illustrating how to effectively meet victim needs in capital case prosecution.
Policing & Crime Training & Technical Assistance
Policing and crime agencies faced with new and unique challenges can access tools, education, and support through the providers listed below to help meet the emerging needs of their communities.
Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.): Each year, between 140 and 160 officers die in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope. C.O.P.S. provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives. There is no membership fee to join C.O.P.S., for the price paid is already too high. C.O.P.S. programs for survivors include the National Police Survivors' Conference held each May during National Police Week; scholarships; peer-support at the national, state, and local levels; "C.O.P.S. Kids" counseling reimbursement program; the "C.O.P.S. Kids" Summer Camp, "C.O.P.S. Teens" Outward Bound Adventure for young adults, special weekends for spouses, parents, siblings, adult children, extended family, and co-workers; trial and parole support, and other assistance programs.
Collaborative Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) Program; CRIT Toolkit: CRIT is a 40-hour training program designed to prepare police officers in their response to people experiencing crises related to behavioral health conditions (including mental health conditions and substance use disorders) and intellectual and developmental disabilities. This training is based upon the Memphis Model of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and is designed to complement the development and delivery of crisis response programs planned by law enforcement agencies, behavioral health services providers, and disability service providers in the community.
Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance Center (CRITAC): CRITAC offers training and technical assistance on a request-and-deliver basis through a historic coalition of law enforcement stakeholder associations. The program uses a "by the field, for the field" approach while delivering individualized technical assistance using leading experts across a wide range of topics. Technical assistance encompasses a host of methods, including training, peer-to-peer consultation, analysis, coaching, and strategic planning designed to help agencies improve and promote a positive image of policing and uplifting promising practices and programs.
Forensics TTA Program: In collaboration with BJA, the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program offers a team of subject matter experts who provide expertise and assistance to grantees in support of BJA's overall mission to strengthen America's criminal justice system.
Improving Community Preparedness TTA Program (ICPTTA): The National Mass Violence Center ICPTTA program provides no-cost, evidence-based resources to prepare for MVIs. Our vision is to ensure local, state, regional, and tribal jurisdictions across the country are better prepared to respond to the needs of victims following incidents of criminal mass violence and domestic terrorism.
International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN): IAFN is the recognized authority on forensic nursing. The Association is the catalyst for universal access to forensic nursing care for patients impacted by violence and trauma.
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP): From first contact to reentry, JMHCP, along with its Connect and Protect program, supports criminal justice and behavioral health systems across the country. Through funding and other resources, JMHCP helps leaders as they safely divert people from the justice system and increase access to mental health treatment, innovative crisis services, housing supports, and more.
Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Consortium (LETTAC): The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) National Violence Against Women LETTAC is a single, streamlined point of entry for OVW grantees and the field to request law enforcement TTA. LETTAC assists all law enforcement in best responding to, investigating, and prosecuting intimate partner violence and Violence Against Women Act crimes in a trauma-informed manner, supporting victim healing, safety, and justice.
National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD): NACJD provides free, comprehensive access to high-quality criminal justice datasets for researchers, policymakers, and students. Discover a wealth of information to advance knowledge, support innovative analysis, and promote evidence-based decision-making in the field of criminal justice.
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): NamUs provides technology, forensic services, and investigative support to resolve missing person and unidentified remains cases.
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms (NRCDVF): NRCDVF was established in 2013 through a grant from the Office on Violence Against Women of the U.S. Department of Justice. This project's goal is to enhance the implementation and enforcement of firearms prohibitions in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Training and Technical Assistance Center (OJJDP TTA360): TTA360 is a centralized TTA request system that allows you to submit a request to any of OJJDP's providers, create and manage your own account, and view progress on your requests in real time.
Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC): OVC TTAC is the gateway to current training and technical assistance for victim service providers and allied professionals who serve crime victims. Our aim is building the capacity of victim assistance organizations across the country.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Training and Technical Assistance Program (PDMP TTAC): The PDMP TTAC at the Institute for Intergovernmental Research provides a comprehensive array of services, support, resources, and strategies to PDMPs, federal partners, and other stakeholders to further the efforts and effectiveness of PDMPs in combating the misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription drugs. PDMP TTAC's focus is to improve consistency and alignment among PDMPs, facilitate coordination between PDMPs and state and national stakeholders, increase PDMP efficiencies, measure performance and effectiveness, and promote best practices.
Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program: The mission of the RISS Program is to assist local, state, federal, and tribal criminal justice partners by providing adaptive solutions and services that facilitate information sharing, support criminal investigations, and promote officer safety and wellness. RISS has been supporting the law enforcement and criminal justice communities for 50 years.
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI): SAKI provides funding through a competitive program to enhance the criminal justice response to sexual assault and hold offenders accountable by maximizing evidence found in sexual assault kits.
Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC): SPARC is a federally funded project providing education and resources about the crime of stalking. SPARC aims to enhance the response to stalking by educating the professionals tasked with keeping stalking victims safe and holding offenders accountable. SPARC ensures that allied professionals have the specialized knowledge to identify and respond to the crime of stalking.
The Changing Nature of Crime and Criminal Investigations: In November 2018, BJA hosted this webinar in partnership with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). During the webinar, researchers from PERF discussed the impact of computers and other technologies on the nature of crime and explained how technology changes investigations for law enforcement. The discussion drew upon findings from PERF's January 2018 report New National Commitment Required: The Changing Nature of Crime and Criminal Investigations. Presenters also highlighted the various training, tools, and resources that can help law enforcement agencies address the changing nature of crime and investigate new types of crime.
Serving Safely: The Case for Police-Mental Health Collaboration: What Law Enforcement Executives Should Know: People living with mental illnesses and intellectual and developmental disabilities are disproportionately represented in contacts with police. These interactions can lead to stressful and dangerous conditions for everyone involved. This webinar provides an in-depth look at the challenges many communities face and shares real-world experiences in developing Police-Mental Health Collaboration (PMHC) programs to address them. PMHC programs are comprehensive approaches to these situations and consist of partnerships, policy and practice redesign, training, data collection, and program maintenance.