Program Contact
Meghan Moore - meghan.moore@state.co.us (Send Email)

Financial Contact
Tatevik Hovsepyan - tatevik.hovsepyan@state.co.us (Send Email)

Reporting Contact
Meghan Moore - meghan.moore@state.co.us (Send Email)

General Requirements

The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals, and we are continually making changes to improve accessibility and usability of our services. As part of this commitment, DCJ is prepared to offer reasonable accommodations for those who have difficulty engaging with our content. As an example, documents can be produced in an alternative file format upon request. To request this and other accommodations, or to discuss your needs further, please contact Gillian Trickett at 720-582-4510 or DCJGMS@state.co.us.



Overview & Funding Details (specific to this program)

Title:  Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Grant Program

Overview

The Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Grant Program is a funding opportunity offered through the Office of Adult and Juvenile Assistance (OAJJA).

The goal of the Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Grant Program is to allow the department and local governments to evaluate and design safer streets and neighborhood models that discourage crime, revitalize community image, and establish place-specific crime prevention strategies that account for geographic, cultural, economic, and social characteristics of the target areas. 

Resource:  SB22-001 Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Utilizing Design Management Strategies

Project Application DEADLINE: March 1, 2024

About the Funding Agency: 

The mission of the Division of Criminal Justice is to improve the public safety of the community, the quality of services to crime victims, and the effectiveness of services to offenders. We accomplish this by analyzing policy, conducting criminal justice research, managing programs, and administering grants.

Program Description

Purpose of the Funds

Statutory Authority

C.R.S. 24-33.5-117. Crime prevention through safer streets grant program

Eligible Activities

The grant may be used for improvements designed to decrease the incidence of crime and create safer streets.  Such improvements may include:

• Better lighting
• Improved trash collection
• Access control
• Territorial reinforcement
• Improved space management
• Other improvements designed to decrease the incidence of crime and create safer streets

Required Application Components

All grant applications must address all of the following:

• The target area and crime challenge the applicant hopes to address
• Data regarding the incidence of crime in the target area, disaggregated by the type of crime, and demographic data
• The specific projects the grant would fund
• Measurable or observable goals to decrease the incidence of crime, disaggregated by the type of crime
• Details on how the applicant has collaborated with communities and other agencies in developing the improvements to be funded under the application
• Details on how the plan would prevent the displacement of homeless populations and harm to communities of color and vulnerable populations

Planning Time

The purpose of the Safer Streets grant program is to provide an opportunity for local jurisdictions to:  

• Objectively determine areas or locations experiencing high levels or patterns of criminal activity;
• Involve local officials and community members in collaborative discussions regarding this criminal activity and actions that might be taken to reduce the likelihood of future crime;
• Collaboratively develop environmentally-focused crime prevention strategies and identify potential actions that can be taken to improve public safety and community well-being;
• Allow jurisdictions to seek grant funds to implement actions associated with their environmentally-focused crime reduction strategies.

Communities will need time to develop a project and application. To allow for adequate  planning time, applications are due March 1, 2024. In addition, DCJ has developed some resources that may assist you during the planning time. 

1. An outline of actions that may be useful as you move through the planning process is described below. These are suggested but not required to be followed.
2. This link provides a more in-depth planning assessment.
3. The Division of Criminal Justice has contracted with a vendor to provide technical assistance and is subject to available funds. The amount of the TA available is determined by the scope of the request and the feasibility within the timeline of the open solicitation.  You can apply for technical assistance by submitting the Technical Assistance Request Form accessible at https://dcj.jotform.com/232896778874886. Technical assistance is on a first come, first serve basis until the appropriation is exhausted. 

For questions regarding technical assistance, contact Anna Lopez at anna.lopez@state.co.us. 

10 ACTION ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPING A PROPOSAL

1. BACKGROUND: Review the Safer Streets grant announcement and relevant legislation to understand the purpose, expectations, and requirements of this grant program.
2. BACKGROUND: Gain an understanding of the “crime prevention through environmental design” concept.
3. IDENTIFY MEMBERS: This project requires collaboration between local officials and community stakeholders.  Identify the individuals who will be involved in the project.
4. GATHER AND REVIEW DATA: Relevant data must be gathered and analyzed to identify crime patterns, types of crime being committed, and the locations of criminal activity.
5. CREATE A COLLABORATIVE TEAM:  A collaborative team must be formed to make determinations regarding potential target areas; a structure for conducting these team meetings should be created.
6. IDENTIFY TARGET AREAS:  The collaborative team, after considering data and community perspectives, should determine specific areas or “targets” that will be the focus of potential actions.
7. IDENTIFY OPTIONS FOR REDUCING CRIME:  Possible solutions, consistent with CPTED principles, should be considered, analyzed and approved for action.
8. CONSIDER IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY:  Contemplated actions must take into account community perspectives, the cultural, economic, and social characteristics of the potentially impacted community, and must not adversely impact homeless populations, communities of color, or vulnerable individuals.
9. CREATE A PROPOSAL:  A grant proposal, with a requested budget, should be developed, reviewed, approved, and submitted.
10. IDENTIFY PERFORMANCE MEASURES:  A plan should be developed to capture relevant data so that changes, impacts, or outcomes of this effort can be determined.

Funding Details

Amount available

$3,754,944 

Award Period

July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2026

Match

Match is not a requirement for this funding.

Exclusions and Limitations

Money from the grant award may not be used for the following:

• Hiring law enforcement or code enforcement personnel or peace officers
• Facial recognition purposes
• Surveillance programs that utilize networks of sensors to detect gunshots, commonly referred to as a “ShotSpotter” program

Eligibility

Eligible grant recipients include:

• Local governmental agencies 
• Local governmental agencies that partner with a community-based nonprofit organization

Evaluation

The Advisory Committee will evaluate applications on the following criteria:

• Ability to demonstrate areas where crime is more prevalent.
• Measurable or observable goals to decrease the incidence of crime
• Sufficient consultation and collaboration with the relevant impacted community where a project would take place
• Sufficient indication of community support for the projects included in the grant application.
• Plan to prevent the displacement of homeless populations and harm to communities of color and vulnerable populations

The Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Advisory Committee will meet and make funding recommendations. 

Applications that are denied funding may submit an appeal within 3 days of notification, however, appeals may only contain clarifying information specific to the reasons noted in the denial notification and cannot contain new information.

Additional Information

Grant Agreements

If awarded, grantees will receive additional information regarding administrative requirements.

Sample Grant Agreements: GrantAgreement.docx

Post Award Reporting Requirements

The grantee will be required to submit financial and programmatic reports describing how the grant funds were utilized, including data and other relevant information on performance metrics. These reports will be required quarterly. Performance metrics will be outlined at the time of the award.

Timeline

Announcement date: 

November 1, 2023

Planning time:  

November 1, 2023 - March 1, 2024 (application due date) 

Application deadline: 

March 1, 2024 

Funding decision announced: 

Early/Mid May

Reconsideration/appeals deadline: 

Approximately 3 days following Denial Notification

Grant Agreement Issuance: 

Late May/Early June

Award Period: 

June 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026

How To Apply

The Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Grant Program Announcement, Application and Application Instructions can be obtained through Colorado’s online application system, ZoomGrants.

Project applications must be submitted on or before FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2024. DCJ support ends that day at 5:00 PM MST.  

PROJECT APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ON-LINE.  

Failure to submit a complete project application may result in denial of funding.

We highly recommend applicants read all of the Application Instructions. Link to application instructions 

The grant announcement, application, and instructions can be obtained in the library on ZoomGrants.

Questions

The Division of Criminal Justice is committed to a fair and impartial competitive application process. As such, any grant programmatic application questions and answers will be posted on the FAQs website. Please check back to this website frequently so you are getting the most up-to-date information.

Questions about grant program & requirements

Anna Lopez

Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA

700 Kipling Street

Denver, CO 80215

Direct: 720-582-2091

E-mail: anna.lopez@state.co.us

Questions about ZoomGrants & Technical Support

If you experience problems or have questions about how to use ZoomGrants, please contact dcjgms@state.co.us.

Accessibility and Accommodations

The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradoans. The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) is committed to making its physical campus and digital resources accessible to everyone. The DCJ strives to ensure equal access to the services we provide to everyone with and without disabilities. To best meet reasonable accommodation needs for effective communication or a reasonable modification to programs, services, or activities, please contact us a week prior to the activity or event.

DCJ will make every effort to provide requested reasonable accommodations, however, failure to notify DCJ of requested accommodations at least 3 business days prior to the date of the activity or event date may result in delay or denial of the accommodation.