Get to Know the Office of Justice Programs

• NCJ Number: 253689
• Date Published: March 2020
• Length: 2 pages
• Agencies: OJP
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Program/Project Description; Factsheet

Annotation

This fact sheet presents the overall mission of the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the mission of each of the six program offices that conduct OJP's work.

Abstract

OJP is the federal government's leading funding source for state, tribal, and local criminal and juvenile justice agencies. Through its six program offices, OJP assists criminal justice agencies in enforcing laws, prosecuting offenders, protecting their officers, and supporting crime victims. OJP impacts communities by funding and research related to criminal justice responsibilities and providing statistics that improve understanding of crime and justice; equipping law enforcement officers; strengthening the juvenile justice system; and addressing violence, substance abuse, and sexual offenses, as well as improving services to victims. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), one of the six OJP program offices, provides grants, training, and technical assistance, as well as policy development services that support law enforcement, reduce violent and drug-related crime, and counter crime victimizations. The OJP Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is the principal source for statistics on crimes, offenders, victims, and the justice system. The OJP National Institute of Justice (NIJ) researches the effectiveness of various criminal justice efforts. The OJP Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides national leadership and resources to help states and tribes prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency. The OJP Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) raises awareness of crime victims' issues and supports programs that assist crime victims. The OJP Office of Sex Offenders Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) helps jurisdictions meet federal sex offender registration and notification standards.