I recently blogged about changes in the Byrne Grant Program, and the potential from changes in the strategic planning language.

Now, here’s some evidence that participation in the strategic planning process might impact funding outcomes.

As the GAO reports on page 28 of a report on indigent defense, DOJ Could Increase Awareness of Eligible Funding and Better Determine the Extent to Which Funds Help Support This Purpose:

JAG funding is more likely to be shared with a broader range of stakeholders if they are included in the planning process, which our survey responses also suggest may be true. Specifically, among the 4 percent of JAG grantees who reported that representatives of the indigent defense community were involved in the decision making process, 22 percent reported allocating funding for indigent defense. In contrast, among the 52 percent who reported that representatives of the indigent defense community were not involved in the decision making process, 2 percent reported allocating funding for indigent defense.  (Footnote omitted.)

This has obvious potential implications for the importance of participation by other stakeholders such as the courts.

As I blogged before, it is up to all to take the initiative to be included in their required state strategic planning.  Lets hope that states respond to the opportunity, and, if they fail to do so, DOJ takes additional steps in the future to incentivize such participation.