BJA FY 2026 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative

This opportunity supports comprehensive service networks addressing untreated mental illness and substance use to reduce the burden on law enforcement and the justice system. The initiative aims to restore order in communities affected by homelessness, mental illness, and substance use, decrease recidivism, reduce crime, and improve overall public safety. The program supports coordinated, direct intervention efforts across public safety, justice, mental health, and substance use agencies to increase access to mental health and substance use treatment. Key aspects of this opportunity include: • Supporting civil commitment, institutional treatment, and step-down approaches from pre-arrest through reentry • Increasing access to mental health and substance use treatment • Reducing the burden on law enforcement and the justice system • Restoring order in communities affected by homelessness, mental illness, and substance use • Decreasing recidivism and reducing crime • Improving overall public safety