To: Board of Supervisors
From: Diana Becton, District Attorney
Report Title: Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 2026 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grant Application for Organized Retail Theft Prevention and Prosecution
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the District Attorney, or designee, to apply for and accept the FY 2026 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance in an amount not to exceed $600,000 for the period October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2029 for the Organized Retail Theft Prevention and Prosecution Project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The County will receive up to $600,000 federal grant funding over the 3-year award period. No match is required.
BACKGROUND:
In June 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program. Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office received an invitation to apply to this grant program from the BJA. The District Attorney’s Organized Retail Theft Prevention and Prosecution Project is identified in the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement for projects designated for funding pursuant to the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. No. 119-74, Div. A, Title II).
The District Attorney’s Office will apply to this grant with the goal of addressing increased levels of retail theft crimes using a vertical prosecution model. According to the California Attorney General’s Office, organized retail crime incidents are often part of sophisticated criminal networks that happen across multiple jurisdictions, including cities, counties, and states. The District Attorney’s Project aims to properly identify, investigate and prosecute organized retail theft cases and offer supplemental training to local law enforcement partners. Recent data suggests that a large number of known offenders commit multiple offenses in multiple locations. This project will also develop and implement a system to more effectively identify and target the most habitual offenders.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved, the District Attorney’s Office will be unable to apply for and accept these federal funds to support its efforts in addressing organized retail theft crimes using a vertical prosecution model.