Overview:
The Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative (SWBPI) provides funds to eligible jurisdictions in the four southwest border states, using a uniform payment-per-case basis for qualifying federally initiated and declined-referred criminal cases that were disposed of after October 1, 2004. Eligible jurisdictions include the county governments and the four state governments in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Successful applicants may use their federal funds for any lawful purpose.

A federally initiated and referred criminal case is eligible if it was prosecuted by a state or county prosecutor and disposed of during one of the the eligibility periods. Jurisdictions providing pre-trial detention for eligible case defendants are also eligible for funds. Each defendant represents a separate case. Federally referred cases that are declined and not prosecuted by state or county prosecutors are ineligible. Applicants participating in State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) are permitted to apply.

In New Mexico, only detention services may be reported in a county's on-line application. Prosecution services are provided through various state agencies and will be reflected in a state level application.

Eligible jurisdictions will be asked to submit an electronic application, using the latest Internet-based technology. The application will include a simple matrix, designed to help jurisdictions quickly quantify their eligible cases and requested level of reimbursement. One-time payments will be made through electronic funds transfer, once applications are reviewed and approved by BJA. Participants will have toll-free telephone access to technical support staff.

Legislation: The current provisions for SWBPI are contained in the FY 2005 DOJ appropriation (Public Law 108-447) : "... $30,000,000 is for the Southwest Border Prosecutor Initiative to reimburse state, county, parish, tribal, or municipal governments only for costs associated with the prosecution of criminal cases declined by local U.S. Attorneys' offices."

Funding: FY 2005 funding is $30 million.

Eligibility: State and county governments in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas are eligible for SWBPI funds.

How/When To Apply: The entire Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative (SWBPI) application and payment request process is managed via the Internet-based SWBPI system. All application activities will be handled at the dedicated web site http://southwest.ojp.gov.

The FY 2006 process will open in January 2006.

Related Publications/Information:
Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative Guidelines

Related Link:
Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative web site

Contact Information:
Linda Hammond-Deckard, Program Manager
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street NW.
Washington, DC 20531
1-866-817-9274
Fax: 202-307-0036
E-mail: Linda.Hammond-Deckard@usdoj.gov