For public safety agencies, the need for modern technology is rarely the problem. Finding the budget to pay for it often is. We understand that agencies sometimes lack the resources to apply for grants and miss out on available funding. As a labor of love, PCN Strategies’ grant writing services are available, at no charge.
Body-worn cameras, in-vehicle video, rugged mobile computers, evidence management, communications technology and other critical systems can represent significant investments — particularly for small and midsize agencies.
The good news: millions of dollars in federal public safety funding are currently available in 2026, and some programs can help agencies fund technology, equipment and modernization initiatives.
PCN Strategies believes agencies should understand all of their options before deciding what they can — or cannot — afford.
Here are several funding opportunities worth knowing about.
1. Up to $2 Million for Body-Worn Camera Programs
One of the most immediate opportunities is the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 2026 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program.
The program has approximately $13.17 million available, with individual awards of up to $2 million. Link: bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2026-172677
Funding is designed to help publicly funded law enforcement and correctional agencies establish or expand comprehensive body-worn camera programs.
That can include more than simply purchasing cameras. BJA expects agencies to consider deployment, policy development, training and how body-worn cameras will be integrated into agency operations.
Who may qualify?
Eligible applicants include publicly funded law enforcement and correctional agencies as well as certain state, county, city, tribal, special district and other government entities.
Important dates
Grants.gov deadline: September 25, 2026
JustGrants deadline: October 2, 2026
Agencies should also be aware that this program includes a cost-sharing requirement, so understanding the complete project budget is important before applying.
2. Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, commonly known as JAG, is another funding source public safety leaders should have on their radar. Link: www.bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2026-172705
JAG is one of the primary sources of federal justice funding for state and local jurisdictions and can support a broad range of needs, including:
- Equipment
- Technology and information systems
- Personnel
- Supplies
- Training
- Contractual support
- Other eligible criminal justice initiatives
Because JAG is broader than a grant dedicated to one specific technology, it can be particularly important for agencies planning larger modernization initiatives.
For FY 2026, both state and local JAG funding opportunities are available.
The FY 2026 Local Formula JAG application has a Grants.gov deadline of October 9, 2026, followed by the JustGrants deadline of October 16, 2026.
Agencies that do not receive a direct local allocation may also want to investigate whether funding is available through their state’s administering agency.
3. COPS Technology and Equipment Funding
The U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Office also administers the Technology and Equipment Program (TEP). For FY 2026, the program includes more than $401 million in available funding for designated recipients.
The program is specifically focused on helping eligible entities develop or acquire: Law enforcement equipment. Technology. Interoperable communications. Link: cops.usdoj.gov/tep
Unlike a traditional competitive grant open to every agency, TEP is a noncompetitive, invitational program for entities designated through the congressional appropriations process.
That distinction matters. An agency should first determine whether it has been designated for funding rather than assuming it can submit a standard competitive application.
For agencies that qualify, however, TEP can be a significant resource for technology modernization. FY 2026 awards have a 24-month period and do not require a local match.
4. Other DOJ Funding May Support Broader Public Safety Initiatives
Technology does not always have to be funded through a grant with “technology” in its name. The Bureau of Justice Assistance currently lists multiple FY 2026 opportunities addressing areas such as public safety and mental health, crisis response, crime reduction and other justice initiatives.
For example, the FY 2026 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative is currently open, with applications due through Grants.gov on September 25 and JustGrants on October 2. Link: www.bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2026-172676
BJA also has an open Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative, with Grants.gov applications due September 24 and JustGrants applications due October 1. Link: www.bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2026-172701
Depending on the program, technology may be one component of a much larger operational objective. That is why agencies should start with the mission they are trying to accomplish — not simply the equipment they want to purchase.
FAVORITE THIS URL: bja.ojp.gov/funding/current | Agencies can also review current BJA funding opportunities as new programs become available.
Don’t Start With the Product. Start With the Mission.
When reviewing funding opportunities, ask: What problem are we trying to solve? Maybe officers need better access to information in the field. Maybe an agency needs to modernize body-worn or in-vehicle video. Maybe evidence needs to move more efficiently from the field to investigators and prosecutors. Maybe aging mobile computers are creating reliability problems.
Or perhaps multiple disconnected systems need to work together more effectively. Once that need is clearly defined, agencies can evaluate which funding programs (or tech buy-back programs) — and which technology — best support the mission.
Think Beyond the Initial Purchase
Grant funding can make technology more accessible, but agencies should also consider what happens after the initial purchase. A complete technology plan should account for the hardware itself as well as software, implementation, integration, training, support, connectivity, data management, refresh cycles and long-term operating costs.
That becomes especially important with solutions such as body-worn cameras and video evidence systems, where the camera is only one piece of the overall technology environment. The objective should not simply be to buy technology. It should be to build a solution the agency can realistically operate and sustain.
PCN Strategies: Helping Agencies Navigate the Technology Side
We work with public safety and public sector organizations to develop end-to-end technology solutions around their actual operational requirements. That includes rugged mobile computing, body-worn and in-vehicle video, software, integration, connectivity and supporting technologies.
Our role is not to tell an agency that one product solves every problem. It is to help agencies evaluate the bigger picture: What does the mission require? What technology supports it? How should the pieces work together? And how can the investment be structured responsibly?
Grant funding may be one part of that conversation. Budget funding, procurement strategies and alternative financing models may be others.
Planning a Technology Project?
If your agency is considering body-worn cameras, in-vehicle video, rugged computing or a broader public safety technology modernization project, talk with Darin White, before assuming the budget puts the project out of reach.
We can help you define the technology requirements, understand the complete solution and explore funding and financing considerations that may help move the project forward.
Your mission comes first. The technology — and the way you fund it — should support it.
Funding programs, eligibility requirements, allowable expenses and deadlines can change. Agencies should review the official funding opportunity and applicable federal, state or local requirements before applying.