Federal Justice Grants Deliver Over $1.1 Million to Harney County and Burns Paiute Tribe

HARNEY COUNTY-Local public safety and judicial programs in Eastern Oregon are receiving a major boost following the announcement of federal grants from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Across the state, the Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded over $3 million in Fiscal Year 2025 funding to support criminal justice and community safety initiatives for state, local, and tribal governments.

Among the primary beneficiaries in Eastern Oregon, Harney County was awarded $549,611 to support specialized court initiatives, while the Burns Paiute Tribe received $624,480 in DOJ grant funding to enhance tribal justice and public safety resources.

Harney County’s $549,611 allocation comes through the Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program. These court models combine judicially supervised treatment, regular drug testing, and accountability measures to serve justice-involved individuals facing substance use or mental health challenges.

• Veterans Treatment Courts: Connect veterans to treatment for post-traumatic stress, substance use, and trauma-related conditions while maintaining judicial oversight.
• Adult Drug Courts: Provide evidence-based rehabilitation and case management to lower recidivism and lower long-term costs to local emergency and correctional systems.

Simultaneously, the Burns Paiute Tribe secured $624,480 through federal justice grant programming aimed at bolstering tribal law enforcement, community safety, and local justice services.

The funding forms part of the broader Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, the federal government’s leading source of justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Across the nation, nearly $290 million was distributed under the program for FY 2025.

---

---

• 
• 
• 
• 

---

---

Elkhorn Media Group