Jacksonville was named one of four “Model Cities” to share nearly $300 million from the Department of Justice to fight violent crime and boost public safety.
Story Snapshot
- Justice Department selected Jacksonville for its multi-year Model Cities funding.
- Funding can pay for officers, technology, forensics, and treatment services.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche tied the program to restoring law and order.
- The Justice Department will finalize local plans before full rollout.
What The Justice Department Announced
The Department of Justice said Jacksonville will participate in its Model Cities Initiative, alongside East Baton Rouge Parish, Jackson, Mississippi, and St. Louis. The department framed the awards as part of a national push to cut violent crime and improve safety. The total package is nearly $300 million across the four sites. The announcement describes a focused partnership with local agencies to deliver resources and measure results over several years.
The department’s materials identify the City of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as the local agency tied to the award. That places the sheriff’s office at the center of planning, spending, and tracking results. Federal officials said these funds are designed to strengthen on-the-ground work, not just announce goals. The department cast the awards as investments that blend policing, prosecution, support services, and data tools to reduce serious crime in hard-hit areas.
How The Money Can Be Used
The Justice Department said funds may support sworn and nonsworn staff, targeted enforcement and prosecution, investigative technology, equipment, and forensic capacity. The department also listed mental-health and substance-use services and efforts to cut repeat offending. This mix mirrors common federal justice grants that back the full system around crime, from patrol to labs to treatment and reentry support. Agencies will shape local budgets within those allowed uses.
The initiative runs as a cooperative agreement over multiple years, not a one-off payment. The fiscal year 2026 program notice explains the expected funding level, the plan for two to four awards, and a 36-month award period. That structure means federal managers will work closely with each site and monitor progress. It also means spending will move in phases, with adjustments as plans meet real-world needs.
Leadership’s Stated Goals And Timelines
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche linked the Model Cities push to restoring law and order and “supercharging” local partners. The department’s public framing stresses quick help to cities with notable violent-crime challenges and a focus on measurable gains. The award announcement followed a June 2026 rollout of the initiative and a later funding decision naming the four sites. Federal leaders said the next step is finalizing each city’s public-safety plan before full implementation.
jacksonville joins the doj model cities plan , nearly 300 million across select cities … money on the ground beats another press conference … hope it actually hits the neighborhoods that need it , not just the ribbon cuttings
— Ron (@Nes218) November 6, 2026
Officials did not publish Jacksonville’s exact award figure in the department-wide release. The announcement confirms the city’s selection and the eligible spending categories, but it reserves details while plans are finalized. The department said it will work with each site to lock in the strategy, budget, and performance measures. That is common for complex grants that cover personnel, technology, services, and evaluation over several years.
