Model Cities

The Model Cities Initiative (MCI) is a competitive federal grant program administered by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Established in fiscal year 2026, the program is designed to provide substantial, targeted funding to a small number of American cities to implement comprehensive strategies aimed at reducing violent crime, restoring public order, and serving as national models for public safety innovation. The initiative emphasizes a "whole-of-community" approach, integrating law enforcement, prosecutorial, correctional, and social service strategies under a single, locally-driven plan. With an announced total funding pool of approximately $300 million, the MCI is jointly administered by three DOJ components: the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). Awards are structured as cooperative agreements, signifying substantial federal involvement in the planning and execution of local projects.¹²³

The MCI was launched in the context of a perceived surge in violent crime and public disorder in several U.S. cities. The program's stated purpose draws directly on the outcomes of federal law enforcement surge operations in cities such as Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., which the DOJ credits with significant reductions in violent crime. For instance, the department cited a 42% decrease in overall violent crime in Memphis and a 54% drop in homicides in Washington, D.C., following focused federal-local collaborations. The statutory authority for the initiative is derived from multiple federal statutes, including the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended; the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994; the Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. No. 110-199); and recent appropriations acts.

The MCI requires applicants to present a comprehensive vision that addresses seven core goals, though specific objectives under each goal may be prioritized based on local needs. The stated goals are:

1. Expand crime-fighting, investigative, and prosecutorial capacity**, including advancing proactive policing models, strengthening coordination to focus on prolific offenders, and creating specialized units for serious violent crimes.
2. Improve and modernize crime data collection, intelligence gathering, and analytics** to drive evidence-based policing. This includes establishing or enhancing real-time crime centers and expanding cooperation with multi-agency intelligence sources.
3. Develop nation-leading, innovative approaches to policing and violent crime reduction** through partnerships with law enforcement organizations, corporate leaders, and experts, and by creating replicable models for federal-local task force collaboration.
4. Enhance law enforcement readiness and support for frontline officers** by providing specialized training, modern protective equipment, and comprehensive officer safety and wellness programs.
5. Expand services for victims of crime** by strengthening support networks and law enforcement-victim service partnerships.
6. Reduce recidivism and support community reintegration** through data-driven reentry planning, expanded transitional services like vocational training and temporary housing, and strengthened probation and parole supervision models.
7. Expand behavioral health treatment and recovery services** to improve public safety outcomes, including expanding crisis intervention programs, increasing access to civil commitment and assisted outpatient treatment (AOT), and ensuring continuity of care from correctional facilities to the community.

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Eligibility for the MCI is limited to local government entities serving a population of at least 100,000. Applicants may be a single government unit or a collective representing a contiguous region, with the legal authority to administer a federal award. Each eligible entity is limited to one application submission, and there is no cost-sharing requirement. A defining feature of the MCI is its mandated "whole-of-city" application. The applicant must demonstrate a unified front, with documented buy-in from a required set of local stakeholders. At minimum, the application must include signed letters of support from the mayor, city manager, prosecutor, sheriff, the local governing body, the director of health and human services, and the community supervision executive. The application process is structured in two phases:

Phase 1:** Applicants have 90 days from the application release date to submit a written narrative, not exceeding 20 pages. The narrative must detail the jurisdiction's need, its vision for becoming a "Model City," proposed innovative strategies, and a plan addressing all seven program goals. Required appendices include a signed certification of compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373 (related to immigration status information sharing), documentation of partnerships, a commitment to receive direction from the DOJ, an estimated budget, a timeline for completion, and a list of vetted partner entities.

Phase 2:** After a review of written applications, a list of finalists is published. Finalists are invited to present their plans to DOJ leadership, a process that may include city or site visits. Final recipient selection is made by DOJ senior leadership based on the application, presentation, and overall alignment with the initiative's priorities.

Recipients are selected as cooperative agreement awardees, with an expected award period of 36 months. The release of funds is contingent upon the completion of post-selection milestones, including DOJ's review and approval of a detailed implementation plan and final budget. ¹²³

The MCI provides recipient cities with broad discretion in how to allocate funds, provided expenses are tied to the program's goals. Allowable cost categories include the hiring and retention of sworn and non-sworn personnel; the purchase or lease of equipment and technology, such as real-time crime centers, license plate readers, artificial intelligence systems, and small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); training and professional development; facility costs; and a wide array of services spanning mental health, substance use treatment, reentry support, victim assistance, and youth crime prevention.

Awards under the MCI must align with specific DOJ priorities, including directly supporting law enforcement operations, combating violent crime, protecting children, enforcing prohibitions on open illicit drug use, urban camping, and squatting, and addressing serious mental illness through civil commitment or assisted outpatient treatment. Certain activities are expressly unallowable, including any program that violates or impedes the enforcement of federal immigration law, or that violates federal civil rights or nondiscrimination law.

A unique condition of the award is a provision for the future reimbursement of costs incurred by the federal government should federal law enforcement intervention or assistance be required in the recipient city in the event of a subsequent surge in violent crime or public disorder. Furthermore, all applicants must submit a notarized certification, signed by the mayor or senior official, affirming compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373, a statute concerning the sharing of immigration status information with federal authorities.¹²³