American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency

American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency (ASCJPA) serves as the territorial administering agency for criminal justice initiatives and victim services in American Samoa. Operating from Pago Pago in the Eastern District, the agency has been registered to receive federal awards since December 2006 and functions as a not-for-profit organization under the territorial government structure. As the state administering agency, ASCJPA coordinates federal grant funding across the American Samoa justice system and distributes resources to local organizations, government departments, and community-based service providers to address public safety challenges unique to the Pacific island territory.

Through its federal grant portfolio, ASCJPA has provided comprehensive criminal justice and victim support services spanning multiple program areas. The agency has administered grants from the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). Key services include substance abuse treatment programs for incarcerated individuals through the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program; violence against women initiatives through STOP Formula Grants and Sexual Assault Services Formula Grants; methamphetamine investigation and enforcement through the COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program; sex offender registration and notification system support; juvenile justice system improvements and positive youth development programs; crime victim assistance and services; criminal justice information systems development including Records Management System implementation; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) compliance and training; attorney loan repayment programs to recruit legal professionals; and general law enforcement and criminal justice system improvements through Justice Assistance Grants (JAG). ASCJPA has sub-awarded funds to the American Samoa Attorney General's Office, Department of Corrections, Department of Public Safety, Department of Human and Social Services, and various nonprofit and community organizations to implement these programs and services across the territory.