Under the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) was created in 1984 to assist local, State, and tribal governments to improve the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and to reduce and prevent crime in communities across America. This report to the U.S. Congress provides fiscal and programmatic details of BJA’s efforts in fiscal year 2003 and demonstrates, through quantitative and qualitative data, the positive and long-lasting impact strategic planning has on crime and terrorism. BJA’s two largest grant programs are the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance (Byrne) Program and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Program with both programs emphasizing local decisionmaking. In 2003, BJA administered nearly $500 million in Byrne formula grants and nearly $150 million in Byrne discretionary grants. In addition, nearly $260 million in LLEBG grants were administered to more than 2,900 jurisdictions. The fiscal year 2003 report presents an overview of BJA funded initiatives and programs in the areas of crime prevention, law enforcement, counter terrorism, adjudication, substance abuse, community and institutional corrections, and information technology and concludes with legislative purpose area descriptions, awards to States and United States territories, and a 2003 publications list. Appendixes I-III and tables