Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance has released the FY25 Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative. This funding program is designed to support law enforcement efforts to reduce violent crime and improve police-community relations through comprehensive, cross-sector strategies that include enforcement, prevention, and intervention activities. The Bureau of Justice Assistance manages this initiative in coordination with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office for Victims of Crime, allowing awardees to benefit from specialized expertise across different justice system priorities. The initiative reflects the Department of Justice’s mission to uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, enhance public safety, and provide critical support to law enforcement and communities facing violent crime challenges. The purpose of this program is to address the root causes of violence through collaborative and data-driven approaches. Funded activities may include the hiring of sworn law enforcement officers or specialized personnel such as crime analysts, the purchase of equipment directly related to violence prevention and intervention, implementation of focused deterrence strategies, youth violence intervention initiatives, and even the construction of community centers to serve as focal points for safety and engagement. In addition to strengthening law enforcement capacity, the program prioritizes building sustainable partnerships with community-based organizations and residents to improve trust, accountability, and coordination of violence reduction strategies. Applicants are expected to conduct a violent crime assessment during an initial planning phase, lasting up to twelve months, which will guide the development of a locally informed strategic plan for violence reduction. Awards under this program are anticipated to begin on October 1, 2025, with a performance period of up to forty-eight months. Deliverables expected from recipients include submission of a violent crime assessment within twelve months of award and a final comprehensive report within ninety days of the program’s end date. Performance measures will require grantees to regularly report on progress toward objectives, with reporting conducted through the Justice Department’s Performance Measurement Tool and semiannual reporting in JustGrants. All awards will be made as grants and will require compliance with all relevant federal statutes, regulations, and civil rights laws, including nondiscrimination requirements. Unallowable activities include any program or cost that violates federal immigration law, any discriminatory practices, or legal services for individuals unlawfully present in the United States outside of specified victim protection contexts. Eligible applicants include county governments, city or township governments, other units of local government such as towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages, federally recognized and non-federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and tribal organizations. The solicitation explicitly excludes individuals, for-profit entities, and some nonprofit institutions, focusing instead on governmental and tribal structures as well as certain educational organizations. State and local government applicants must submit a certification from their chief executive officer or senior official using the required template in the solicitation. Applicants may submit more than one application provided that each submission proposes a different project. Subrecipient partnerships are also permitted, though only one entity may serve as the primary applicant. The application process is a two-step submission. Step one requires submission of the SF-424 form through Grants.gov by October 27, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Step two requires submission of the full application package in JustGrants by November 3, 2025, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants must ensure that their entity is registered in SAM.gov with an active unique entity identifier. Other required elements include a proposal abstract, a detailed proposal narrative, a budget detail form, financial management questionnaire, and applicable attachments such as resumes, memoranda of understanding with partners, and if relevant, tribal authorizing resolutions. Applications must comply with page and formatting limits, and late or incomplete applications will not be considered unless a technical waiver is granted. Applications will be reviewed for basic minimum requirements, including eligibility, adherence to funding ceilings, and responsiveness to program scope. Those that pass this threshold will be evaluated by peer reviewers according to criteria weighted as follows: issue description (10 percent), goals and objectives (15 percent), project design and implementation (40 percent), capabilities and competencies (15 percent), and budget (20 percent). Additional factors such as geographic distribution, past performance, and funding availability may also influence final decisions. Awards are expected to be announced after review, and the Assistant Attorney General will make final award determinations. Continuation awards may be possible depending on funding availability, program performance, and alignment with Department of Justice priorities. For assistance, applicants can contact the Office of Justice Programs Response Center at 800-851-3420 or 202-353-5556, or by email at OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov. Support is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Additional technical support is available through SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants help desks for issues related to registration, submission, or system functionality. Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the registration and submission process well in advance of deadlines to avoid delays.