125 Pretrial Success Program

The 125 Pretrial Success Program is a competitive grant initiative administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery. It is part of the state’s broader effort to improve the pretrial process and outcomes for individuals who have been granted pretrial release. The funding supports nonprofit organizations across the state to implement comprehensive case management and service linkage for eligible individuals. With a significant budget allocation of $21.5 million in state funding, this program represents a key investment in justice system reform, aiming to reduce recidivism and promote community-based alternatives to incarceration. The program focuses on providing case management to Illinois residents who are charged with a criminal offense and have been granted pretrial release. Participants engage voluntarily in services that assess their needs and link them to appropriate resources within their communities. The initiative is grounded in the Pretrial Services Act and seeks to foster close coordination with court stakeholders, including judges, defense attorneys, public defenders, sheriffs, police departments, and state’s attorneys. Program providers are expected to establish a defined service area within one of twelve geographic clusters based on judicial circuits and counties, and to maintain active engagement with local advisory councils to align services with community-specific needs. Funded services include ongoing case management for mental health and substance use disorders, detoxification services or referrals, medication-assisted treatment, childcare to facilitate court attendance, and transportation assistance. Additionally, applicants may propose expanded services such as harm reduction, clinical interventions, crisis response, group and individual counseling, and skills-based supports. The goal is to support successful court appearances and prevent further involvement in the criminal-legal system. Organizations may use up to 5% of the awarded funds for public awareness initiatives related to pretrial supports. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations and comply with several registration and prequalification requirements, including an active registration with SAM.gov and the Illinois GATA portal, and must not appear on exclusion or sanction lists. Programs must ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities and limited English proficiency and are prohibited from denying services based on immigration status or gender identity. Applicants are encouraged to employ staff with lived experience in the criminal justice system. If not already certified, awardees must file a plan to become Medicaid-certified for behavioral health services by July 1, 2027. The application window runs from February 27, 2026, to March 30, 2026, at 12:00 PM Central Time. Applications must be submitted via email and include required components such as the Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, Program Narrative, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, CSA-submitted Budget, and other relevant forms. A technical assistance session will be held on March 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time, though attendance is not mandatory. Awards are expected to be announced by July 1, 2026, with the performance period running through June 30, 2027. The grant may be renewed for up to two additional years contingent on performance and funding availability. Applications will be evaluated based on community need, organizational capacity, quality of proposed services, data collection strategies, and alignment with performance metrics. Emphasis is placed on equity, inclusivity, and systemic reform. All applicants are subject to administrative and programmatic risk assessments. The program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and is governed by state and federal grant regulations. The full Notice of Funding Opportunity, application instructions, and required forms are available on the IDHS website. Questions must be submitted via email by March 23, 2026.

Ensure full prequalification; strictly follow narrative formatting rules; budget must be submitted in CSA