BJA FY25 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions

The **U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)** has announced the **FY25 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program** (Funding Opportunity Number O-BJA-2025-172349). This program supports entities involved in wrongful conviction review (WCR) and conviction integrity units (CIU) to address post-conviction claims of innocence, improve criminal justice system integrity, and prevent future errors. The program seeks to ensure justice for victims while addressing systemic disparities, including racial inequities in wrongful convictions. The program offers two funding categories. **Category 1: WCR Entity-Led Strategy** allocates $6,000,000 for up to 10 awards, with each award capped at $600,000. **Category 2: CIU-Led Partnerships** provides $2,300,000 for up to 4 awards, also capped at $600,000 each. Projects under both categories will span a 36-month period starting October 1, 2025. Applicants may propose budgets below the award ceiling and must demonstrate their capacity to manage the requested funds. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and township governments; Native American tribal governments (federally or non-federally recognized); public and private higher education institutions; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; and local public defender offices with in-house post-conviction representation programs. Applicants must demonstrate relevant experience and competence in post-conviction claims of innocence and include partnerships where applicable. Priority consideration will be given to projects addressing “legal deserts,” defined as rural areas with fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents. Applications require a two-step submission process. The **Grants.gov application deadline** is April 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by the **JustGrants application deadline** on April 10, 2025, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Prospective applicants are encouraged to begin their SAM.gov registration or renewal by March 4, 2025, to ensure compliance with federal registration requirements. Award notifications are expected by September 30, 2025. The program’s goals include developing risk assessment processes for wrongful convictions, increasing case reviews and exonerations, fostering collaborations between WCR entities and CIUs, and enhancing data collection to prevent future errors. Eligible activities may involve case investigations, data analysis, development of new policies, expert testimony, and partnerships with academic institutions or nonprofits. The program also aims to expand resources for exonerees, including reentry services. This funding opportunity is contingent on federal appropriations for FY 2025. For detailed guidance, applicants should refer to the Application Resource Guide, attend the pre-application webinar (date TBD), and consult the program’s support resources. Contact information for technical assistance and application-related questions is available through the OJP Response Center, Grants.gov, and JustGrants support teams.