Enhancing Juvenile Indigent Defense

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, housed within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, has released the fiscal year 2025 funding opportunity titled OJJDP FY25 Enhancing Juvenile Indigent Defense. This program aims to strengthen and improve the representation of youth involved in the juvenile justice system by addressing barriers and gaps in access to quality public defense. The Department of Justice emphasizes its mission to uphold the rule of law, ensure public safety, and protect civil rights while providing resources that combat violent crime, protect children, and address pressing issues such as trafficking and the opioid crisis. This grant is part of that broader effort and seeks to ensure that indigent youth facing legal challenges receive effective defense services. The total funding available under this program is $1,600,000, with an anticipated number of four awards. Each award will be capped at $400,000, and applicants are permitted to submit budgets below that ceiling as long as they are reasonable and within the organization’s capacity to manage. The period of performance is expected to last for 36 months, beginning October 1, 2025. Funding availability is contingent upon congressional appropriations and agency discretion, as outlined under the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025. The funding instrument for this program will be grants, and recipients will be required to submit quarterly financial reports, semiannual performance reports, and a final summary of accomplishments. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, other units of local government such as boroughs and parishes, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status. For purposes of this opportunity, states also include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. All applicants must directly provide public defense services to juveniles as defined within their jurisdictions. Partnerships are permissible, but only one entity can be the applicant, with others serving as subrecipients. There is no cost sharing or match requirement for this funding opportunity. The goals of the program include ensuring youth involved in the juvenile justice system have access to legal representation and that entities providing indigent defense have the necessary resources, tools, and training. Objectives also include implementing sustainable strategies to improve juvenile defense practices, thereby reducing recidivism, improving outcomes for youth, and strengthening public confidence in the justice system. OJJDP highlights alignment with the National Juvenile Defense Standards and requires applicants to develop projects that enhance defense services in line with these principles. Award recipients are expected to report regularly on performance measures, including progress toward goals and objectives. The application process requires two distinct steps. First, applicants must submit the SF-424 form through Grants.gov no later than October 23, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Second, the full application must be submitted in JustGrants no later than October 30, 2025, by 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. To prepare, entities must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier and ensure that their registration remains active throughout the performance period. Applications must include standard information, a proposal abstract and narrative, budget details, resumes of key personnel, letters of support, and a timeline of key activities. Applicants must also comply with all applicable assurances, certifications, and disclosure requirements. Applications will first be screened for basic minimum requirements, including submission by an eligible entity, compliance with award ceilings, and responsiveness to the program scope. Those meeting the threshold will undergo peer review, where they will be scored on their statement of need, goals and objectives, project design, capacity and competencies, and budget. Peer reviewers will allocate the highest weight to project design and implementation, followed by organizational capacity. Final award decisions will be made by the Assistant Attorney General, taking into account peer review results, strategic priorities, geographic distribution, available funding, and applicant risk assessments. For assistance, applicants can contact the OJP Response Center at 800-851-3420 or 202-353-5556 (TTY), or email 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 service desks, each with its own hours of operation. These resources can assist with registration, submission, or troubleshooting issues that arise during the application process. Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the registration and submission process early to avoid delays.