BJA FY25 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

The BJA FY25 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) is an initiative from the Bureau of Justice Assistance aimed at fostering cross-system collaboration between the criminal justice system and mental health services. This program is designed to support individuals with behavioral health disorders, including mental health conditions, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries. Its primary objectives include reducing justice system involvement, supporting reentry efforts, and enhancing community safety and well-being. The program encourages the use of the Sequential Intercept Model to identify points of intervention across the justice system continuum, helping applicants address gaps in services and improve outcomes. Key activities include connecting individuals to behavioral health services, expanding mental health courts, improving crisis intervention strategies, and providing training for justice and mental health professionals. Special emphasis is placed on trauma-informed and culturally competent approaches to care, particularly for underserved populations. Applicants may include state, local, and tribal governments, as well as nonprofit or for-profit mental health agencies with state designation to provide governmental services. Partnerships are required between criminal justice and mental health agencies, formalized through a memorandum of understanding or letter of intent. The program categorizes applicants based on government level—local, tribal, or state—with separate objectives tailored to each group. A total of $15,950,000 is available under this program, with an award ceiling of $550,000 per project. Grants cover up to 36 months, including a mandatory planning phase of up to 12 months with a $100,000 cap. Matching funds are required, escalating from 20% of the total project cost for the first two years combined to 40% for the third year. Funds must be used for program development, implementation, or expansion of evidence-based practices, training, and performance measurement. The application process requires submission in two steps: the SF-424 form through Grants.gov by April 3, 2025, and a full application in JustGrants by April 10, 2025. Applicants must include a detailed proposal narrative, a budget detail form, and relevant attachments such as MOUs, letters of intent, and performance measure plans. A pre-application webinar is scheduled for February 20, 2025, to provide additional guidance. Applications are reviewed for technical merit, alignment with program goals, and geographic diversity, among other criteria. Award notifications are anticipated by September 30, 2025. Post-award requirements include financial and performance reporting, compliance with federal civil rights laws, and participation in evaluation efforts. Successful applicants will receive technical assistance and access to resources to support program implementation.