BJA FY25 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program

The Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program is a federal initiative administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice. This grant opportunity is designed to reinforce the integrity of the criminal justice system by supporting two types of applicants: prosecutor-led Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs) and Wrongful Conviction Review (WCR) entities. These organizations work either individually or collaboratively to investigate post-conviction claims of innocence, identify and correct wrongful convictions, and prevent future errors that could compromise justice. This program aims to strengthen the capacity of CIUs and WCR entities by enabling them to more effectively and efficiently assess post-conviction claims. It also encourages partnerships with other justice and victim service entities to ensure systemic reforms. The ultimate goals include improving the accuracy of convictions, identifying the true perpetrators of crimes, and delivering justice to both the wrongfully convicted and crime victims. This effort supports broader public safety by fostering trust in the justice system and reducing the risk of future wrongful convictions. Applicants may choose between two categories. Category 1 supports CIU-led partnerships, particularly those initiated by local or state prosecutor offices. These projects focus on wrongful conviction prevention and case review, often involving collaborations with defense counsel. Category 2 supports WCR entity-led strategies, which center on post-conviction reviews while also addressing broader system integrity through partnerships with prosecutors or CIUs. Each category has an anticipated award ceiling of $600,000, with a total of $6 million allocated across both categories for the funding cycle. The performance period for awarded projects is anticipated to last 36 months. There is no cost share or match requirement for applicants. Eligible organizations include state and local governments, federally and non-federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and public or private institutions of higher education. “Other” eligible applicants include units of government with internal post-conviction representation capacity. Projects must demonstrate competence in litigating post-conviction claims and, where relevant, establish formal partnerships with WCR entities. Each applicant may only submit one proposal under a single category, though they may appear as a subrecipient on other proposals. The application process is structured in two parts. Step one requires submission of the SF-424 through Grants.gov by May 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Step two requires full application submission in JustGrants by May 11, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET. Application components include a project narrative (up to 15 pages), budget detail form, abstract, timeline, and any relevant memoranda of understanding or letters of intent from partner entities. Additional required disclosures include lobbying, executive compensation, and duplication of cost items. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of responsiveness, technical merit, and alignment with program goals. Key scoring criteria include problem statement, goals and objectives, project design, organizational capacity, sustainability, and budget. Preference will be given to proposals that directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect children and trafficking victims, or address other public safety priorities. Awards are expected to be announced after peer and programmatic review, with performance beginning as early as October 1, 2026. This program is recurring and is anticipated to be offered again in subsequent years.

Clearly connect goals and metrics to program objectives; ensure completeness of required forms and disclosures; highlight risk mitigation in post-conviction review processes