BJS FY25 Survey of Public Defenders (SPD)

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), operating under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, has released the FY25 Survey of Public Defenders (SPD) funding opportunity. This initiative aims to collect and disseminate comprehensive national statistics on public defenders in the United States, building on decades of prior research in the public defense space. BJS has conducted foundational studies since the 1980s and continues its commitment to evidence-based justice system reforms by launching the FY25 SPD based on the 2021 pilot study and 2024 Census of Public Defender Offices (CPDO). With a total funding pool of $1,000,000 and an anticipated period of performance of 36 months starting April 1, 2026, this grant represents a cooperative agreement, signaling a collaborative and involved relationship between BJS and the selected award recipient. The overarching goal of the SPD program is to obtain statistically reliable and nationally representative data on the demographics, workloads, and resource access of the estimated 15,000 public defenders across the United States. Unlike previous BJS efforts that focused on public defense offices, this study is centered on the individual attorneys who provide these services. Data collected will inform policy, funding decisions, and programmatic improvements for indigent defense services. Tasks under this funding opportunity include developing a two-stage national sampling plan, implementing a survey both online and via paper, managing incentives, performing data imputation and bias analyses, and producing public-use and internal-use datasets, along with documentation and dissemination materials. Applications are open to a broad range of entities including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), and both small and large for-profit organizations. There are no matching fund requirements, and only one application per project is permitted per organization. Joint applications are allowed if one lead entity is clearly identified with the others listed as subrecipients. The application process is split into two phases: the SF-424 form must be submitted via Grants.gov by March 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET, followed by the full application submission through JustGrants by March 9, 2026 at 8:59 PM ET. Applicants are required to design and implement a nationally representative two-stage sampling strategy using data from the 2024 CPDO, construct a web survey portal and maintain a paper version of the instrument, manage data securely per BJS guidelines, and prepare both interim and final datasets. Deliverables also include a data management plan, IRB approval documents, a methodology report, and presentations to disseminate results. The successful applicant must demonstrate capacity for data management, sample design, survey administration, and statistical analysis. They must also support BJS in communication efforts, including creating materials for recruitment and result dissemination. Submissions will be reviewed for eligibility, completeness, and merit. Criteria include the clarity of the project’s goals and objectives, feasibility of implementation, and organizational capacity. Performance will be tracked through periodic reporting, including financials and data extracts. All data collected must comply with stringent federal privacy, confidentiality, and information security requirements, with compliance enforced through detailed deliverables and performance measures. Contact for the program is Rachel Seo-Park at [email protected]. The official solicitation and full NOFO document can be found at the provided PDF link.

Address DOJ priority goals for higher consideration; ensure strong project management and IRB readiness; develop robust sampling and bias mitigation plans