Reducing Recidivism for Female Juvenile Delinquents

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has released the fiscal year 2025 funding opportunity titled OJJDP FY25 Reducing Recidivism for Female Juvenile Delinquents. This program is designed to support the development, enhancement, or expansion of direct intervention services targeting female juvenile delinquents. The total funding allocated for this initiative is $3,760,000, with individual awards anticipated up to $525,000 and a performance period lasting 36 months. Approximately seven awards are expected to be made, contingent on the availability of funds. The statutory authority for this program derives from 34 U.S.C. 11171–72 and related appropriations acts. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to provide intervention programming that reduces recidivism among female juvenile delinquents by addressing their specific needs. Applicants may propose the creation of new direct service programs, or the enhancement and expansion of existing programs, such as in-home services, educational initiatives, assessment and screening services, or counseling. In addition to supporting direct services, the program also encourages the development of curricula and training to strengthen the capacity of staff working with this population, including probation officers, detention staff, law enforcement, and judges. Certain restrictions apply to the use of awarded funds. The program explicitly prohibits activities that violate federal immigration law, any civil rights or nondiscrimination law, or that provide legal services to undocumented individuals outside of narrowly defined exceptions. This ensures compliance with federal funding rules and alignment with the Department of Justice’s broader mission to uphold the rule of law and protect civil rights.The anticipated outcomes of funded projects include reduced reoffending, lower risk factors, increased protective factors, and greater stability for female juveniles, with the long-term aim of supporting their successful reintegration into society. Eligibility for this grant is broad but comes with specific conditions. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status. However, nonprofit and educational applicants must demonstrate formal partnerships with state or local juvenile justice agencies through a memorandum of understanding or analogous document. This ensures referrals and collaboration in serving the target population. Applications may be submitted by a single organization or in partnership with subrecipients, but only one entity may serve as the lead applicant. The application process follows a two-step system. First, the SF-424 form must be submitted through Grants.gov by October 27, 2025, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Following that, the full application must be submitted in JustGrants by November 3, 2025, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the registration or renewal process in SAM.gov well before the deadlines, preferably by September 26, 2025, and no later than October 10, 2025, to avoid processing delays. The application must include a proposal narrative, budget detail form, and attachments such as resumes of key staff, MOUs, timelines, and disclosures. Noncompliant or incomplete applications may be rejected. Applications are reviewed in multiple stages. First, they are screened for basic minimum requirements, including eligibility, adherence to the award ceiling, and inclusion of required documents. Eligible applications undergo a peer review based on five weighted criteria: statement of the problem (10 percent), goals and objectives (10 percent), project design and implementation (45 percent), capabilities and competencies (25 percent), and budget (10 percent). Additional considerations such as geographic distribution, alignment with DOJ priorities, and risk assessments are also taken into account before final award decisions are made by the Assistant Attorney General. Applicants seeking assistance can contact the OJP Response Center by phone at 800-851-3420 or 202-353-5556 (TTY available), or by email at OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov. Additional help is available through SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants service desks, which operate with extended hours. Award notifications will be distributed through the JustGrants system, and successful applicants must comply with all post-award reporting and administrative requirements, including quarterly financial reports and semi-annual performance reports.