Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Grant Program, announced by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in partnership with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), aims to reduce violent crime and promote safe communities across the Eastern District of Virginia. The program's core mission aligns with the broader goal of enhancing public safety and improving the overall criminal justice system within the Commonwealth. DCJS, as the State Administrative Agency, is responsible for managing the coordination and distribution of these federal funds, ensuring that the grants support a comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based approach to violent crime reduction. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are the communities within the Eastern District of Virginia, particularly those with increased rates of violent crime and gang activity. The program specifically targets local and state law enforcement agencies, local and state governmental entities, educational institutions, and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations serving this district. The impact goals are centered on the reduction of gun violence and gang activity, leading to safer neighborhoods. Three regions—Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk—will receive funding preference due to being most impacted by violent crime, though other cities with high violent crime rates will also be considered. The program prioritizes projects that enhance progress toward specific funding areas. These include Group Violence Intervention (GVI), which focuses on prevention and intervention through partnerships between law enforcement, local government, and the community, delivering credible moral messages against violence, and offering support to individuals. Another key area is Gun and Gang Crime Investigation/Suppression, which supports programs or task forces targeting perpetrators of gun and gang-related crimes, emphasizing multiagency cooperation. Firearms Analysis programs are also prioritized to enhance and support state and local law enforcement agencies in analyzing firearms and ballistic evidence, including NIBIN analysis and tracing. Finally, Prevention and Reentry Programs are crucial, dedicated to violent crime prevention, identifying high-risk individuals, and facilitating successful reentry of offenders through housing, educational, and vocational partnerships. The expected outcomes of the PSN Grant Program are a measurable reduction in violent crime, particularly gun violence and gang activity, and the promotion of safer communities throughout the Eastern District of Virginia. The program seeks to achieve these outcomes through the implementation of evidence-based strategies and collaborative efforts. The funding information indicates approximately $295,000 available for this solicitation, with applicants able to apply for funds between $25,000 and $200,000. Grants will be awarded for a twelve-month period, with a possible extension to 24 months based on demonstrated need, allowing for sustained efforts and the achievement of long-term impact in addressing violent crime.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations, including cities, counties, and nonprofit shooting groups, for the acquisition, development, and renovation of firearm and archery training facilities to improve public access and safety.

With this solicitation, BJA is seeking applications to support DOJs Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) to engage the full range of criminal justice policymakers and practitioners in the development of innovative strategies to improve the justice information and criminal intelligence sharing and technology capabilities of state, local, Tribal, territorial agencies and associated disciplines.

The "Combating Sports Corruption" grant is aimed at funding projects that enhance the skills of prosecutors, financial intelligence units, and other stakeholders to fight corruption and financial crimes in sports, by improving investigative techniques, fostering collaboration among key entities, and regulating sports and sports betting.

The "Leadership Development for Mid-Level Managers" grant aims to update an existing virtual training program to enhance the skills of mid-level managers in correctional agencies, based on the Managerial Profile from NIC's Correctional Leadership Competencies for the 21st Century.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) invites applicants who received an official request from BJA to apply for funding to offset costs in response to the law enforcement emergency that occurred in Rochester Hills, Michigan on June 15, 2024. OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety, protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. With this solicitation, BJA seeks to provide funding for emergency situations in which state and local resources are inadequate to protect the lives and property of citizens and/or to enforce criminal law. BJA is authorized to distribute funds to help offset the costs of an adequate response to an uncommon situation that requires law enforcement, that is or threatens to become of serious or epidemic proportions, and with respect to which state and local resources are inadequate to protect the lives and property of citizens or to enforce the criminal law. This program furthers the DOJs mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. The purpose of this solicitation is to invite organizations and entities to apply for continuation funding in support of specific BJA initiatives. This solicitation is exclusively for those who received a letter from BJA to apply. All guidelines and funding rules are the same as the original funded project. Statutory Authority: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, Public Law No. 116-6, 133 Stat. 13, 112, and the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018, Public Law No. 115-185, 132 Stat. 1485.

The "Disciplinary Hearing Officer Training for Corrections" grant aims to develop a comprehensive training program to educate correctional staff on maintaining fairness and legal compliance during disciplinary proceedings, thereby enhancing public safety and promoting successful rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals.

This is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide notice of the continuation of funding for cooperative agreement award 23JD01GLO2.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations working to improve whistleblower protections and reporting mechanisms in North Macedonia to combat corruption and enhance the rule of law.

The Arts in Society Grant, funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), aims to leverage the arts to address civic and social challenges within Colorado communities. This program aligns with a broader mission of fostering community development and social justice through creative engagement, recognizing the arts as a powerful tool for societal change and problem-solving. The grant offers both financial and organizational support, indicating a commitment to not only fund projects but also to nurture the growth and impact of participating artists and organizations. The target beneficiaries for this grant are broad, encompassing Colorado artists, activists, nonprofit organizations, universities and schools, government agencies, human service groups, neighborhood organizations, and healthcare organizations. The program particularly encourages applications from individual artists and non-arts organizations, emphasizing inclusivity and a cross-sector approach. The impact goals are centered on empowering these diverse groups to collaborate on projects where artists, organizations, and a target community work together to address specific social issues, ultimately leading to positive community transformation. The program's priorities and focuses include fostering collaboration, building support networks, and illustrating the impact of arts in cross-sector projects. Grantees are expected to attend learning community meetings to build support and share resources, underscoring a strategic priority of community building and knowledge exchange among participants. Another key focus is the promotion of grantee work through various marketing channels, highlighting the program's commitment to showcasing successful initiatives and advocating for the value of arts in society. Expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful completion of projects within 24 months, with an emphasis on projects that demonstrably engage a social issue and involve collaborative efforts. The mini-documentary highlighting grantee work and participation in evaluation processes are crucial mechanisms for measuring and illustrating the impacts of the arts in these cross-sector endeavors. This suggests a strategic priority of OEDIT to document and disseminate the effectiveness of arts-based solutions to civic and social challenges, thereby validating and expanding the theory of change that art can be a catalyst for tangible societal improvement.

The New York Bar Foundation Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to organizations engaged in law-related projects throughout New York State. The foundation's core mission, as reflected in its grant-making, is to support initiatives that enhance the legal system and public understanding of the law. This includes a strong focus on facilitating the delivery of civil legal services to underserved populations, aligning with a commitment to equal access to justice. By funding projects that improve the justice system and the law, the Foundation strategically works towards a more equitable and efficient legal landscape for all New Yorkers. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are a diverse group of organizations, including legal services organizations, non-profits, and bar associations. The impact goals are centered around creating a stronger, more accessible, and ethical legal environment. This is achieved by supporting projects that specifically address the needs of individuals who require civil legal services, ultimately aiming to reduce barriers to legal representation and advocacy. The Foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in these key legal infrastructure and service providers, it can drive systemic improvements that benefit the entire state. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrably facilitate the delivery of civil legal services to those in need, improve the justice system and the law, enhance professional competence and ethics within the legal field, and increase public understanding of the law. These focus areas are meticulously chosen to ensure that grant funds are directed towards initiatives with the highest potential for positive and lasting change. The emphasis on professional competence and ethics, for instance, underscores a commitment not just to access, but also to the quality and integrity of legal practice. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the provision of civil legal services, leading to greater access to justice for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the Foundation anticipates improvements in the overall efficiency and fairness of the justice system, as well as a heightened level of ethical conduct among legal professionals. Ultimately, a key result will be an improved public understanding of legal rights and processes, fostering a more informed and engaged citizenry. While specific metrics are not detailed in the provided information, the focus on these clear objectives indicates an intention for demonstrable and trackable results, aligning with a strategic priority to achieve tangible societal benefits through its philanthropic endeavors.

The "Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Chair and Director Training Curriculum Development and Pilot" grant aims to create a comprehensive 30-hour training program for council chairs and executive directors, using a blend of virtual and in-person instruction, based on the ITIP model and ADDIE principles.

Howard County’s Youth Engagement Programming (YEP!) Grants aim to foster youth activities and engagement within Howard County by supporting free, accessible, and supportive programming developed by nonprofit and community organizations. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to empower community organizations with resources to create impactful programs for young people, particularly during non-school hours. The grant's strategic priority is to enhance youth well-being and development through structured engagement, reflecting a theory of change that posits increased access to supportive out-of-school programs leads to improved social-emotional learning, mental health, and overall youth development. The primary target beneficiaries of the YEP! Grants are young people in Howard County. The program's impact goals include providing community organizations with the means to develop and expand programs that focus on social-emotional learning, mental health and wellness, and general activities for youth. By offering these programs outside of traditional school hours, the grants seek to address critical periods when young people may most benefit from engagement and support, thereby contributing to their holistic development and reducing potential negative outcomes associated with unstructured free time. The grants prioritize programming that occurs at least monthly over a 12-month period, engaging youth during weekends, after-school hours, and the summer. A key focus is on ensuring programs are either free or low-cost, with proposals needing to demonstrate how cost barriers are minimized for participants. Additionally, proposals are encouraged to leverage partnerships with other community organizations in Howard County, fostering a collaborative approach to youth development and maximizing resource utilization across the community. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of young people served by engaging activities, a broader geographic impact of programs within Howard County, and successful engagement of youth across various age groups. Grant recipients are required to track performance data, including the number of young people served, geographic reach, and age of youth served, and submit quarterly reports to the Office of the County Executive. This rigorous reporting mechanism ensures accountability and provides measurable results, allowing the Howard County Government to assess the effectiveness of the YEP! grants in achieving their objectives and continually refine their strategic approach to youth engagement.

The Social Justice Fund NorthWest (SJF) is offering the 2024 Base Building Grant, aimed at strengthening grassroots organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. This grant directly aligns with SJF's mission to foster social justice by investing in community organizing as a primary strategy. The program focuses on "Base Building," defined as a tactic that expands the number and engagement of people who share a vision for social justice and actively work to achieve it through organized strategies. This approach underscores SJF's strategic priority of empowering communities to drive systemic change. The grant targets organizations committed to community organizing and led by those most directly affected by the issues they address. Specifically, SJF prioritizes organizations with at least 51% leadership from Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, or those working predominantly in reservation, rural, or small-town communities. The impact goals are to build collective power, widen the base of engaged individuals, develop strong leadership within communities, and implement effective long-term strategies. The expected outcomes include a critical mass of collective power capable of winning and defending policy, cultural, or institutional changes, as well as a diverse and actively engaged membership. SJF's community organizing framework emphasizes four key areas: Collective Power, Widening the Base, Leadership Development, and Strategy and Long-Term Planning. Under Collective Power, the focus is on building a diverse membership and achieving policy or cultural wins. Widening the Base involves fostering authentic relationships with those most affected, recruiting new people, and using varied, tailored communication methods, including face-to-face engagement. Leadership Development ensures clear entry points to leadership, accessible political education, and continuous engagement and agitation. Finally, Strategy and Long-Term Planning requires organizations to develop and adapt a comprehensive base-building plan with clear goals, timelines, infrastructure, and accountability structures. The grant, providing $100,000 over two years ($50,000 annually), is open to nonprofit organizations, tribal agencies, or fiscally sponsored groups with 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status, or federally recognized American Indian tribal governments. This funding mechanism directly supports SJF's theory of change, which posits that sustained investment in community-led organizing, focused on these core elements, will lead to meaningful and lasting social justice outcomes in the specified regions.

The "Facilitation Skills for Cognitive Behavioral Programs in Corrections" grant aims to fund training for facilitators in cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, with the goal of improving social skills, problem-solving, and self-control among justice-involved adults and at-risk youth, ultimately reducing recidivism and addressing problematic behaviors.

The "Enhancing Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils Through Specialized Technical Assistance and Coaching" grant aims to support local criminal justice councils in implementing best practices for managing jail populations and reentry programs, using data-driven insights to improve operational efficiency and outcomes in the justice system.

With this solicitation, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention seeks to assist jurisdictions in planning and assessing promising and evidence-based prevention and intervention services that will inform the development of a community-based continuum of care for youth at risk of becoming or already involved in the juvenile justice system. The long-term goal of this effort is to support sustainable, research-based, and data-informed recidivism-reduction policies, practices, and programming, and the strategic reinvestment of cost savings realized through accompanying reforms into effective prevention and intervention programs for our nations youth.

With this solicitation, OJJDP seeks to support the activities of the National Center for Missing Exploited Children (NCMEC) Program. Under Category 1, the purpose of the National Resource Center and Clearinghouse, operated by NCMEC, a nonprofit organization founded in 1984, is to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; find missing children; and provide technical assistance/training to victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them. Under Category 2, OJJDP seeks to provide operational support for the National AMBER Alert Program through its AMBER Alert Secondary Distribution (AASD) Program, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Team Adam Deployment. Under Category 3, OJJDP seeks to provide support for the Childrens Justice Project, by providing resources to address the Unidentified Human Remains of Children.

This grant provides funding for interdisciplinary research that explores the relationship between law, human behavior, and scientific applications, targeting researchers in social sciences, law, and technology.