Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

he Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to provide programmatic, logistical, travel, and administrative support to the capacity-building programs for the Office of Knowledge Management (KM). Capacity-building programs provide training and other relevant activities to appropriate participants which furthers INL’s overall goals and objectives with host country partners, civil society, and professional associations. INL is especially interested in proposals that provide a plan for addressing the participation of persons with disabilities, including specific means, measures, and corresponding targets. INL is dedicated to strengthening the rule of law and supporting civil society in building strong and resilient communities. This project will involve significant interaction with U.S.-based and foreign criminal justice sector institutions and applicants are strongly encouraged to have robust expertise in this topic and experience working with and relationship networks with such institutions. Applicants who do not have this expertise and these relationships in house are strongly encouraged to partner with one or more entities that do. While this pertains to all activities described in the ‘Project activities and deliverables’ section below, this is especially important for effective implementation of Activity 10 and Activity 11.

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is making up to $2 million in State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) funding available under the Direct Entry Pre-Apprenticeship Programs (DEPA) Request for Applications (RFA). The purpose of the RFA is to: 1. Provide funding for DEPA programs to support approximately 300 participants; and2. Support entry into NYS Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs for underrepresented populations including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.NYSDOL is particularly interested in supporting DEPA programs that provide participants with training and exposure to various trades and offer opportunities for entry into RA training programs. Targeted industries include, but are not limited to, Building and Construction, Manufacturing, and Information Technology (IT).Although grantmaking activities will transition from the Grants Gateway to the Statewide Financial System (SFS) on January 16, 2024, applications for this funding opportunity will continue to be accepted through Grants Gateway until the submission deadline date of March 29, 2024.Note: With the transition of grantmaking activities from the Grants Gateway to SFS, prequalification will be unavailable from December 15, 2023 through January 16, 2024. After January 16, 2024, organizations will prequalify in SFS. If an organization is prequalified at the time of the cutover, their prequalification status will move over to SFS. Additional information regarding prequalification can be found at https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nations state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. The COPS Office is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding for the FY24 CPD Accreditation: Supporting Law Enforcement Agencies in Seeking Accreditation program. Community Policing Development (CPD) funds are used to develop the capacity of law enforcement to implement community policing strategies by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities. FY24 Supporting Law Enforcement Agencies in Seeking Accreditation program will grant CPD funding directly to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to support costs related to obtaining law enforcement accreditation from an existing accreditation entity.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nations state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. The COPS Office is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding for the FY24 CPD Accreditation: Enhancing Existing Law Enforcement Accreditation Entities program. Community Policing Development (CPD) funds are used to develop the capacity of law enforcement to implement community policing strategies by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities. FY24 Enhancing Existing Law Enforcement Accreditation Entities CPD program funds will support existing law enforcement accreditation bodies in their mission to engage law enforcement agencies in the accreditation process.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nations state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. The COPS Office is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding for the FY24 CPD Accreditation: Addressing Gaps in State and Regional Accreditation program. Community Policing Development (CPD) funds are used to develop the capacity of law enforcement to implement community policing strategies by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities. FY24 Addressing Gaps in State and Regional Accreditation CPD program funds will support the establishment of new accreditation entities in states and regions that currently do not have an accreditation program.

The Clean Water Grant Program (CWGP), offered by the County of Cumberland, Pennsylvania, provides financial support for "shovel-ready" initiatives aimed at enhancing local water quality within Cumberland County. While the description doesn't explicitly state a "foundation mission alignment" or "foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change," it can be inferred that the program aligns with broader environmental stewardship and public health goals, likely stemming from the county's responsibility to manage and improve local resources. The program's core objective is to maximize the impact of limited pollution reduction funding by investing in priority water quality projects. The target beneficiaries of the CWGP are diverse, including non-profit 501(c) organizations, municipal governments, educational institutions, and businesses with headquarters in Cumberland County. The impact goals are directly tied to improving local water quality. The program focuses on developing a water quality project backlog to leverage additional funding, pursuing multifaceted pollution reduction strategies with various stakeholders, accelerating progress toward county pollution reduction goals, and institutionalizing an annual project identification process integrated into county CAP development plans. The priorities and focuses of the CWGP revolve around "shovel-ready" projects that deliver tangible water quality improvements. While there is no minimum or maximum grant award, projects with a local match will receive higher priority, indicating a preference for initiatives that demonstrate community investment and shared responsibility. The program anticipates approximately $500,000 will be available for subawards in 2025, with funding decisions at the sole discretion of Cumberland County and contingent upon PADEP approval. Expected outcomes and measurable results include enhanced local water quality, increased leveraging of additional government and nonprofit funding for water quality projects, a more coordinated approach to pollution reduction among various stakeholders, accelerated progress towards county-wide pollution reduction targets, and a sustainable, integrated annual process for identifying and developing water quality initiatives. The grant period for performance is from March 2025 to December 2025, emphasizing a focus on projects that can demonstrate impact within a relatively short timeframe.

Improve foreign law enforcement ability to better prevent, mitigate, and respond to gender-based violence.

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is seeking applications for its Victim Witness Grant Program (VWGP). This program provides financial support to local victim witness and statewide victim assistance programs. Its core mission is to offer direct services, information, and assistance as mandated by the Virginia Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act. The primary purpose of this funding, derived from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Rule, is to support the delivery of essential services to crime victims. The program aims to address the emotional, psychological, or physical needs of crime victims, help them stabilize their lives after victimization, assist them in understanding and participating in the criminal justice system, and restore a measure of security and safety. The target beneficiaries of the VWGP are victims of crime across all counties in Virginia. The program's impact goals center on providing comprehensive direct services across various categories. These include information and referrals (e.g., about the criminal justice process, victims' rights, and other services), personal advocacy and accompaniment services (e.g., to medical care, forensic examinations, and criminal justice events), emotional support and safety services (e.g., crisis intervention, safety planning, counseling, and support groups), shelter and safe housing options (e.g., emergency shelter, transitional housing, and relocation assistance), and criminal and civil justice system assistance (e.g., notification of events and accompaniment to court hearings). The VWGP prioritizes projects that directly serve victims of crime and utilize the Victims Services Data Collection System (VSDCS) to document these services. Furthermore, eligible projects must promote community collaboration, assist victims in seeking crime victim compensation benefits through the Virginia Victims Fund (VVF), and actively involve volunteers in grant-funded activities. Recipients are also required to provide program information to other victim assistance agencies, maintain statutorily required civil rights statistics, offer services free of charge, maintain confidentiality, and serve victims of federal crimes on the same basis as state/local crimes. The expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around the effective delivery of the aforementioned direct services to victims. Through the VSDCS, the program will document the reach and types of services provided by grant-funded staff and volunteers. Success will be measured by the program's ability to respond to victims' needs, assist in their stabilization, facilitate their participation in the justice system, and enhance their safety and security. The grant period for these subawards is for state fiscal year 2025, from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with applicants submitting one budget for the 12-month period. This framework ensures a focused and accountable approach to supporting crime victims throughout Virginia.

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. 12514. This Fiscal Year 2024 Restorative Practices Pilot Program Evaluation Solicitation (RPPP Evaluation) invites applications to conduct research and evaluation on restorative practices in collaboration with pilot sites and training and technical assistance (TTA) providers. The pilot sites and TTA providers will be funded under separate funding announcements; this solicitation is exclusively to fund research and evaluation. OVW anticipates investing approximately $8 million in RPPP Evaluation efforts to answer some but not all of the research questions found on page 8 of this solicitation through approaches that align with OVWs methodological principles for research and evaluation, found on page 12. Applicants should also demonstrate the capacities and competencies described on page 12. OVW expects to issue one award under this solicitation to support various research projects under one award that will generate knowledge that practitioners, policymakers, and the public can use to make decisions about developing, implementing, and using restorative practices to redress the harm caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The recipient will work in close collaboration with OVW staff, TTA providers, evaluation liaisons, and pilot site practitioners to develop reasonable and useful evaluation measures across and within pilot sites. Additionally, the research that OVW will fund through this award will mirror the aims of restorative practices, use mixed methods approaches, and be adaptable and community-specific with strong researcher-practitioner-community partnerships. OVW anticipates issuing the RPPP Evaluation award as a cooperative agreement that will involve multiple junctures at which the recipient will be required to submit detailed plans for OVWs approval before those plans can proceed. The reason for this is that pilot sites have not been identified yet, and an evaluator cannot realistically determine a detailed and comprehensive evaluation approach without information about the pilot sites. Applicants proposals should include recommended check points at which the evaluator and OVW staff will confer before different phases of project activities proceed.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is seeking applications for funding. 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, OJJDP seeks to increase the technological investigative capacity and associated training of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force personnel nationwide through the development, refinement, and advancement of widely used investigative tools, methods, and technologies that address child pornography (herein referred to as child sexual abuse material - CSAM), exploitation, and sex trafficking.

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, OJJDP seeks to build the capacity of states, state and local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized Tribal governments to implement new and innovative approaches to enhance existing juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTC) and improve outcomes for youth with substance use disorder or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, including those with histories of trauma.

The mission of the State Departments Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is to keep Americans safe by countering crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is at the forefront of responding to these challenges, uniting these overarching themes through our foreign assistance programs, diplomatic engagement, and policy coordination. INLs foreign assistance programs are essential to advancing U.S. policy objectives. INL programs advance the following strategic goals: 1. Disrupt and reduce illicit drug markets and transnational crime to protect American lives and U.S. national security.2. Combat corruption and illicit financing to strengthen democratic institutions, advance rule of law, and reduce transnational crime and its enablers.3. Strengthen criminal justice systems to support stable, rights-respecting partners.

The OVW Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Grant Program (Tribal Jurisdiction Program) (Assistance Listing # 16.025) supports tribes in their efforts to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction (STCJ) over non-Indians who commit "covered crimes" within the Tribe's jurisdictional boundaries and provides technical assistance for planning and implementing changes in their criminal justice systems necessary to exercise the jurisdiction. "Covered crimes" are: assault of Tribal justice personnel; child violence; dating violence; domestic violence; obstruction of justice; sexual violence; sex trafficking; stalking; and violation of a protection order. The program supports tribes in preparing to exercise or exercising the jurisdiction to ensure that victims find safety and justice and that non-Indians who commit covered crimes within their communities are held accountable.

To implement a project aimed at advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities by supporting initiatives that make decision-making structures and processes in fragile, conflict, or crisis-affected contexts more reflective of and responsive to the needs and perspectives of partner states to ensure strategic trade control systems meet international standards and by engaging on bilateral, regional and multilateral levels with foreign governments to aid in the establishment of independent capabilities to regulate transfers of weapons of mass destruction, WMD-related items, conventional arms, and related dual-use items, and to detect, interdict, investigate, and prosecute illicit transfers of such items.

The General Appropriation Act of 2020 (1A of 2020) and the Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2020 (Act 17A of 2020) together appropriated a combined total of $5,000,000 to establish the State Facility Closure Transition Program (SFCTP). The SFCTP is intended to ensure adequate community support following the closure of commonwealth facilities in directly impacted and contiguous counties. Financial Info: The General Appropriation Act of 2020 (1A of 2020) and the Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2020 (Act 17A of 2020) together appropriated a combined total of $5,000,000 to establish the State Facility Closure Transition Program (SFCTP). The SFCTP is intended to ensure adequate community support following the closure of commonwealth facilities in directly impacted and contiguous counties.

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C 12513. The Demonstration Program on Trauma-Informed, Victim-Centered Training for Law Enforcement on Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (Abby Honold Program) (Assistance Listing Number #16.058) supports efforts to improve law enforcements response to allegations of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking from the time of a victims initial report throughout the entire investigation, and to promote the efforts of law enforcement in improving the response to these crimes. The Abby Honold Program awards grants to law enforcement agencies to train officers to conduct trauma-informed and victim-centered investigations, with the goal of incorporating trauma-informed techniques designed to prevent re-traumatization of the victim and to increase communication between victims and law enforcement as well as stakeholders in a coordinated community response. This programs purpose is also to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. The Abby Honold Program encourages law enforcement agencies to integrate into their policies, trainings, and practices the eight principles set forth in the Department of Justices 2022 updated guidance on Improving Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence by Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias. If implemented, these principles would enhance victim safety, increase offender accountability, and promote agency trust within the surrounding community. This program supports the training of law enforcement to conduct investigations more effectively. The training and technical assistance for this program is provided by OVW-funded national Training and Technical Assistance Providers.

The Lexington Fayette Urban County Government offers the Neighborhood Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program to assist property owners, businesses, and organizations in implementing projects that improve water quality through innovation and education in Fayette County, Kentucky. The program is funded by the Water Quality Management Fee and administered by the Division of Water Quality. Projects must address at least one objective, including improving water quality in impaired streams, addressing stormwater on existing or developing parcels, reducing stormwater runoff and flooding, or providing public or private education on water quality. Examples include storm drain marking, stream cleanups, riparian planting, agricultural fencing, tree canopy expansion, rain barrels or rain gardens, educational seminars, and retention pond enhancements. Projects may be funded up to 120,000 dollars with a required 20 percent cost share in cash or in kind; the maximum grant award is 45,000 dollars. Eligible expenses include materials and supplies, rental equipment, consulting fees, construction costs, teacher stipends, and permitting fees. The grant period runs from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Eligible applicants are incorporated neighborhood, community, and homeowner associations with a roster of elected officers. Applications are due May 3, 2024. Additional information is available from the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government.

The Ben and Jerry’s Foundation invites applications for its Equity and Justice Grant to support Vermont based, Vermont focused nonprofit organizations addressing racial, economic, social, and environmental disparities and injustice. The foundation seeks innovative programs that pursue fundamental change through a social justice and equity lens. Grants are up to 15,000 dollars, with an average award of about 10,000 dollars. Funding preference is given to efforts such as equity in education and early childcare, access to safe and affordable housing, criminal justice reform, workers’ rights, and equitable access to healthy and affordable food. Eligible applicants are Vermont based 501(c)(3) organizations or projects represented by a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent with total annual operating budgets under 350,000 dollars. The program does not fund requests that solely provide direct services, discretionary or emergency requests, schools, colleges or universities, individuals or scholarships, research or legal expenses, capital or endowment campaigns, government programs, businesses or associations, religious activities, one time events, other foundations or regranting organizations, or work outside Vermont. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the foundation’s process. Grant duration is not stated. Official information is available from the Ben and Jerry’s Foundation.

This funding opportunity provides up to $100,000 to law enforcement agencies for enhancing safety and compliance in off-highway vehicle recreation areas through the purchase of specialized equipment and tools.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nations state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding for the FY24 Promoting Access to Crisis Teams (PACT) Community Policing Development program. The PACT-CPD program funding is used to provide grants directly to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies for the creation or expansion of crisis intervention teams and to embed mental and behavioral health services with law enforcement agencies so they can better respond to individuals in crisis in the community.