Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

Agency Name: Bureau of Counterterrorism Description: The Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for a design-build project for the building of several prefabricated facilities and renovations of others for counterterrorism police assistance in Somalia. Link to Additional Information: Link to Opportunity in MyGrants Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: [email protected]

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF), managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), seeks to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. This grant program, with approximately $12 million available in 2024, aligns with the foundation's mission by supporting efforts to test innovative conservation approaches, deliver transformative projects, and engage communities that value and protect the Sound. Major funding is provided by EPA through the LISS, with additional support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Zoetis Foundation, demonstrating a collaborative strategic approach to environmental conservation. The LISFF targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local and municipal governments, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions. The impact goals are centered on improving water quality, enhancing and restoring coastal habitats, and fostering sustainable and resilient communities around the Long Island Sound. The program’s strategic priorities are guided by the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan 2020-2024 Update (CCMP), which emphasizes three core themes: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds, Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife, and Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Cross-cutting principles of resiliency to climate change, long-term sustainability, and environmental justice are also integral to the program's theory of change. Under the "Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds" theme, the program prioritizes reducing nitrogen pollution, combined sewer overflows, impervious cover, stormwater runoff, and point and nonpoint source loading. This includes funding for "shovel-ready" projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention, particularly those addressing water quality at a larger scale. Planning activities, such as community engagement, feasibility studies, site assessments, conceptual design, and final design and permitting, are also supported. Projects in the Upper Basin states (MA, NH, VT) are specifically focused on quantifiable nitrogen/nutrient prevention with a documented benefit to Long Island Sound. The "Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife" theme focuses on enhancing or restoring coastal habitats to maintain resilience and function, supporting fish, bird, and wildlife populations, and sustaining the Sound's ecological balance. This involves implementing "shovel-ready" habitat restoration and nature-based or green-gray hybrid resilience projects, as well as planning activities for such projects. The program also aims to foster diverse, balanced, and abundant populations of fish, birds, and wildlife, encouraging proposals that consider the LISS Habitat Restoration Guidelines. The "Sustainable and Resilient Communities" theme supports vibrant, informed, and engaged communities through projects that offer hands-on conservation experiences. Expected outcomes include quantifiable pollutant reductions, enhanced and restored coastal habitats, increased resilience to climate change, and more engaged communities actively participating in the Sound's protection and sustainability. For water quality projects, measurable results will include quantifiable pollutant prevention, particularly nitrogen/nutrient reductions. For habitat projects, long-term maintenance plans and ecological improvements are expected. The LISFF's strategic framework, rooted in the CCMP, aims to accelerate local and regional water quality improvements, natural resource restoration, coastal resilience, environmental justice, and community outreach, ultimately leading to a healthier, more productive, and resilient Long Island Sound for both people and wildlife.

The Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to build the capacity of Somali Police Force (SPF) CT units, including the Joint Investigative Team (JIT) and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to more fully coordinate on counterterrorism-related police investigations with the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) for the purpose of increased information collection, analysis, and sharing between the units and international partners.

This funding opportunity supports initiatives that promote citizen engagement in government, enhance accountability, and protect individual rights, particularly focusing on empowering communities of color.

The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) 2025 Improvement Grant Request for Applications (RFA) aims to enhance indigent defense services across Texas. This initiative aligns with a foundational mission to ensure quality legal representation for indigent defendants, a critical component of a fair justice system. By offering competitive grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, TIDC seeks to foster the development of new programs and processes that address the specific needs and challenges within the state's indigent defense landscape. The grants typically require county matching funds, promoting local investment and commitment to these crucial services. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are Texas counties, law school legal clinics, regional public defenders, and nonprofit corporations that provide indigent defense services. The ultimate impact goal is to improve the quality of representation for indigent defendants and to implement cost-containment initiatives for counties. TIDC prioritizes programs that establish managed indigent defense systems, including public defender and managed assigned counsel programs, as well as specialized services for clients with mental health challenges, regional services, and programs serving rural areas. Additionally, programs that measure the quality of representation and implement process management software are given precedence. The grant program features several categories designed to address various needs. Multi-Year Improvement Grants support ongoing indigent defense representation programs, offering funding over four years with a declining reimbursement rate and requiring a cash match. Rural Regional Public Defender Sustainability Grants focus on regional programs in three or more counties with populations under 100,000, providing significant initial and ongoing sustainability funding. Single-Year Improvement Grants target process improvement and technology projects, while Technical Support Grants fund special projects like research, program assessments, and pilot initiatives to build knowledge and test new processes. Expected outcomes include the establishment of new public defender offices and managed assigned counsel systems, the development of specialized defender offices for mental health or juvenile cases, and the deployment of indigent defense coordinators. These outcomes are designed to create more robust, equitable, and efficient indigent defense systems across Texas. The TIDC's strategic priorities and theory of change center on the belief that by investing in diverse, targeted programs, counties can develop sustainable, high-quality indigent defense services that not only meet legal requirements but also significantly improve the lives of indigent defendants and reduce long-term county operating costs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the Greater Grand Island area to develop programs that prevent trafficking, enhance justice measures, and offer support for victims.

This program provides financial assistance to Texas counties for essential public services, including law enforcement and court operations, to support the prosecution of serious crimes.

This grant provides financial assistance to Texas law enforcement agencies for covering travel expenses related to training peace officers in advanced rapid response techniques.

This program provides funding to Alaska Native Tribes and organizations to develop or improve victim support services that address the needs of crime victims in culturally relevant ways.

This program provides financial assistance to law enforcement agencies for training scholarships and salaries for new recruits attending basic law enforcement academies.

This program provides $3,000,000 to support joint narcotics teams and task forces in Michigan by funding essential training and equipment to improve their effectiveness in combating drug-related activities.

This grant program is designed to respond to incidents of family violence, intimate partner stalking, domestic violence, and dating violence, and to develop and strengthen victim services in Maryland. With a total funding of $3,000,000, it aims to support state and local government agencies, non-profit non-governmental victim services programs, faith-based and community organizations, and the state domestic violence coalition.

This grant is designed to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services within the State of Maryland. It aims to support state and local law enforcement agencies and medical examiner's offices by providing funds to alleviate bottlenecks and improve the overall efficiency of forensic science services, including laboratory analysis and crime scene examination. The grant supports Maryland's law enforcement goals of disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations involved in guns, gangs, drugs, and human trafficking.

This grant aims to supplement police protection resources in local communities through a formula-driven funding program. It supports operational costs of local police agencies, sharing costs between the State and its municipalities based on population factors and previous year's operational costs​​.

Police Accountability, Community, and Transparency Grant support law enforcement agencies across the State of Maryland with the development of effective accountability procedures to achieve their goals of lawfulness and legitimacy while enhancing community relations and transparency. Funds are intended to increase safety and training for law enforcement, and promote safe communities and encourage community engagement between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The Sexual Assault Services Program provides intervention, advocacy, accompaniment (i.e., accompanying victims to court, medical facilities, police departments, etc.), support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and those collaterally affected by the sexual assault. SASP, created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. §14043g, is the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. SASP provides intervention, advocacy, accompaniment (i.e., accompanying victims to court, medical facilities, police departments, etc.), support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and those collaterally affected by the sexual assault. Rape crisis centers play a vital role in assisting sexual assault victims through the healing process, as well as assisting victims through the medical, criminal justice, and other social support systems. In order to provide comprehensive services to victims of sexual assault, SASP assists states in supporting rape crisis centers in the provision of direct intervention and related assistance.

The BJAG Program aims to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on the state's specific needs. Grant funds are used to improve the criminal justice system, enhance law enforcement initiatives, crime prevention, and education, as well as to support corrections, drug treatment, planning, evaluation, technology improvements, and crime victim and witness initiatives. The program is focused on reducing gaps in services, decreasing violent crime, assisting crime victims, and improving enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation efforts across Maryland.

This grant aims to improve outcomes for children and youth within the juvenile justice system by enhancing community-based programs and services, expanding community-based alternatives to confinement, increasing diversion opportunities, and supporting positive youth development. It focuses on addressing juvenile delinquency and improving the juvenile justice system through technical assistance, training, and effective programs.

This grant is aimed at improving the handling of child abuse and neglect cases, including child sexual abuse and exploitation. It focuses on the development of innovative programming to enhance the front-end intake and investigative stages of child welfare, aligning with the Maryland Governor’s Office's objective to reduce victimization among children. All funding is contingent upon the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services receiving the specified grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

The program supports full service sexual assault crisis programs across Maryland, providing services to victims of rape and sexual offenses. It aims to improve victim services, ensuring safety, and making the community aware of rights and resources​​. The Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Grant Program is funded through state general funds to support local rape crisis centers. Services are provided through a network of community-based rape crisis programs and are available in every jurisdiction in Maryland. These funds are used to provide services to adult and child victims of rape and other sexual offenses. Services to victims include a 24-hour hotline, counseling, medical accompaniment, and assistance in accessing and using other support services such as legal assistance.