Federal Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for a Mental Health Awareness and Training Program for El Salvadors juvenile justice institutions. The purpose of this project is to provide training, education, and mentor programs for health, social care, and criminal justice practitioners to improve awareness, recognition, assessment, intervention, and management of mental health problems for employees across the juvenile justice system and the more than 500 staff and practitioners inside the four reinsertion centers (Centros de Integracin Social, CIS), four juvenile temporary detention centers (resguardos), and the three probation department offices, among others

The 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 carry out a project to strengthen the ability of the Salvadoran justice system to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and support survivors and victims. The purpose of this project is to equip justice institutions to recognize and investigate TIP without causing further harm or re-traumatizing victims.

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 continue work on a specific prior grant award. This correspondence would have been sent to you with instructions to apply to this solicitation. All programs will follow guidelines detailed in the original solicitation under which funding was provided. The scope, purpose, award amount, and performance period of the new project will be substantially the same as the previous one.

The purpose of this project is to support Hondurans National Police (HNP) in the implementation of the Police Athletic League (PAL) program in Honduras. The targeted population is at-risk youth in Honduras between the ages of seven (7) and eighteen (18) who live in communities at high risk of violence and gang activity. The Police Athletic League will be launched by HNP Officers in November 2024 as a pilot program with approximately 2,500 children enrolled in 6 principal cities in Honduras: Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Tela, La Paz and Roatan. Soccer will be one of the main target activities available nationwide, including leagues for both females and males for primary and middle school students. This initiative aims to promote inclusivity and equitable athletic development, with teams comprised of 18 participants each, including 6 female and 6 male players in primary and secondary schools.

To implement a project aimed at advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities by supporting initiatives that is 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 Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) of the U.S. Department of State announces a Request for Statements of Interest and Capacity (RSOIC) from organizations interested in implementing a project to facilitate a joint exercise with West African civilian security agencies to promote cross-border coordination, information sharing, and collaboration on counterterrorism threats.

Proposals should highlight engagement with local, state, and national governments to prevent, protect, and/or take actions against TFGBV. Proposals should include engaging with local and national level governments and civil society organizations (CSOs), and meaningfully include TFGBV survivors, to focus on preventive tools. Applicants should include proposed activities, including training, advocacy, outreach, and collaboration with local, state, and national governments and CSOs. Applicants must propose amplifying multi-sectoral engagement and collaborative approaches to address TFGBV. The project should incorporate solutions and methodologies aligned with local social and cultural norms. The project must be carried out in at least two of the following countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

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: Title I of Pub. L. No. 90-351 (generally codified at 34 U.S.C. 10151-10726), including subpart 1 of part E (codified at 34 U.S.C. 10151 -10158); see also 28 U.S.C. 530C(a).

Overview: The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to increase the effectiveness of investigation and prosecution of public corruption crimes. This project will increase accountability and improve the handling of public corruption cases by both investigators and prosecutors through concurrent training and cooperation. This project will have three key components:Objective 1: Training and capacity buildingTraining and building capacity of anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors. Objective 2: Institutional supportProviding institutional support including policy level changes and technological advancements to strengthen accountability and social inclusion mechanisms.Objective 3: Awareness RaisingRaising public awareness of project initiatives to improve citizens confidence in public service delivery so they are encouraged to report corruption cases.The project will build capacity of investigators and prosecutors to handle public corruption cases both by training and mentoring a cadre of master trainers and by directly training investigators and prosecutors. The specific objectives are to increase the number of appropriate public corruption charges by law enforcement, improve the effective prosecution of public corruption cases, develop policies to encourage citizens to file complaints, and raise citizens awareness and confidence in public service delivery mechanisms. This call for proposals is intended to scale up existing work in Balochistan and expand it to benefit anti-corruption establishments in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to:1. Train investigators and prosecutors to prosecute corruption cases. 2. Provide institutional support to design effective policies that encourage transparency, accountability, and the use of modern technological tools to invest

With this solicitation, OJJDP seeks to provide funding to the Office of Attorney General of the District of Columbia (OAGDC) to improve public safety through two evidence-based initiatives designed to reduce juvenile delinquency.

Overview: The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to increase the effectiveness of investigation and prosecution of public corruption crimes. This project will increase accountability and improve the handling of public corruption cases by both investigators and prosecutors through concurrent training and cooperation. This project will have three key components: Objective 1: Training and capacity building Training and building capacity of anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors. Objective 2: Institutional support Providing institutional support including policy level changes and technological advancements to strengthen accountability and social inclusion mechanisms. Objective 3: Awareness Raising Raising public awareness of project initiatives to improve citizens confidence in public service delivery so they are encouraged to report corruption cases. The project will build capacity of investigators and prosecutors to handle public corruption cases both by training and mentoring a cadre of master trainers and by directly training investigators and prosecutors. The specific objectives are to increase the number of appropriate public corruption charges by law enforcement, improve the effective prosecution of public corruption cases, develop policies to encourage citizens to file complaints, and raise citizens awareness and confidence in public service delivery mechanisms. This call for proposals is intended to scale up existing work in Balochistan and expand it to benefit anti-corruption establishments in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to: 1. Train investigators and prosecutors to prosecute corruption cases. 2. Provide institutional support to design effective policies that encourage transparency, accountability, and the use of modern technological tools to invest

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) offers this grant to fund a national membership and accreditation organization supporting Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs). These centers coordinate responses to child abuse victims by providing training, technical assistance, and promoting national standards. This initiative is in line with the Department of Justice’s efforts to enhance community safety and protect civil rights, focusing on building trust between law enforcement and communities. The program targets to uphold law, ensure national safety, and protect civil rights by fostering environments that support victims of child abuse through multidisciplinary collaborations.

As people harmed by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking seek expanded options to address the harm they have experienced, communities have continued to strengthen and improve their responses, approaches, and services. One such approach is restorative practices. Restorative practices incorporate an understanding of trauma and are intended to repair and address the harm experienced while providing meaningful accountability for the harm-doer. An effective restorative practices program is completely voluntary for the person harmed, promotes their autonomy, and prioritizes their safety, while promoting meaningful justice, accountability, and community safety. The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, 34 U.S.C. 12514, authorizes funding to eligible entities to develop and implement a program, or to assess best practices for: 1) restorative practices to prevent or address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; 2) training by eligible entities, or for eligible entities, courts or prosecutors, on restorative practices and program implementation; and 3) evaluations of a restorative practice, as defined within the statute. Accordingly, OVW is launching the Restorative Practices Pilot Program in three (3) phases: 1) Training and Technical Assistance; 2) Evaluation; and 3) Pilot Sites. Phase 1: Training and Technical Assistance OVW issued the FY 2023 Restorative Practices Technical Assistance Pilot Program Call for Concept Papers in March 2023 to identify organizations with the requisite experience and capacity to provide Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) to recipients, subrecipients, and potential recipients and subrecipients of this program. Following an intensive review of responses to the Call for Concept Papers, OVW invited five entities to submit full applications. OVW issued awards to three of those applicants in March 2024 for five-year TTA projects that will run from April 2024 through March 2029 and will involve a planning phase. In addition to providing TTA to the pilot sites, the TTA providers will participate in evaluation efforts funded through the FY 2024 Restorative Practices Pilot Program Evaluation Solicitation. The TTA providers are funded under a separate funding announcement. This solicitation is exclusively intended to fund pilot sites of the Restorative Practices Pilot Sites Program. Phase 2: Evaluation In March 2024, OVW released the Restorative Practices Pilot Program Evaluation Solicitation to invite applications to conduct research and evaluation on restorative practices in collaboration with TTA providers and pilot sites. While pilot sites funded through this Restorative Practices Pilot Sites Program Solicitation will be required to provide funding for and designate an on-site Evaluation Liaison to work with evaluator(s) and participate in the community-tailored evaluation, the comprehensive evaluation will be funded under that separate funding announcement. This solicitation is exclusively intended to fund pilot sites of the Restorative Practices Pilot Sites Program. Phase 3: Pilot Sites (this solicitation) This Restorative Practices Pilot Sites Program is a 60-month funding opportunity seeking to support, strengthen, enhance, and expand existing restorative practice programs that prevent or address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, in accordance with the restorative practices definition at 34 U.S.C. 12514(a)(3), and build evidence for victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive restorative practices addressing these harms. OVW will award cooperative agreements to eligible entities that form a partnership of two or more entities that have (1) a demonstrated history of comprehensive training and experience in working with victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and (2) demonstrated experience in implementing restorative practices. OVW is interested in supporting communities to enhance or expand current efforts, including an evaluation of the intersection of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and restorative practices. In addition, OVW seeks to fund a range of pilot sites, including sites in various geographic locations with different demographic characteristics; culturally specific, and/or underserved populations; and different VAWA subject areas to be addressed (i.e., domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking). OVW is interested in supporting projects that implement a diverse range of restorative practices, including projects that may have a connection to the criminal justice system, as long as the program is not housed within or administered by a court, prosecutors office, law enforcement agency, or any other component of the civil or criminal justice system. Recipients under this program will receive TTA for the duration of their awards that is tailored to the recipients distinct approach to restorative practices in domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases. Recipients will be required to collaborate with the evaluator(s) to help develop an understanding of establishing, implementing, and using restorative practices to redress the harm caused by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The terms used throughout this solicitation may vary from people harmed, people who caused harm, harm-doers, victim, survivor, and offender, which reflects terminology used by practitioners and the statutory language that authorizes this program, 34 U.S.C. 12514.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit proposals that implement elements from INL El Salvadors roadmap to strengthen restorative and rehabilitative justice in El Salvadors juvenile justice system, reduce juvenile recidivism rates, and restore community integrity. The purpose of this project is to strengthen the regulatory framework of the juvenile justice system in conjunction with key stakeholders (the First Ladys office, CONAPINA, the Supreme Court, the Attorneys General Office, the Public Defenders Office, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Governance). Proposals should include activities to assist stakeholders in drafting a National Juvenile Justice Policy, assist CONAPINA in creating regulations, policies, and SOPs to effectively manage youth in conflict with the law (YICL), and help CONAPINA and juvenile judges improve coordination and work together to propose legal reforms that support rehabilitative programs for adolescents. Activities should increase shared understanding among key stakeholders, institutionalize rehabilitation programs for adolescents, and promote juvenile court judges applying more alternative sentencing options.

With this solicitation, OJJDP seeks to fund a training and technical assistance (TTA) provider to build capability and capacity of diversion programs serving justice-involved youth populations with substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder needs. The successful applicant will lead a national TTA program and administer a subaward program providing subawards to local demonstration sites to improve responses and outcomes for youth with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who come into contact with the juvenile justice system, or who are at high risk of contact, by diverting these youth toward community-based treatment to address their unique mental and behavioral health needs to prevent them from entering the formal justice system.

With this solicitation, BJA seeks to support the development and testing of new or innovative approaches to improving community safety and trust that are alternatives to traditional enforcement mechanisms for neighborhoods experiencing high rates of less serious and low level criminal offenses. This model will involve coordination with law enforcement entities to improve public safety and community residents perceptions of law enforcement and procedural fairness and legitimacy. This solicitation also supports funding for national training and technical assistance (TTA) to support site-based grants and the field in building capacity and partnerships essential to this work.

This program is authorized by 34 U.S. C. 10441, 10446 10451, 10454. The Services* Training* Officers* Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (STOP Formula Grant Program) (Assistance Listing Number 16.588) supports communities, including American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages, in their efforts to develop and strengthen effective responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

With this solicitation, OJJDP seeks to fund mentoring organizations to enhance and expand mentoring services for children and youth who are at risk or high risk for delinquency, victimization, and juvenile justice system involvement.

The Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative (Assistance Listing # 16.029) was created in response to recommendations made by the Not Invisible Act Commission (NIAC). This special initiative will support the creation, training, and sustainability of Healing and Response Teams (HRT) using a Tribal-based model of care to respond to Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. Within the first nine (9) months of the project, in coordination with OVW, the recipient will identify, make subawards to, and collaborate with three subrecipients acting as pilot sites.

This project seeks to enhance detainees rights in Tunisia by expanding access to legal aid and improving enforcement of detainee rights in Tunisia. In 2016, Tunisia passed wide-ranging reforms of its Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). Act 2016-5 (Law 5) enacting article 13 of the CPC gave arrestees in police custody the right to legal counsel and significantly reduced the duration of legal pre-charge detention from 72 to 48 hours. By the order of public prosecutor and when justified, pre-charge detention could be extended with 48 hours for felonies and 24 hours for misdemeanors. In parallel, the anti-terrorism law of 2015 allows prosecutors and police to hold suspects for the first 48 hours without access to a lawyer and extends the duration of pre-charge custody to five days extendable two times for a total of 15 days. Since Law 5 came into force, its application has been uneven. This project seeks to ensure that the rights granted to civilians in Tunisia by Law 5 and criminal procedures proposing alternatives to detention, inter alia, bail provisions, are enforced consistently during the pre-trial phase.