National Initiatives: Reaching Criminal Justice Policymakers | BJA 2016 9098

Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2016 9098

National Initiatives: Reaching Criminal Justice Policymakers is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to help criminal justice decision-makers access objective, fact-based information and practical support on current, high-priority issues. The core goal is to improve how evidence-based practices and proven strategies reach the people who set policy, allocate resources, and guide system-wide criminal justice priorities. Rather than funding direct services, the emphasis is on delivering high-quality training and technical assistance (TTA), along with resources and guidance that policymakers can use to make informed choices.

The solicitation is structured around two distinct service categories. Category 1 focuses on state-level policymakers and leadership, specifically including criminal justice advisors to governors and State Administering Agencies. Under this category, funded providers are expected to deliver TTA and strategic planning support that helps state leaders interpret research, understand policy options, and plan reforms or initiatives grounded in evidence. Category 2 targets local-level policymaker groups, such as mayors, county executives, their senior advisors, and criminal justice coordinating councils. Work in this category centers on helping local leadership groups coordinate across agencies, understand effective practices, and apply timely guidance to issues that are directly affecting local jurisdictions.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public and private organizations at the national, regional, state, or local level. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; units of local government; federally recognized tribal governments and tribal jurisdictions; public and private institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions); nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and other relevant entities, including faith-based and community organizations. A key condition for for-profit applicants is that they must agree to waive any profit or management fee, meaning the work must be performed on a cost-only basis. Another central requirement is demonstrated experience delivering TTA nationwide, since the program is aimed at reaching policymakers across the country and supporting consistent, scalable access to expertise and resources.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 16.751 and uses a grant instrument. The award ceiling is $375,000, and BJA anticipated making two awards under this solicitation. The opportunity number is BJA 2016 9098, with an original closing date of May 3, 2016, and a creation date of March 3, 2016. In practice, this means the program was intended to fund a small number of capable organizations with strong national reach and a track record in TTA delivery, positioning them to support policymakers quickly and credibly on pressing criminal justice topics.

Overall, this grant opportunity is about strengthening the bridge between research-backed criminal justice approaches and the officials who shape policy at the state and local levels. Successful projects under this solicitation would be expected to translate evidence into actionable guidance, provide targeted and timely training and technical support, and help leadership groups plan and coordinate strategies that reflect best practices rather than assumptions or anecdotes.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Initiatives: Reaching Criminal Justice Policymakers" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.751.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-03-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-05-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $375,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Others.

Apply for BJA 2016 9098

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