The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has announced the Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Justice (DOJ) Jails and Justice Support Center (JJSC) funding opportunity. This initiative aims to support state and local jail leaders in addressing challenges related to safety, security, and effective operations. The JJSC will provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to enhance jail environments for individuals who live, work, and visit these facilities. The total funding available for this opportunity is $2,000,000, with a single award expected, and the project duration will be 36 months, starting October 1, 2025.

The program focuses on assisting jails with key challenges, including high inmate turnover, increasing numbers of pretrial detainees, mental health and substance abuse issues, and staff shortages. The JJSC will address these issues through a comprehensive TTA approach targeting areas such as screening, medical and behavioral health, use of force, leadership and culture, operations, and reentry services. Applicants are expected to deliver evidence-based, customizable, and measurable training while maintaining close collaboration with BJA.

Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status), for-profit entities, and small businesses. Partnerships are encouraged, but only one organization may act as the primary applicant, with others designated as subrecipients. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this funding opportunity, ensuring accessibility for a broad range of applicants.

Applications will follow a two-step submission process: an initial submission through Grants.gov by March 4, 2025, and a full application through JustGrants by March 11, 2025. Required components include a proposal narrative, budget detail form, and disclosures related to lobbying and subrecipients. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate their capacity to manage the program through detailed organizational and personnel capabilities.

Evaluation criteria will emphasize the statement of the problem, alignment of project goals and objectives with the program’s mission, detailed project design and implementation plans, organizational capacity, and cost-effectiveness. Peer review scores and other considerations such as geographic diversity and strategic priorities will influence award decisions. The BJA anticipates announcing the selected recipient by September 30, 2025.

Awardees must comply with reporting requirements, including financial and performance metrics submitted through designated platforms. Additional conditions such as civil rights compliance, financial integrity, and adherence to federal guidelines will apply. The program encourages innovative solutions and partnerships to tackle the evolving challenges within America’s jails while fostering safe and constitutional practices.

Applicants are urged to thoroughly review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and utilize available resources such as the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide and JustGrants training materials. For questions or technical assistance during the application process, applicants can reach out to the OJP Response Center or relevant support teams.