OVW Calendar Year 2025 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program

The Office on Violence Against Women within the U.S. Department of Justice administers programs authorized under the Violence Against Women Act to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This funding opportunity is a Notice of Opportunity to Apply for the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program, which is designed specifically to support Tribal governments that have exercised Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction over non Indian offenders committing covered crimes in Indian country. The program reflects federal recognition of Tribal authority to prosecute certain crimes and seeks to offset the financial burden associated with exercising that jurisdiction. The purpose of this reimbursement program is to compensate eligible Tribal governments for actual expenses incurred during calendar year 2025 while exercising Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction. Covered crimes include assault of Tribal justice personnel, child abuse, domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, stalking, sex trafficking, obstruction of justice, and violations of protection orders. The reimbursement is strictly based on documented, eligible expenditures tied directly to these activities, ensuring that Tribes are supported in carrying out justice functions without absorbing the full financial impact. Funding is provided as reimbursement rather than forward looking grant funding. The total anticipated funding for the program is approximately 4400000 dollars, with about 20 awards expected. Each Tribe’s award amount is determined based on its actual eligible expenses incurred between January 1 and December 31 2025. A portion of the funding is allocated evenly across eligible applicants as an annual maximum, while additional funds may be distributed through a waiver process to cover higher expenses if sufficient funds remain. Allowable costs include law enforcement activities, prosecution, indigent defense, court operations, incarceration, supervision, treatment, and related administrative or indirect costs. The program explicitly restricts reimbursement to expenses directly tied to exercising Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction. Costs associated with planning activities, training, construction, real property acquisition, lobbying, or any expenses outside the 2025 calendar year are not eligible. However, expenses incurred in responding to a reported crime are eligible even if the case does not result in arrest or prosecution. Tribes must retain documentation supporting all claimed expenses for audit purposes, though such documentation is not required at submission. Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Tribal governments that exercised Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction over at least one covered crime during calendar year 2025. Applicants must certify their eligibility and confirm that all submitted expenses are directly related to exercising jurisdiction rather than planning activities. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this program, reducing financial barriers to participation. Applications must be submitted in two steps. First, applicants must complete and submit the SF 424 form through Grants.gov. Second, they must submit the full application in JustGrants, including standard applicant information, a pre award risk assessment, a summary of expenses by category, and a summary data sheet. The summary of calendar year 2025 expenses is a critical component, as it forms the basis for calculating reimbursement amounts. Applicants must also include an indirect cost rate agreement if applicable. Key deadlines include submission of the SF 424 by July 14 2026 and submission of the full application in JustGrants by July 15 2026. The opportunity was released on June 3 2026, and award notifications are anticipated by September 30 2026. Applications undergo a programmatic review focused on eligibility, compliance with statutory requirements, and verification of allowable expenses. For questions, applicants may contact the Office on Violence Against Women via phone or email, and additional support is available through Grants.gov and JustGrants help desks.

Ensure expense summary is detailed and clearly tied to STCJ eligible activities