Juvenile Justice Formula Delinquency Prevention Program

The Juvenile Justice Formula Delinquency Prevention Program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Justice through its Bureau of Justice Programs as part of its role as the state administering agency for juvenile justice funding. This program is funded through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention under the Title II Formula Grant Program, which requires states to comply with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is responsible for setting funding priorities, developing application criteria, distributing funds, and monitoring performance outcomes. The program is aligned with statewide juvenile justice strategies and informed by data analysis of youth behavior, system involvement, and service gaps across Wisconsin. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that prevent juvenile delinquency and reduce recidivism among youth. The program prioritizes initiatives that serve youth at risk of entering the justice system as well as those already involved. Funded projects must fall within at least one of three core program types: mental health services for at-risk or court-involved youth, prevention and early intervention activities such as mentoring and school engagement efforts, and wraparound services that support youth and their families. These program areas are intended to address systemic issues such as youth mental health challenges, family instability, school disengagement, and behavioral concerns that contribute to justice system involvement. Funding under this opportunity is limited and competitive, with a total of 200000 dollars available to support approximately three awards ranging between 66000 and 67000 dollars each. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for applicants. Funds may be used for personnel, employee benefits, travel and training, supplies and operating expenses, and contractual or consultant services. All expenses must be new and cannot replace existing funding sources, as supplanting is strictly prohibited. Applicants must also comply with federal requirements, including maintaining an active registration in the System for Award Management and obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier. Eligibility for this program includes federally recognized Wisconsin tribes, county and local government agencies, school districts, law enforcement agencies, and local nonprofit organizations that serve youth. Applicants must submit their applications through the Wisconsin DOJ Egrants system, which requires prior registration and approval for access. The application includes several required components such as a main summary, budget detail and narrative, goals and objectives, and a project narrative that outlines the problem being addressed, project design, stakeholder collaboration, and evidence-based practices. Additional optional components include a disproportionate minority contact reduction plan. Applications are evaluated on a 36 point scale across multiple criteria, including clarity of project design, alignment with program goals, budget justification, and measurable outcomes. Reviewers may also consider factors such as geographic distribution, underserved populations, and past performance. Final award decisions are made by the Attorney General after review and ranking of applications. Applicants may be contacted for clarification or revisions during the review process. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Egrants system. The anticipated project start date is July 1, 2026, with a project end date of June 30, 2027. Award notifications are expected approximately 30 days after approval. Funded projects are required to submit quarterly program and financial reports and comply with all monitoring and reporting requirements throughout the grant period. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate evidence-based and trauma-informed practices, address racial and ethnic disparities, and provide services in rural areas or for specific populations such as gender-specific groups. Strong proposals will demonstrate collaboration with community partners, integration of family engagement strategies, and alignment with state juvenile justice priorities. Program contacts are available for both programmatic and fiscal questions, as well as technical assistance with the application system.

Align project with one of the three priority program types; incorporate evidence based or trauma informed practices; clearly demonstrate measurable outcomes and strong stakeholder collaboration; address racial disparities or rural service gaps