Federal Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

Through the new Civil Society Activity in the Kyrgyz Republic, USAID/Kyrgyz Republic will support Kyrgyz civil society to build stronger relationships with their constituencies, enhance their resilience in the face of democratic backsliding, strengthen trust-based relationships and networks among diverse civic actors, andgenerate support for promotion of democratic values through value-based messaging.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to specific community projects aimed at improving the criminal justice system, preventing juvenile delinquency, and assisting crime victims, as designated by Congress.

This funding opportunity is designed for the Research Triangle Institute to continue operating a center that rigorously tests and evaluates technologies used in criminal justice, helping to ensure they are safe and effective for law enforcement and public safety agencies.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that mentor at-risk youth, helping them reduce delinquency and improve their life outcomes through training, resources, and technical assistance.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a project to address the ethnic marginalization across Coastal West Africa. The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a project to address the ethnic marginalization across Coastal West Africa. The consolidation of power, poor governance, and rise of violent extremism in some Coastal West African countries have contributed to the exclusion and discrimination of certain ethnic groups in politics and everyday life. While certain ethnic groups are not legally excluded from civic and political participation, their full engagement in decision-making roles remains limited. Certain ethnic groups are particularly marginalized in the government, the civil service, and the armed forces. Some ethnic groups also experience discrimination in employment and access to credit, health care, and education. Hundreds of thousands of individuals, including migrants and rural-based members of society, lack documentation to obtain citizenship or access public resources despite protections under the law. In addition, certain ethnic groups face societal discrimination, including stigmatization, harassment, and attacks. Militant groups have exploited the marginalization of certain ethnic groups by playing on grievances and amplifying 2 feelings of distrust in government to recruit members. For example, the targeting of Fulbe communities—based on the belief that they all support jihadi insurgents—has perpetuated conflict, facilitated jihadi recruitment, and risks spreading the violence into new areas. The property and land rights systems across Coastal West Africa has disenfranchised certain ethnic groups historically, causing violence to erupt at times. For example, pastoralist communities who have lived in certain areas for decades have faced the encroachment of agriculturalists on land that they typically use for grazing. In addition, governments across the region have introduced new laws and policies that limit pastoralists’ way of life. Further problematic is that the agencies in charge of developing new land rights policies and programs do not include members of the ethnic groups that would be heavily impacted by the changes. To respond to these challenges, DRL is seeking proposals with the goal of supporting members of marginalized communities in Coastal West Africa—specifically Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, and /or Togo—to improve respect for their political rights and civil liberties. Proposals may focus on individual countries or multiple countries, but approaches must be led by, or have strong support from and participation by, groups and individuals representing marginalized ethnic groups. Proposals may include but do not need to support members of pastoralist communities. DRL recognizes that there are numerous other ethnic groups in the region that do not fully enjoy the rights enumerated by law. Applicants are encouraged to complement and deconflict with existing programs that address ethnic marginalization in the region. DRL seeks proposals for programming that are ambitious but also targeted and achievable. DRL will consider proposals that address the goal reflected above but include different, though similar and related, objectives. While proposals may include additional objectives, inclusion of additional objectives will not make a proposal more competitive.

The Electronic Service Protection Order Court Pilot (ESPOC) (CFDA 16.062) supports efforts to develop and implement programs for properly and legally serving protection orders through electronic communication methods. The program requires the Department of Justice to award grants to state or tribal courts that are a part of a multidisciplinary partnership that includes, to the extent practicable, a state, tribal, or local law enforcement agency; a state, tribal, or local prosecutors office; a victim service provider or state or tribal domestic violence coalition; a provider of culturally specific services; a nonprofit program or government agency with demonstrated experience in providing legal assistance or legal advice to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; the bar association of the state or tribe; the state or tribal association of court clerks; a state, tribal, or local association of criminal defense attorneys; at least two individuals with experience in design and management of court case management systems; at least two state or tribal court judges with expertise in domestic violence and issuing protective orders; and a judge assigned to the criminal docket of the state or tribal court.

The "OJJDP FY24 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces Invited to Apply" grant is a funding program designed to support state and local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to combat online child exploitation and pornography, with a total of 61 awards amounting to $31,865,824 and individual awards up to $1,128,650, due by October 3, 2024.

This funding opportunity is designed for the previous award recipient to develop and deliver updated training resources for parole board members across the United States, ensuring consistent and effective decision-making in parole determinations.

With this solicitation, OJJDP seeks to support projects designated for funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law No. 11842) to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, to prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and to assist victims of crime (other than compensation).

This grant provides funding to local communities, civil society organizations, and the government of Bangladesh to improve gender equality and reduce gender-based violence, particularly for at-risk populations such as women and girls.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to enhance training and technical assistance for drug court practitioners and treatment providers, focusing on evidence-based addiction treatment and reducing recidivism in the criminal justice system.

As the largest economy in Africa, the most populous country on the continent, and an influential political and diplomatic leader in the region, Nigeria is a strategic U.S. partner. The country faces numerous challenges related to terrorism (Boko Haram, Islamic State-West Africa), and transnational organized crime (TOC), including narcotics and human trafficking, corruption, and under-developed criminal justice institutions to meet the needs of a population of 250 million citizens. These conflicts include insurgencies by militant groups in the Niger Delta, the ISIS insurgency in the North-East and Middle Belt, and kidnapping and bandit gangs in the North West and Middle Belt. The Northeast region of Nigeria is currently grappling with significant security challenges, including due to terrorism by ISIS and other groups, and the remnants of unexploded ordnance from the long-standing conflicts. Since 2016, over 2,000 civilians have been affected by these explosive remnants, placing Nigeria among countries with the highest rates of improvised explosive device (IED) incidents globally. Moreover, the Southeast region of Nigeria, still bearing the scars of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), faces the risk of separatist groups potentially utilizing old explosives. Criminal groups also use incendiary devices and other explosives in violent attacks against civilians and government authorities. To combat these challenges, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), with its specialized 1,800-member Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (EOD-CBRN) command, along with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)'s 200-member EOD team, are among authorities responsible for ordnance clearance and responding to civilian reports of explosive threats. These units, however, are hindered by several factors, including insufficient ordnance storage infrastructure, standardized training to international standards, and equipment. Problems like improper storage of recovered IEDs and unexploded ordnances (UXOs), non-adherence to international standards, and a gap in expertise due to the retirement of seasoned personnel diminish their operational efficiency. These limitations affect not only the immediate response to explosive threats but also the broader recovery and stabilization efforts in Nigeria.

This grant provides funding to organizations that will establish a national support service for incarcerated individuals who have experienced sexual abuse, ensuring they have access to emotional support and advocacy.

With this solicitation, OJJDP seeks to fund four regional childrens advocacy centers that will deliver coordinated training and technical assistance within and across the regions to members of multidisciplinary teams, programs, and organizations to improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect and the provision of childrens advocacy center services to child victims and their families.

The "BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Continuation of the Justice for All: Statewide Strategic Planning Training and Technical Assistance Project" grant aims to provide training and technical assistance for the development of strategic statewide planning to guide resource allocation under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, in line with the goals of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Indian Tribal governments and their designees to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and related issues within Tribal communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations working to enhance a digital system that streamlines the placement of children across state lines for foster care and adoption, ensuring all U.S. jurisdictions are integrated by the 2027 deadline.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to enhance collaboration and capacity for financial investigations and asset recovery related to transnational crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations working to document and address human rights abuses by organized crime groups in Colombia, Ecuador, or Mexico, enhancing accountability and community protection efforts.

This funding opportunity is designed to support the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in developing a strategic plan to reduce in-custody deaths through expert collaboration and data-driven analysis.