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Grants / Justice and legal services

BJA FY 2026 Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Strengthening State and Local Operations to Reduce Crime and Recidivism

Bureau of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice

Deadline
November 20, 2026
Award size
Up to $4 million
Matching funds
Not required
Fit for small groups
Better for larger organizations

In plain language

This grant helps state, local, and tribal governments reduce crime and recidivism by using money more efficiently. It supports projects that focus on justice system challenges. The money can be used to improve public safety and justice services.

The money can pay for

  • Improve law enforcement
  • Support prosecution efforts
  • Reduce jail and prison costs
  • Help with probation and parole

Who can apply

State, local, and tribal governments can apply for this grant.

Is it a fit for a small group?

Better for larger organizations. This grant is for government agencies, not for small community nonprofits like food pantries or churches.

Before you apply

  • Application deadline: November 20, 2026
  • Eligible applicants are limited to governments
  • No matching funds required
  • Federal applicants need an active registration at SAM.gov and a Grants.gov account. Registration can take several weeks, so start early.

This summary was written by GrantGather with AI, based on the official listing. It can contain mistakes. Check the official listing on Grants.gov before you apply.

From the official listing

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Strengthening State and Local Operations to Reduce Crime and Recidivism. This opportunity will support state, local, and tribal government efforts to reduce wasteful spending and inefficient uses of funds across justice system operations and redirect that funding to target crime and other public safety and/or justice system challenges. Applicants should propose projects that address one or more urgent local justice system challenge. Applicants should use existing data and information to identify the specific challenges they will focus on and how they will refocus resources on the strategies and populations most likely to reduce crime. Jurisdictions may consider addressing challenges across the judicial system, including those related to law enforcement, prosecution, sentencing, jails and…

Read the full description

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Strengthening State and Local Operations to Reduce Crime and Recidivism. This opportunity will support state, local, and tribal government efforts to reduce wasteful spending and inefficient uses of funds across justice system operations and redirect that funding to target crime and other public safety and/or justice system challenges. Applicants should propose projects that address one or more urgent local justice system challenge. Applicants should use existing data and information to identify the specific challenges they will focus on and how they will refocus resources on the strategies and populations most likely to reduce crime. Jurisdictions may consider addressing challenges across the judicial system, including those related to law enforcement, prosecution, sentencing, jails and prisons, probation, and parole.

Opportunity number
O-BJA-2026-172770
Posted
October 7, 2026
Eligible applicants
Others (see eligibility details)
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
State governments
County governments
Special district governments
City or township governments
Eligibility details
Other units of local government: For the purposes of this notice of funding opportunity, other units of local government include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general purpose political subdivisions of a state.
Assistance listing
16.827 Justice Reinvestment Initiative
Agency contact
Bureau of Justice Assistance
OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
202-514-9354
Open the official listing on Grants.govAgency’s full announcement

Nonprofits are eligible here through the “Others” category. Read the eligibility details carefully.