Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2023 171688
The BJA FY 23 Community Courts Initiative is a discretionary federal grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The overall purpose is to help jurisdictions create new community courts or strengthen existing ones as a practical way to improve public safety while also increasing fairness and access to justice. The solicitation is framed around DOJ and OJP priorities that emphasize civil rights and racial equity, better outcomes for people affected by the justice system, stronger support for crime victims, and efforts that build legitimacy and trust between communities and justice system partners, including law enforcement.
At its core, the opportunity is focused on the community court model, which generally brings court processes closer to the neighborhood level and ties case handling to problem-solving approaches rather than relying only on traditional case processing and sanctions. While specific program designs vary by jurisdiction, the intent is to support local approaches that can respond more directly to community-defined concerns, reduce repeated low-level offending, connect individuals to services, and increase accountability in ways that are visible and meaningful to residents. The grant is meant to provide resources that help communities set up the partnerships, operations, and practices that allow a community court to function effectively and in alignment with equity and access-to-justice goals.
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The solicitation also indicates that a state, city, township, county, or tribal government may apply either directly or through agreements with other public or private entities, as long as the application is on behalf of a single community court. In practice, that means the lead applicant must be a government entity, but the work can be carried out in collaboration with courts, prosecutors, public defenders, community-based service providers, behavioral health partners, housing or workforce agencies, victim service organizations, and other stakeholders who contribute to the community court’s day-to-day operations and service connections.
Administratively, this is a grant funding instrument under the public safety and justice assistance category (Law, Justice and Legal Services) and is associated with CFDA number 16.585. The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2023-171688. The solicitation was created on March 27, 2023, and the original closing date was May 24, 2023. The award ceiling listed is $900,000, indicating the maximum amount an individual award could reach under this competition. The listing notes “ExpectedAwards:” but does not provide a number in the source data provided, so the total number of awards cannot be determined from the excerpt alone.
The public policy rationale running through the solicitation is that community courts can be a concrete way to deliver justice that is more responsive, more coordinated, and more trusted, especially in communities that have historically experienced disparities in enforcement and access to resources. By investing in the establishment or enhancement of a community court, BJA is aiming to help local jurisdictions strengthen community safety while also improving how the justice system engages with people who come into contact with it, including individuals who need services and supports and victims who need meaningful attention and protection. The program is positioned as one tool among broader DOJ efforts to address evolving public safety challenges while reinforcing civil rights, procedural fairness, and community confidence.Apply for O BJA 2023 171688
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 23 Community Courts Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.585.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-03-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): BJA FY 23 Community Courts Initiative
1) What is the BJA FY 23 Community Courts Initiative?
The BJA FY 23 Community Courts Initiative is a discretionary federal grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help jurisdictions create new community courts or strengthen existing community courts.
2) What is the overall purpose of this grant opportunity?
The overall purpose is to support jurisdictions in using the community court model as a practical approach to improve public safety while also increasing fairness and access to justice. The solicitation emphasizes approaches aligned with civil rights and racial equity, better outcomes for people impacted by the justice system, stronger support for crime victims, and efforts that build legitimacy and trust between communities and justice system partners (including law enforcement).
3) What is a community court in the context of this solicitation?
In this solicitation, a community court generally refers to a court approach that brings court processes closer to the neighborhood level and ties case handling to problem-solving strategies rather than relying only on traditional case processing and sanctions. Specific designs can vary by jurisdiction, but the intent is to support local approaches that are more responsive to community-defined concerns and that connect individuals to services while increasing accountability in ways that are visible and meaningful to residents.
4) What kinds of outcomes is the initiative trying to support?
Based on the information provided, the initiative is intended to help jurisdictions:
- Improve public safety
- Increase fairness and access to justice
- Reduce repeated low-level offending
- Connect individuals to services and supports
- Increase accountability in ways that communities can see and value
- Strengthen support for crime victims
- Build legitimacy and trust between the community and justice system partners
5) Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
6) Can a non-government organization apply as the lead applicant?
No. The lead applicant must be a government entity (state, county, city/township, or federally recognized tribal government). However, the solicitation indicates that the government applicant may apply directly or through agreements with other public or private entities, as long as the application is on behalf of a single community court.
7) Can the applicant partner with other organizations or agencies to carry out the work?
Yes. The opportunity anticipates collaboration. While the application must be submitted by an eligible government entity, the work can be carried out with courts, prosecutors, public defenders, community-based service providers, behavioral health partners, housing or workforce agencies, victim service organizations, and other stakeholders who support day-to-day operations and service connections for the community court.
8) Does the grant support creating a new community court, improving an existing one, or both?
Both. The stated purpose includes helping jurisdictions create new community courts or strengthen existing ones.
9) Is the funding intended to support more traditional court processing, or problem-solving approaches?
The solicitation is centered on the community court model, which emphasizes problem-solving approaches tied to community-level concerns and coordinated service connections, rather than relying only on traditional case processing and sanctions.
10) How many community courts can be included in a single application?
The solicitation language provided indicates the application must be on behalf of a single community court. This suggests each application should focus on one community court rather than bundling multiple community courts into one proposal.
11) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $900,000, meaning that is the maximum amount an individual award could reach under this competition.
12) How many awards are expected to be made?
The excerpt provided shows the listing includes an "ExpectedAwards:" field, but it does not include a number. Based on the information provided only, the total number of expected awards cannot be determined.
13) What federal agency and office are sponsoring the opportunity?
The program is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
14) What is the funding instrument type?
This opportunity is a grant funding instrument.
15) What category does this opportunity fall under?
It is listed under the public safety and justice assistance category, specifically within "Law, Justice and Legal Services."
16) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 16.585.
17) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2023-171688.
18) When was the solicitation created and when was it originally due?
The solicitation was created on March 27, 2023, and the original closing date was May 24, 2023.
19) What policy priorities does the solicitation emphasize?
The solicitation is framed around DOJ and OJP priorities emphasizing:
- Civil rights and racial equity
- Better outcomes for people affected by the justice system
- Stronger support for crime victims
- Building legitimacy and trust between communities and justice system partners, including law enforcement
20) Why is DOJ/BJA investing in community courts, according to the solicitation description?
The solicitation describes community courts as a concrete way to deliver justice that is more responsive, coordinated, and trusted, particularly in communities that have historically experienced disparities in enforcement and access to resources. By investing in community courts, BJA aims to strengthen community safety while improving how the justice system engages with people who come into contact with it, including individuals who may need services and supports and victims who need meaningful attention and protection.
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| BJA FY 23 The National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative: Training and Technical Assistance Program Apply for O BJA 2023 171749 Funding Number: O BJA 2023 171749 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| BJA FY 23 The Price of Justice: Rethinking the Consequences of Fines and Fees Apply for O BJA 2023 171758 Funding Number: O BJA 2023 171758 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| BJA FY 23 Virtual Reality De-escalation Site-Based Initiative Apply for O BJA 2023 171767 Funding Number: O BJA 2023 171767 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| BJA FY 23 John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program Apply for O BJA 2023 171770 Funding Number: O BJA 2023 171770 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| BJA FY 23 Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) Apply for O BJA 2023 171768 Funding Number: O BJA 2023 171768 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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| OJJDP FY 2023 Juvenile Justice Emergency Planning Demonstration Program for Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities Apply for O OJJDP 2023 171783 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2023 171783 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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