Wrongful Conviction Review Program | BJA 2016 9076

Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2016 9076

The Wrongful Conviction Review Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), focused on strengthening fairness in the criminal justice system by improving how wrongful convictions are identified and addressed after conviction. BJA frames the program against the backdrop of a sustained rise in post-conviction exonerations over the past two decades, emphasizing that wrongful convictions are not isolated events but a persistent problem that deserves systematic attention. While BJA also signals a broader commitment to prevention through evidence-based investigative practices and the use of appropriate technologies to reduce the risk of wrongful arrests and prosecutions from the earliest stages of a case, this specific program is aimed primarily at the back-end response: finding, reviewing, and litigating claims of innocence once a person has already been convicted.

At its core, the program is designed to support high-quality, efficient legal representation for defendants pursuing post-conviction claims of innocence. In practical terms, this funding is meant to help organizations do the intensive work that innocence cases require, such as reviewing trial records, reinvestigating facts, locating and re-interviewing witnesses, developing new evidence, pursuing forensic or DNA testing where applicable, and preparing and litigating post-conviction motions and related proceedings. The intent is to ensure that credible innocence claims are evaluated thoroughly and moved forward effectively, so that wrongful convictions can be detected and remedied without unnecessary delay.

Eligibility is limited to entities that are positioned to do innocence and post-conviction defense work. The solicitation allows applications from public and nonprofit organizations, including tribal nonprofit organizations, that are dedicated to exonerating the innocent; institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education), which often includes innocence clinics and related legal programs; and state or local public defender offices. The listing also notes eligibility for certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), but only if they agree to forgo any profit or management fee, reinforcing that grant funds should be directed to casework and program costs rather than profit. The source data identifies eligible applicants more broadly as 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education in that specific category listing), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and "others," consistent with the narrative description that includes public defenders and higher education partners.

Administratively, this opportunity is cataloged under Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2016 9076 and CFDA 16.746, within the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category. The grant instrument is a standard award grant, and the original application closing date was March 28, 2016, with the opportunity created on February 11, 2016. BJA anticipated making about five awards, with an award ceiling of $250,000 per award, signaling a relatively targeted program intended to fund a small number of projects capable of delivering meaningful post-conviction innocence representation and review services.

Overall, the Wrongful Conviction Review Program reflects BJA's stated guiding principle of promoting a fair criminal justice system by investing in organizations that can rigorously examine potential miscarriages of justice and provide competent representation to people asserting innocence after conviction. The program is structured to support the specialized, resource-intensive work needed to uncover errors, validate innocence claims, and pursue appropriate legal remedies, while also aligning with BJA's broader interest in improving justice system practices to reduce wrongful outcomes in the first place.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wrongful Conviction Review Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.746.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-02-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-03-28. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Others.

Apply for BJA 2016 9076

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: