Funding opportunities for justice system partners

For more than 25 years, the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) has worked across the country with state, local, and Tribal partners at every stage of change — conducting nonpartisan data analysis, translating findings into policy, expanding the capacity of the people doing the work, and measuring outcomes.

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How CJI can be part of your application

We bring our expertise to grant opportunities by reviewing eligibility requirements, weighing which opportunities fit, and helping build applications that hold up under peer review, including progress measurement and sustainability planning.

What we can help with

Partners bring us in at whichever stage they’re in. Some come for analysis, some for implementation support, some to measure what an earlier change produced.

• Assess systems and services. Analyze how justice systems are being used and whether they match a jurisdiction’s needs.
• Apply evidence. Translate findings into practical strategies jurisdictions can carry out.
• Expand capacity. Work alongside the people doing the work through training, technical assistance, and implementation support.
• Measure results. Track whether the change held and what it produced.

Partners come to us working on diversion and behavioral health programs, recidivism reduction, system efficiency, and reentry and supervision practices.

What to expect

Federal grants often have fixed deadlines and multi-year project periods. Private and foundation grants more often have rolling deadlines and run 12 months or less. Because federal timelines are tight, we recommend reaching out as early as you can once you identify an opportunity.

 

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Upcoming Funding Deadlines

 

 

Through its work as one of BJA’s national Justice Reinvestment Initiative partners, CJI helped states and local jurisdictions use data-driven approaches to improve public safety outcomes, reduce recidivism, and make more effective use of justice system resources.

This grant supports state, local, and Tribal government efforts to identify inefficient or wasteful justice system spending and redirect resources toward strategies most likely to reduce crime and recidivism. Projects funded through this opportunity should use data to identify operational challenges and implement measurable solutions across law enforcement, courts, prosecution, corrections, community supervision, behavioral health, and other justice system functions.

• Deadline: November 20, 2026 (Grants.gov); December 1, 2026 (JustGrants)
• Funding: Up to $12.7M total; 3–6 awards; up to $4M per award
• Eligibility: State, county, city, township, special district, Tribal, and other local governments
• Note: No match required; applicants must demonstrate how data will be used to identify challenges, reallocate resources, implement solutions, and measure impacts on crime, recidivism, and system efficiency

CJI supported these justice reinvestment and system improvement efforts. How can CJI support you?

• North Dakota Justice Reinvestment Initiative Reentry Study Work Group — supported a statewide review of reentry outcomes, supervision practices, and correctional policies to identify strategies that improve public safety and reduce recidivism.
• Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Prioritizing Prison Resources Where They Matter Most — developed recommendations to focus prison resources on individuals who pose the greatest public safety risk while expanding more effective alternatives for lower-risk populations.
• New Mexico Justice Reinvestment Working Group — used cross-system data analysis to identify strategies that address behavioral health needs, improve public safety outcomes, and reduce justice system costs.

 

OJJDP FY 2026 Juvenile Justice System Enhancements

Supports state and county efforts to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of juvenile justice systems by identifying high-cost drivers of crime and system involvement and redirecting resources toward measurable, data-driven solutions. Projects should focus on improving outcomes for youth through system reforms, enhanced interagency coordination, better data collection and information sharing, behavioral health interventions, court process improvements, and expanded services that support successful transition to adulthood and community reintegration.

• Deadline: November 16, 2026 (Grants.gov); November 23, 2026 (JustGrants)
• Funding: $3.97M total; 3 awards; up to $1.325M each
• Eligibility: State and county governments
• Note: No match required; applicants must demonstrate how resources will be redirected toward targeted solutions that improve youth outcomes, reduce recidivism, and address system cost drivers through data-driven decision-making

CJI supported these youth justice system improvement initiatives. How can CJI support you?

• Improving Outcomes for Youth: A Look at Juvenile Justice Reform Implementation in Six States — the strongest direct match; highlights state-level juvenile justice reforms focused on reducing system involvement, improving outcomes, and using data to guide policy and practice changes
• Oakland County, Michigan Community Resources for Youth Gap Analysis – Crime and Justice Institute —  a comprehensive inventory of local programs and services for youth ages 10–18 and their families. This initiative aims to boost awareness, improve coordination, and identify gaps in support.

 

OJJDP FY 2026 Expanding Youth Access to Community-Based Treatment

Funds community-based programs that provide treatment and support services for youth with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who are at risk of entering, or are already involved in, the juvenile justice system. Projects must develop or expand cross-system partnerships and referral pathways that improve identification, diversion, treatment access, and service coordination to improve outcomes and reduce reoffending and recidivism.

• Deadline: November 16, 2026 (Grants.gov); November 23, 2026 (JustGrants)
• Funding: $4M total; 6 awards; up to $650,000 each
• Eligibility: State, county, city, and Tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status
• Note: No match required; projects should expand community-based treatment access, strengthen cross-system partnerships, improve referrals, and support diversion from juvenile justice involvement when appropriate

CJI supported similar youth behavioral health and community-based intervention efforts. How can CJI support you?

• Improving Outcomes for Youth: A Look at Juvenile Justice Reform Implementation in Six States — demonstrates strategies that improve outcomes for justice-involved youth through community-based services, system coordination, and diversion-focused reforms
• Oakland County, Michigan Community Resources for Youth Gap Analysis – Crime and Justice Institute —  a comprehensive inventory of local programs and services for youth ages 10–18 and their families. This initiative aims to boost awareness, improve coordination, and identify gaps in support.

 

OJJDP FY 2026 Family Treatment Court Program

Two categories support jurisdictions seeking to establish or strengthen family treatment courts that serve parents with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions who are involved with the child welfare system because of child abuse, neglect, or other parenting challenges. Family treatment courts combine treatment, recovery supports, intensive judicial supervision, and cross-system collaboration to improve child safety, strengthen families, and support family reunification when appropriate.

• Deadline: November 16, 2026 (Grants.gov); November 23, 2026 (JustGrants)
• Funding: $9.02M total; 11 awards anticipated
• Category 1: Establishing New Family Treatment Courts; up to $850,000; 5 awards
• Category 2: Enhancing Existing Family Treatment Courts; up to $750,000; 6 awards
• Eligibility: State, county, city, township, and Tribal governments
• Note: 25% match required; projects must include substance use treatment, recovery support services, judicial oversight, cross-system coordination, and mandatory periodic drug testing

CJI supported similar court-based behavioral health and family recovery initiatives. How can CJI support you?

• Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care: Needs and Opportunities for Kentucky’s Court System — closely aligned with the solicitation’s emphasis on connecting individuals
• Oakland County, Michigan Community Resources for Youth Gap Analysis – Crime and Justice Institute —  a comprehensive inventory of local programs and services for youth ages 10–18 and their families. This initiative aims to boost awareness, improve coordination, and identify gaps in support.