Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2014 3802
Apply for BJA 2014 3802
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 14 John R. Justice Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.816 John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 18, 2014 and posted on Feb 18, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 14, 2014. (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 $60,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are agencies, as designated by the Governor of the state, territory, or the Mayor of Washington, D.C., to serve as the JRJ specific administering agency and to which BJA will award funds to serve eligible recipients working within the respective state s, territory s, or District s jurisdiction.
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Opportunity Summary:
The BJA FY 14 John R. Justice Program is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to address a long-running staffing problem in the criminal justice system: keeping talented prosecutors and public defenders in public service. The core issue the program targets is educational debt. Many lawyers graduate with significant student loans, and because public sector salaries for prosecutors and defenders generally do not keep pace with the cost of law school, attorneys who might otherwise commit to public service often choose private sector jobs or leave government positions early. The result can be chronic vacancies, overworked attorneys, and caseloads that become difficult to manage, which in turn can affect public safety, the quality and speed of justice, and public confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the system.
This opportunity is rooted in federal law: the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. 3797cc-21, named in honor of John Reid Justice of South Carolina. The law and the grant program are intended to encourage qualified attorneys to enter and remain in careers as prosecutors and public defenders by offering student loan repayment assistance. In practical terms, the program functions as a student loan repayment initiative (often referred to as the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program, or JRJSLRP) that provides financial relief to eligible attorneys in exchange for a continued commitment to employment as a prosecutor or public defender.
Rather than awarding funds directly to individual attorneys, BJA funds a designated administering agency in each eligible state and territory (56 states and territories are referenced, including Washington, D.C.). The Governor of each state or territory designates the agency that will run the program within that jurisdiction, and in the District of Columbia the Mayor makes the designation. The selected administering agency is responsible for establishing and maintaining a statewide JRJ Grant Program, following the requirements of the Act and BJA guidance. That agency then uses the funds to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible beneficiaries working within the jurisdiction, specifically local, state, and federal public defenders and local and state prosecutors who commit to continued employment in those roles.
Key details from the announcement include the funding opportunity number BJA-2014-3802, categorized as a discretionary grant under the Law, Justice and Legal Services funding activity area, with CFDA number 16.816 (John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act). The application opened with a posted date of February 18, 2014, and the closing deadline was April 14, 2014, with the opportunity later archived on May 14, 2014. The award ceiling listed is $60,000, with an award floor of $0, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is limited to the single agency designated by the Governor (or D.C. Mayor) as the JRJ administering agency for that jurisdiction; the grant is not broadly open to all local offices or nonprofits unless they are the officially designated statewide administrator.
For applicants needing operational support, the announcement points to technical assistance through the DOJ Grants Management System (GMS) Support Hotline at 1-888-549-9901 (option 3) or by email at GMSHelpDesk@usdoj.gov, with hours Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): BJA FY 14 John R. Justice Program (JRJSLRP)
What is the BJA FY 14 John R. Justice Program?
The BJA FY 14 John R. Justice Program is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help address staffing and retention challenges among prosecutors and public defenders by supporting student loan repayment assistance for eligible attorneys who commit to continued public service.
What problem is this program trying to solve?
The program targets the impact of educational debt on the criminal justice workforce. Many prosecutors and public defenders graduate with substantial student loans, and public sector salaries often do not keep pace with law school costs. This can push attorneys toward private sector work or lead them to leave government positions earlier than planned, contributing to vacancies, heavy caseloads, and strain on the justice system.
What kind of assistance does the program provide?
The program functions as a student loan repayment initiative (often referenced as the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program, or JRJSLRP). Funds are used to provide student loan repayment assistance to eligible prosecutors and public defenders in exchange for a continued commitment to employment in those roles.
Is this program based on a specific law?
Yes. The opportunity is rooted in the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. 3797cc-21, and named in honor of John Reid Justice of South Carolina.
Who receives the federal grant funding directly?
BJA does not award these funds directly to individual attorneys. Instead, BJA awards funds to a designated administering agency in each eligible state or territory. That administering agency then operates a statewide JRJ Grant Program and uses the funds to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible attorneys within the jurisdiction.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is limited to the single agency designated by the Governor of the state or territory to administer the program. In the District of Columbia, the Mayor makes the designation. The grant is not broadly open to all local offices or nonprofits unless they are the officially designated statewide administrator for that jurisdiction.
How many jurisdictions are referenced as eligible?
The announcement references 56 states and territories, including Washington, D.C., with each jurisdiction having a designated administering agency responsible for running the program.
What does the designated administering agency have to do?
The designated administering agency is responsible for establishing and maintaining a statewide JRJ Grant Program within its jurisdiction. It must follow the requirements of the Act and BJA guidance, and then distribute loan repayment assistance to eligible beneficiaries working in qualifying prosecutor and public defender roles within that jurisdiction.
Which attorneys are intended beneficiaries of the loan repayment assistance?
The program is intended to support eligible beneficiaries working as local, state, and federal public defenders and local and state prosecutors who commit to continued employment in those roles within the jurisdiction administering the program.
What is the funding opportunity number for this solicitation?
The funding opportunity number is BJA-2014-3802.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 16.816, associated with the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act.
How is the grant categorized in the announcement?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under the Law, Justice and Legal Services funding activity area.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The posted date was February 18, 2014. The application deadline was April 14, 2014. The opportunity was later archived on May 14, 2014.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $60,000.
What is the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor listed is $0.
Is cost sharing or a matching contribution required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Does this grant provide funding directly to local prosecutor offices or public defender offices?
Not directly, unless the local office is the single agency designated by the Governor (or, in D.C., the Mayor) as the statewide administering agency. Under this opportunity, BJA funds the designated administering agency, which then administers loan repayment assistance for eligible attorneys within the jurisdiction.
Why does BJA focus on loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders?
The program is designed around the idea that educational debt is a major factor in attorney recruitment and retention. By easing student loan burdens, the program aims to encourage qualified attorneys to enter and remain in public service careers as prosecutors and public defenders, supporting the stability and capacity of the criminal justice system.
Where can applicants get technical help with the DOJ Grants Management System (GMS)?
Applicants can contact the DOJ Grants Management System (GMS) Support Hotline at 1-888-549-9901 (option 3) or email GMSHelpDesk@usdoj.gov.
What are the GMS Support Hotline hours?
The GMS Support Hotline is available Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
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