BJA FY 2026 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the BJA FY 2026 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program?

This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It supports efforts to improve how jurisdictions handle post-conviction claims of innocence by strengthening wrongful conviction review (WCR) entities and the partners they rely on across the criminal justice system and victim services.

What problem is this grant intended to address?

The grant is focused on improving the capacity and effectiveness of post-conviction innocence claim review. It is designed to help jurisdictions identify, assess, and manage innocence claims more efficiently and effectively, while also using lessons from those cases to reduce future errors and strengthen public trust in the justice system.

What is the core purpose of the program?

The core purpose is to strengthen the capacity of wrongful conviction review entities and their partners to handle post-conviction innocence claims. This includes improving case review operations (such as screening and investigating claims) and using findings from case reviews to prevent wrongful convictions in the future.

How does the program connect case review improvements to public safety?

BJA indicates that awards should not only improve the mechanics of innocence claim review, but also contribute to broader public safety outcomes. The program emphasizes preventing wrongful convictions by improving coordination among agencies and identifying patterns or system breakdowns that lead to error.

What kinds of system issues or error patterns does the opportunity mention?

The opportunity notes that prevention can involve identifying and addressing breakdowns related to investigation practices, evidence handling, eyewitness issues, forensic misunderstandings, informant reliability, or disclosure failures.

How are victims considered in this grant program?

The notice highlights the importance of delivering justice to victims. This implies an expectation that funded efforts consider victim communication and coordination of services, and that work may incorporate trauma-informed practices during reinvestigation or litigation phases.

What types of activities does BJA expect supported projects to improve?

Based on the description, supported projects are expected to strengthen case review operations such as screening and investigating innocence claims, improve how innocence claims are managed, build collaboration across criminal justice and victim-service partners, and translate case-review lessons into reforms that reduce future wrongful convictions.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant?

Eligible applicants include: state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized as governments); nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status; and other eligible entities identified by BJA.

Does the opportunity define "other units of local government" for eligibility?

Yes. The notice clarifies that "other units of local government" includes general-purpose political subdivisions such as towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and similar entities.

Are there specific types of applicants that may be particularly relevant for this program?

The notice points to states and counties that operate in-house post-conviction representation programs and can demonstrate experience and competence litigating post-conviction innocence claims. This suggests BJA is especially interested in entities with direct operational responsibility for innocence litigation and review.

Is this a formula grant or a discretionary grant?

This opportunity is described as a discretionary federal grant opportunity.

What is the program category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under Law, Justice and Legal Services and lists CFDA 16.746.

What is the funding instrument type?

The listing indicates a standard grant funding instrument.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this NOFO?

The Funding Opportunity Number provided is O-BJA-2026-172726.

What is the application closing date?

The original application closing date listed is November 2, 2026.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting was created on September 21, 2026.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $600,000, meaning the maximum amount per award is capped at $600,000.

How many awards does BJA expect to make under this program?

The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided information. Applicants should not assume a particular number of awards and should focus on proposing a strong, feasible approach aligned with BJA priorities.

What outcomes is BJA trying to achieve through this funding?

The program aims to build and improve infrastructure for credible innocence case review and post-conviction litigation, strengthen collaboration among WCR entities and justice/victim-service partners, reduce future wrongful convictions by learning from past cases, help locate actual perpetrators when a wrongful conviction is uncovered, and improve accountability and public confidence in the justice system.

Does the program emphasize operational work or policy/research work?

The description emphasizes improving operational capacity for reviewing and litigating post-conviction innocence claims. The mention of in-house post-conviction representation programs suggests interest in applicants with hands-on responsibility for innocence casework, not only policy or research functions.