Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2019 15223
The BJA FY 19 Second Chance Act Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2019 15223) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help community organizations and federally recognized tribes deliver comprehensive reentry services for adults returning from jail or prison, with support that spans the critical transition period from incarceration to stable community living. The central idea is to reduce recidivism and improve successful reintegration by pairing evidence-informed programming with coordinated, real-world service delivery across both corrections settings and the community.
This opportunity focuses on implementing new reentry efforts or expanding existing ones, but it is not meant to be a standalone service project. BJA is explicitly looking for programs built on strong, active partnerships with the local systems that influence reentry outcomes, including corrections agencies, parole and probation, law enforcement, and other community reentry providers. In practice, this means applicants are expected to show that they have formal and functional collaboration in place, not just general support. The program emphasizes that participants should move through a connected continuum of care, with service handoffs and shared planning between in-custody and community-based partners so that release is not treated like a hard reset.
A core requirement is that each participant receives a comprehensive case management plan that targets criminogenic risks and needs, based on validated criminogenic risk assessments. In other words, services should be driven by what research shows is most likely to reduce reoffending (for example, addressing antisocial thinking patterns, substance use, unstable housing, unemployment, or weak prosocial supports), and those services should be prioritized according to the participant’s assessed risk level and needs rather than offered on a one-size-fits-all basis. The solicitation also stresses that services should be delivered or facilitated in ways that match participants’ learning styles and abilities, which signals an expectation that programs will adapt delivery methods to be effective for the specific population being served (for instance, using approaches appropriate for people with low literacy, cognitive limitations, trauma histories, or behavioral health challenges).
The opportunity also highlights cognitive behavioral programming as an essential component that should be available pre-release, either directly through the lead applicant or through a partner agency. This points applicants toward evidence-based cognitive behavioral interventions that help participants recognize and change thinking patterns and behaviors linked to criminal conduct, ideally starting before release so participants can begin practicing skills and continue them after returning to the community. The larger program model implied here is a structured pathway: assessment and planning during incarceration, coordinated preparation for release, immediate connection to services upon release, and ongoing case management with accountability and support during supervision and community stabilization.
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also excluding institutions of higher education). The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity categories associated with the opportunity include employment, labor and training, humanities/cultural affairs (as categorized in CFDA contexts), and other related reentry activities as described in the solicitation. The CFDA number listed for this program is 16.812.
Key dates and funding parameters provided in the notice include a creation date of April 8, 2019, and an original application closing date of June 11, 2019. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $1,000,000, and BJA anticipated making about 10 awards. Overall, the grant is intended for organizations that can demonstrate they are prepared to coordinate across agencies, use validated risk/needs tools to guide individualized planning, and deliver a structured reentry approach that begins before release and continues through community reintegration, with cognitive behavioral programming and responsive service delivery as central features.Apply for BJA 2019 15223
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 19 Second Chance Act Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.812.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 08, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2019. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BJA FY 19 Second Chance Act Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program?
It is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The program supports comprehensive reentry services for adults returning from jail or prison, with the goal of reducing recidivism and improving successful reintegration into the community.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BJA 2019 15223.
Which federal agency runs this funding opportunity?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The main purpose is to help community organizations and federally recognized tribes implement or expand comprehensive adult reentry programs that support the transition from incarceration to stable community living, using evidence-informed programming and coordinated service delivery.
What outcomes is the program trying to improve?
The program is intended to reduce recidivism and improve successful reintegration by pairing evidence-informed interventions with coordinated, real-world services across corrections settings and community-based providers.
Is this program intended to fund a standalone service project?
No. BJA indicates it is not meant to be a standalone service project. Applicants are expected to build programs on strong, active partnerships with local systems that influence reentry outcomes.
What kinds of partnerships does BJA expect applicants to have?
BJA emphasizes strong, active partnerships with corrections agencies, parole and probation, law enforcement, and other community reentry providers. The expectation is formal and functional collaboration, not just general expressions of support.
What does "continuum of care" mean in this solicitation?
It means participants should move through a connected pathway of services that spans incarceration and the community. The solicitation highlights coordinated planning, service handoffs, and shared work between in-custody and community-based partners so release is not treated like a hard reset.
What is required for participant case management under this program?
A core requirement is that each participant receives a comprehensive case management plan that targets criminogenic risks and needs, informed by validated criminogenic risk assessments.
What are "criminogenic risks and needs" in the context of this program?
They are risk factors and needs that research links to reoffending, and that can be addressed through targeted services. The solicitation provides examples such as antisocial thinking patterns, substance use, unstable housing, unemployment, and weak prosocial supports.
How should programs decide which services participants receive?
Services should be prioritized according to a participant's assessed risk level and needs based on validated risk/needs assessments, rather than offered as a one-size-fits-all package.
Does the solicitation address how services should be delivered to participants?
Yes. It stresses that services should be delivered or facilitated in ways that match participants' learning styles and abilities, signaling an expectation that programs adapt delivery methods to be effective for the population served.
Does the program require cognitive behavioral programming?
Yes. Cognitive behavioral programming is highlighted as an essential component that should be available pre-release, either directly through the lead applicant or through a partner agency.
When should cognitive behavioral interventions occur?
The opportunity emphasizes making cognitive behavioral programming available pre-release, ideally starting during incarceration so participants can begin practicing skills and continue them after returning to the community.
What does the overall reentry model look like as described in the notice?
The notice points to a structured pathway that includes assessment and planning during incarceration, coordinated preparation for release, immediate connection to services upon release, and ongoing case management with accountability and support during supervision and community stabilization.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also excluding institutions of higher education).
Are institutions of higher education eligible as applicants?
No. The eligibility language provided excludes institutions of higher education.
What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 16.812.
What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The notice references activity categories including employment, labor and training, humanities/cultural affairs (as categorized in CFDA contexts), and other related reentry activities described in the solicitation.
What is the maximum award amount for a single grant?
The award ceiling (maximum award amount) is $1,000,000.
How many awards did BJA anticipate making?
BJA anticipated making about 10 awards.
What are the key dates listed in the notice?
The notice lists a creation date of April 8, 2019, and an original application closing date of June 11, 2019.
What types of organizations is this grant best suited for based on the description?
It is intended for organizations that can demonstrate readiness to coordinate across agencies, use validated risk/needs tools to guide individualized planning, and deliver a structured reentry approach beginning before release and continuing through community reintegration, with cognitive behavioral programming and responsive service delivery as central features.
Does the program emphasize coordination between in-custody and community-based services?
Yes. The solicitation emphasizes connected planning and service handoffs between corrections settings and community providers so participants experience continuity through release and reentry.
Does the program require services to be evidence-informed?
Yes. The central approach described is pairing evidence-informed programming with coordinated service delivery to improve reentry outcomes and reduce recidivism.
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