BJA FY 2026 John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- O-BJA-2026-172779
- Agency
-
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $120,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Law, Justice and Legal Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- State Governments
- Points of contact
-
- OJP Response Center ojp.responsecenter@usdoj.gov (800) 851-3420
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Bureau of Justice Assistance seeks applications from state governments for the FY 2026 John R. Justice Formula Grant Program, which provides loan repayment assistance to prosecutors and public defenders who commit to continued employment, with applications due November 3, 2026. Eligible applicants are limited to state governments; no cost share or match requirement is mandated. The program distributes approximately $2,193,858 across an anticipated 56 awards through formula allocation to states. The award period runs 24 months beginning January 1, 2027.
States designated by governors administer statewide programs that solicit applications from eligible beneficiaries: full-time prosecutors (state or local) prosecuting criminal or juvenile cases, full-time public defenders (state, local, or federal) representing indigent persons, and full-time nonprofit employees under contract with state or local government providing indigent defense. Selected beneficiaries must commit to an additional three years of qualifying service. Individual repayment benefits are capped at $10,000 annually with a $60,000 lifetime maximum; administrative costs cannot exceed 15 percent of total award funds.
Applications proceed in two steps: SF-424 submission in Grants.gov by November 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET, followed by complete application submission in JustGrants by November 10, 2026 at 8:59 p.m. ET. Applicants must register in SAM.gov by October 20, 2026. The proposal narrative is limited to 10 pages and must address the state's need for the program, project design and implementation including outreach strategy and beneficiary selection plan, and organizational capacity. Budget submissions should initially include $1 under Other, as formula allocations will be communicated during review. Loan repayment is made directly to beneficiaries' loan service providers. All recipients must forego profit or management fees.
CFDA 16.816.
Synopsis
This opportunity provides loan repayment assistance for local and state prosecutors and local, state, and federal public defenders who commit to continued employment as public defenders and prosecutors for at least three years. States receiving funding will administer statewide programs through state agencies designated by the governor by soliciting applications from eligible beneficiaries, which include local and state prosecutors and local, state, and federal public defenders ("beneficiaries"). Beneficiaries selected must commit to an additional three years of qualifying service in exchange for partial loan repayment directly to the beneficiary's loan service provider.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294243.pdf |
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