Corrections Research and Evaluation and Policy Formulation
Active
- Assistance listing
- 16.602
- Agency
-
Bureau of Prisons
Department of Justice
- Grant awards
- 5 $3,660,172 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Eligible applicants
-
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Individual/Family
- Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans)
- Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals
- Beneficiaries
-
- State
- Local
- Anyone/general public
- Other private institution/organization
- Public nonprofit institution/organization
- Private nonprofit institution/organization
- Treasury account
-
- 15-1060-0-1-754
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons is conducting corrections research and evaluation under Assistance Listing 16.602, with the most recent grant opportunity (Advancing Behavioral Health in Corrections) due July 31, 2026. Program activity has shifted markedly since 2009, when the last recorded project grants were awarded; current solicitations are exclusively cooperative agreements focused on policy development, training tools, and implementation studies rather than pilot demonstration projects.
The program funds research, evaluation, and policy work addressing corrections system effectiveness, including youth and adult reentry pathways, behavioral health service delivery, jail classification frameworks, parole decision-making processes, staff trauma and organizational stress, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance in correctional settings. Recent opportunities reflect a shift toward developing evidence-based tools, training curricula, and implementation frameworks for corrections professionals and policymakers rather than on-the-ground service demonstrations. The portfolio historically consisted of five Project Grants totaling $3.7 million, all awarded on October 1, 2009, with ultimate completion dates of September 30, 2012. Awards ranged from $660 thousand to $750 thousand and funded reentry initiatives in Louisiana, San Francisco, Oregon, and Baltimore, plus a Second Chance Act youth offender program.
The program is funded exclusively by the Bureau of Prisons. All funding and award activity flows through a single federal agency, with no cross-agency competition or distributed funding. Current solicitations operate as cooperative agreements rather than traditional grants, indicating a collaborative research and development posture between NIC (the National Institute of Corrections) and awardees on policy and training deliverables. Multiple recent opportunities are non-competitive continuations of prior awards rather than open competitions. Two open competitive opportunities are currently live: Advancing Behavioral Health in Corrections (solicitation 26PR05, due July 31, 2026) seeks development of behavioral health training curricula and gap analysis for correctional staff; Community Reentry Settings Initiative (solicitation 26CS06, due May 4, 2026, posted March 5, 2026) seeks research on halfway house utilization and reentry decision-making processes. Eligible applicants include states, local government units, public and private agencies, educational institutions, organizations, and individuals involved in corrections program development, implementation, or operation.
Objective and description
- Objective
To conduct, encourage, and coordinate research relating to corrections including the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of criminal offenders. To conduct evaluation programs which study the effectiveness of new approaches, techniques, systems, programs, and devices employed to improve the corrections system.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
States, general units of local government, public and private agencies, educational institutions, organizations and individuals involved in the development, implementation or operation of correctional programs and services.
- Beneficiary eligibility
States, general units of local government involved in the development, implementation or operation of correctional programs and services.
- Credentials and documentation
OMB Circular No. A-87 cost principles applicable to grants with State and local governments; OMB Circular No. A-21 cost principles for educational institutions; and OMB Circular No. A-122 cost principles for nonprofit organizations.
- Uses of assistance
Provides assistance for upgrading correctional programs, services, and techniques at State and local levels. Services are available to the entire range of correctional agencies, including probation, parole, institutions, jails, and community programs.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Funds advanced as required.
How to apply
- Application procedure
For project grants, applicant submits proposal on Standard Form 424 - Federal Assistance. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-102, and A-110, A-128, and A-133. Environmental assessment is required for federally funded projects that are a major Federal action significantly affecting the human environment as defined in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
- Award procedure
A formal application (Standard Form 424 - Federal Assistance) is submitted to NIC. When it is determined that the project will be funded, a letter and award package are sent to the grantee.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Approximately 90 days.
- Appeals
Appeals may be made to the Director of NIC.
Grant opportunities
Show all 39
Grant awards
| Award | Recipient | Federal obligations | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second chance act youth offender reentry initiative | — | $749,559 | |
| Louisiana's reentry pathways: a pilot reentry demonstration project in acadiana and the greater new orleans regions for… | — | $749,998 | |
| Operation safe kids baltimore: reentry program | — | $750,000 | |
| Oregon youth offender reentry project | — | $750,000 | |
| SAN francisco juvenile collaborative reentry team initiative | — | $660,615 |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2009 | $3,660,172 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 16.602?
Assistance Listing 16.602 is Corrections Research and Evaluation and Policy Formulation, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Prisons (Department of Justice).
What is the CFDA number for Corrections Research and Evaluation and Policy Formulation?
Its CFDA number is 16.602: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 16.602 awarded?
5 grant awards under 16.602 have obligated $3,660,172 in federal funds.
Are there open grant opportunities under 16.602?
No opportunity listed under 16.602 is open now. The latest, Advancing Behavioral Health in Corrections: Training and Policy Innovation Initiative, was posted on June 16, 2026.
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