Children's Justice Grants to States

This program encourages states to enact reforms which are designed to improve (1) the assessment and investigation of suspected child abuse and neglect cases, including cases of suspected child sexual abuse and exploitation, in a manner that limits a

The Children's Justice Act (CJA) provides awards to states to improve the investigation, prosecution, and judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation, in a manner that limits additional trauma to the child victim. CJA recipients are responsible for implementing the requirements of the CJA program to reform state processes for responding to child abuse and neglect. CJA funding supports states and territories in improving their approaches and responses to child abuse and neglect. The focus of the funding is to create systemic changes that prevent additional trauma to child victims, and to more effectively protect their rights.

States (including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia), Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.

Beneficiaries include victims of child abuse and neglect, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Funds are to be used for (a) investigative, administrative, and judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as cases involving suspected child maltreatment related fatalities and cases involving a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as interstate, federal-state, and state-tribal, in a manner which reduces the additional trauma to the child victim and the victim's family and which also ensures procedural fairness to the accused; (b) experimental, model, and demonstration programs for testing innovative approaches and techniques which may improve the prompt and successful resolution of civil and criminal court proceedings or enhance the effectiveness of judicial and administrative action in child abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, including the enhancement of performance of court-appointed attorneys and guardians ad litem for children, and which also ensure procedural fairness to the accused; and (c) reform of state laws, ordinances, regulations, protocols and procedures to provide comprehensive protection for children from abuse, including sexual abuse and exploitation, while ensuring fairness to all affected persons.

Funds may be expended for a period of 3 years after the end of the fiscal year in which the funds are awarded.

Applications will be reviewed against all eligibility requirements contained in the authorizing legislation. States which meet all eligibility requirements and propose projects which meet the required uses of these funds will receive awards.

Recipients are notified that funds have been awarded through a Notice of Award (NoA) issued by the Administration for Children and Families. Post award, the Division of Payment Management will establish an account from which a recipient may draw down award funds.

Deadlines will be contained in the Program Instruction sent to each state and other eligible entities announcing the availability of funds under this program.

Deadlines will be contained in the Program Instruction sent to each state and other eligible entities announcing the availability of funds under this program.

Awards are made annually. A new application is required each year.

There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applications. For existing recipients, appeals may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to limitations of the Appendix A.