Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program

 

Goal(s): To provide adult treatment courts and professionals in the criminal justice system with the resources needed to plan, implement, enhance, and sustain evidence-based treatment court programs for individuals with substance use disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system. Objective(s): The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funds the Adult Treatment Court program. The Adult Treatment Court Program provides financial and technical assistance to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to plan and implement a new treatment court or enhance the operations of an existing treatment court. These courts effectively integrate evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services in judicially supervised criminal court settings that have jurisdiction over individuals with substance use disorder treatment needs in order to reduce recidivism and increase their access to treatment and recovery support, and to prevent overdoses. (BJA) Performance Measure 1: Number of participants who graduated from the drug court program; (BJA) Performance Measure 2: Percent of participants who graduate from the Treatment Court program; and, (BJA) Performance Measure 3: Percentage of treatment court graduates who committed a new criminal offense within 24 months of completing the program. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program supports treatment and services for youth with substance abuse problems. The courts work to strengthen family engagement, address the root problems that may cause substance use and addiction, and empower young people to lead drug-free and crime-free lives. The Family Drug Court Program serves parents and guardians who require treatment for a substance abuse disorder and who are involved with the child welfare system as a result of child abuse or neglect. Program goals are to strengthen parenting skills, to reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect resulting from addiction, and to provide services to the children affected. The Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts enhances the capacity of tribal courts to respond to the substance use challenges of court-involved youth. The courts employ culturally informed approaches to promote accountability, healing, and tribal identity in youth younger than age 21. Objective: OJJDPs Juvenile Drug Court, Family Drug Court and Juvenile Tribal Healing to Wellness Court programs implement new and innovative approaches to enhance existing or establish new courts. Performance Measure 1: Percentage of eligible individuals who abstained from or reduced substance misuse (OJJDP Overall); and, Performance Measure 2: Percentage of eligible individuals who completed their intended service requirements (OJJDP Overall)

Active 16.585 Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2018 BJA received a total of 139 Adult Drug Court (ADC) and Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) applications and made 83 awards. All 83 BJA ADC and VTC applicants were to demonstrate that their drug court would include treatment and services to address opioid abuse reduction, to the extent that substance abuse treatment and related services are funded by this award. All BJA training and technical assistance providers were required to expand and enhance training and technical assistance to address opioid abuse reduction. All VTCs received additional funds ($50,000 Implementation/Enhancement and $100,000 Statewide) to support the creation of peer mentoring programs that leverage the support of other veterans in the community for VTCs.
Fiscal Year 2019 BJA awarded more than $47.4 million in three categories: implementation of new drug courts (Category 1); enhancement of fully operational drug courts that incorporate the evidence-based principles included in the National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ Adult Drug Courts Best Practice Standards (Category 2); and improvement, enhancement, or expansion of drug court services statewide (Category 3). Nearly $9 million was awarded to jurisdictions in support of Veterans Treatment Courts, which link veterans with services, benefits and program providers, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Service Organizations and volunteer veteran mentors. The three categories of funding included implementation of new Veterans Treatment Courts (Category 1); enhancement of fully operational Veterans Treatment Courts (Category 2); and improvement, enhancement, or expansion of Veterans Treatment Courts statewide (Category 3). OJJDP awarded grants to 20 jurisdictions, totaling more than $12.9 million, under its Juvenile Drug Treatments Courts Program. Awards made under this program fall into one of three categories: service support delivery and programming enhancements aligned with OJJDP’s Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Guidelines (Category 1) and enhancement of existing Family Drug Court programs (Category 2) or implementation of new Family Drug Court programs (Category 3) that provide substance abusing parents with support, treatment, and access to services.
Fiscal Year 2020 n FY 20, OJJDP awarded $33.5 million to drug treatment court programs nationwide. This funding allows the courts to provide services for youth and families with substance abuse challenges, specifically those related to opioid abuse or co-occurring mental health disorders. Please see for details: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/media/document/in-focus-drug-courts.pdf
Fiscal Year 2021 In 2021, BJA made 95 awards to 75 ATCs and 20 Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) in 30 states (see VTC Assistance Listing 16.043 for specifics). Overall, BJA supports approximately 398 active treatment court programs in 49 states and 4 territories with a new award in a state not recently funded (Maine). Of these FY 2021 recipients, 49 percent of awardees indicated a priority designation of rural (33%), poverty (29%), and/or qualified opportunity zone (33%). OJJDP’s Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program is awarding nearly $7.9 million to jurisdictions to establish or enhance juvenile drug treatment courts and to improve court system operations and treatment services. OJJDP is awarding $13.8 million across 14 jurisdictions under its Family Drug Court Program to build the capacity of state and local courts, units of local government and federally recognized tribal governments to implement family drug court practices. The program aims to increase collaboration with substance use treatment and child welfare systems to ensure the provision of treatment and other services that improve child, parent and family outcomes.
Fiscal Year 2022 Please visithttps://www.ojp.gov/feature/drug-courts/publications; https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/drug-courts U.S.C. 34 § 10611, et. seq
Public Law 90-351, Title 1, Part EE U.S.C. 34 U.S.C. 10611 - 10619
Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328, Statute 136,4459, 4537 Adult Drug Court Program: Grants can be awarded to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government and Indian tribal governments, acting directly or through agreements with other public or private entities. Applicants may choose to submit joint applications with other eligible jurisdictions for statewide, regional, and multijurisdictional drug court programs. With joint applications, one organization must be designated as the applicant and any co-applicants designated accordingly. The applicant organization must be eligible and the other agencies/organizations must provide supporting documentation. All applicants must demonstrate that they have the management and financial capabilities to effectively plan and implement projects of the size and scope described in the application kit. Nonprofit and for-profit agencies are not eligible applicants. For an application from a subunit of government (e.g., county probation department, district attorney's office, pretrial services agency) to be considered, it must be designated by letter as representing an eligible applicant (described above). For example, the county court or county executive may designate the county probation or county district attorney's office as its representative for the purpose of application. In this instance, the applicant continues to be the designating state, court system, or unit of local government. The county probation, district attorney's office, or other designated subunit, is the organization authorized to submit an application on behalf of the eligible applicant. Family Drug Court Program: City or township governments, County governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), and State governments. States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, public or private entities. The application must include: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424); applicant Information page; a one-page program abstract summarizing the goals and objectives of the grant request; program narrative; letters of support; detailed budget and budget narrative; administrative requirements; and assurances and certifications. See program announcement for more information at Office of Justice Programs funding opportunities https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities. Preapplication coordination is required. Prospective applicants may view the preapplication requirements by visiting the web site at https://bja.ojp.gov/. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. All competitive grant applications must be submitted electronically through DOJ's Justice Grants System (JustGrants). Applications or supplemental materials received by facsimile or postal mail will not be accepted. For additional information, see the current fiscal year's solicitation available at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities. Upon approval by the Office of Justice Programs Assistant Attorney General, successful applicants are notified via DOJ's Justice Grants System (JustGrants). The grant award must be accepted electronically by the receiving organizations authorized official in JustGrants. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Approximately 60 days. For Formula awards, please see 28 CFR Part 18. There are no appeal rights for rejection of a discretionary application, but for discretionary awards, please see 28 CFR Part 18. Grants can be extended by submitting a written justification for an extension to the Bureau of Justice Assistance office for review. Extensions are subject to approval by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and renewals subject to congressional funding. Criteria are described in the OJP Program Announcement available at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities. Allowable uses of funds are outlined in the Treatment Court Program Guideline available from the Department of Justice Response Center. Assistance can be used to support states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to plan, implement, and enhance the operations of adult and juvenile treatment courts. The administration of appropriate incentives and sanctions will help to reduce recidivism and substance misuse among high-risk participants with substance use disorders and increase their likelihood of successful rehabilitation. Treatment Court Programs under Title V are for adults and juveniles involved in the justice system with a substance used disorder and involve early and continuous judicial supervision. The integrated administration of sanctions and services include: (1) mandatory and random drug testing for the use of controlled substances or other addictive substances during any period of supervised release or probation; (2) evidence-based substance use disorder treatment for each participant according to need; (3) diversion, probation, or other supervised release involving the possibility of prosecution, confinement, or incarceration based on noncompliance with program requirements; and (4) programmatic offender management and aftercare services. For OJJDP Drug Court program(s) allowable and unallowable uses, please see the current fiscal year’s solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs web site at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities. Violent offenders may not be served by this grant unless they are funded under a separate Veterans Treatment Court congressional appropriation. Not applicable. Payments and transactions are subject to audits by the Government Accountability Office, the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General, state or local government auditors, and auditors from independent public accounting firms. Jurisdictions must follow their local policies and procedures, including maintenance of reliable and accurate accounting systems, record keeping, and systems of internal control. All grantees are required to establish and maintain accounting systems and financial records in order to account for funds awarded to them. In accordance with the requirement set forth in 2 CFR 200, Subpart F, grantees must maintain all financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the award for at least 3 years following the close of the most recent audit. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 25%. Federal funds awarded under this program may not cover more than 75 percent of the total costs of the program being funded. The applicant must identify the source of the 25 percent non-federal portion of the total program costs and how it will use match funds. If a successful applicant’s proposed match exceeds the required match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit. (“Match” funds may be used only for purposes that would be allowable for the federal funds.) Recipients may satisfy this match requirement with either cash or in-kind services. For additional information, please see the current fiscal year’s solicitation available at www.bja.gov.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Project duration period will be up to 4 years for Planning and Implementation, Enhancement, and State-wide Grants. Please see the current fiscal year’s solicitation available at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities for BJA and OJJDP drug court programs. By reimbursement None/Not specified. Leanetta Jessie
Office of Justice Programs
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Washington, DC 20735 USA
Leanetta.Jessie@usdoj.gov
Phone: (202) 532-0152

Courtney Stewart
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531 USA
Courtney.e.stewart@usdoj.gov
Phone: 2025980618 https://bja.ojp.gov/library/publications/drug-courts 15-0404-0-1-754 (Project Grants) FY 22$150,142,285.00; FY 23 est $95,000,000.00; FY 24 est $88,000,000.00; FY 21$70,882,447.00; FY 20$89,158,394.00; FY 19$87,368,107.00; FY 18$86,475,359.00; FY 17$38,944,583.00; - Varies based upon appropriation. Consult the solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs funding opportunities https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities. Office of Justice Programs funding opportunities https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide (https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/overview) and Post award Instructions (https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/iii-postaward-requirements), applicable OMB Circulars and regulations, and Department of Justice regulations applicable to specific types of grantees. Fiscal Year 2018 Category 1 (Implementation): The 20th Judicial District is seeking funding of $500,000 for an Adult Drug Court – Category 1- Implementation grant. The 20th Judicial is a felony court located in a suburban and rural setting. The plan is to begin operations of an adult drug court (hybrid to include felony DUI cases) upon award in mid-2017. The Court is not currently operational and has no current participants. If awarded the grant, the Court will serve an estimated 78 participants, felony level offenders, with the underlying cause of the offenses to be alcohol or other drug dependency, over the 36-month project period with an average program participation time of 14 months. The Drug Court will be pre and post-adjudication as well as an alternative to probation revocation and will screen at least 50 candidates per year and serve at least 30 participants on any given day. The 20th Judicial Adult Drug Court has identified a target population of non-violent, felony level offenders who seek to enter drug court voluntarily and as an alternative to incarceration, and based on evidence-based screening tools including the RANT will have a high risk to re-offend and a high need for treatment. The target population is determined through chemical dependency screening, assessment and other evidence-based practices. MAT components will be intergraded into treatment for participants. Given that a majority of the geographic area includes Tribes, it is anticipated that a majority of participants will be tribal members. The Drug Court will support the use of MAT for participants when recommended and overseen by a qualified physician. MAT prescriptions and oversight will be provided by Addiction Treatment Services.
Fiscal Year 2019 Category 2 (Enhancement): The Veterans Treatment Court Program is seeking funding for the enhancement of their court to include enhancing court operations, expanding the number of participants and to enhance recovery support services. The program has been operational since February 2012. It has a capacity of 60 participants; currently serving 55 active participants and to date has graduated 65 participants. The first successful graduation was held in June 2014, two years after the program started. Since then, the program is averaging 16 graduates per year. If successfully funded, the program will have the capabilities to provide services to a total of 60 participants and as participants successfully graduate, the program will be able to accept participants immediately due to the additional resources provided by this grant. In total, the program anticipates to provide services to approximately 275 participants and successfully graduate 75 in the four years of this grant period. The program currently provides services to adult male and female defendants with behavioral substance abuse issues who have served honorably in the US armed forces. The goals of the program is to provide early identification of eligible program participants; design a treatment plan that focuses in the individual becoming stable, employed and substance free; reduce participant contacts with the criminal justice system; and reduce costs associated with criminal case processing and re-arrest. The Veterans Treatment Court is an immediate and highly structured judicial intervention process for substance abuse and/or mental health treatment for eligible offenders which expedites the criminal case, and requires successful completion of the plea agreement in lieu of incarceration. The minimum length of the program is 18 months; there is no set maximum although 36 months is stated in the Policy and Procedures manual as it is the goal of the program to successfully graduate participants within that timeframe. The average length of time in the program to date is 19 months. The Veterans Treatment Court connects participants to relevant treatment and support services that are best or promising practices, recovery-based, individualized, co-occurring capable, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed. The program has developed partnerships with local providers, various Veterans Agency Representatives and Liaisons, and the local VA.
Fiscal Year 2020 Despite the impact of COVID-19, the BJA National Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance (BJA TTA) Program continued to provide support and resources to state, local, and tribal courts to enhance drug court programs for nonviolent offenders with addictions. From March 2020 to August 2020, the BJA TTA Program conducted two virtual conferences and one meeting: The Tribal Veterans Healing to Wellness Symposium with 554 live viewers; the National Association of Drug Court Professionals conference with 6,000 attendees; and the Quarterly State Drug Court Meeting. During the same period, the BJA TTA Program conducted 12 webinars and over 50 virtual TTA sessions with drug courts throughout the United States. Two additional virtual events, the Tribal Healing to Wellness Enhancement Training and the Quarterly State Drug Court Coordinators Meeting, occurred September and October 2020.
Fiscal Year 2022 Please visit BJA: https://bja.ojp.gov/news/blog/30-years-drug-courts-justice-reform-works; and, OJJDP: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/drug-courts