Justice Reinvestment Initiative

 

Goal: Under the enacted appropriations language, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), helps states identify and respond to crime and other public safety problems, explore evidence-based or innovative and cost-saving strategies, and to invest in strategies that can decrease crime and reduce recidivism. Objective: The Justice Reinvestment Initiative currently funds several streams of work: 1) State-based JRI training and technical assistance supports states justice system stakeholders and policy leaders as they devise and implement data-driven approaches to reduce crime and recidivism, including operationalizing data results to reduce violent crime and supporting state and local agencies in their efforts to do the same. Under the JRI model, a governmental working group with bipartisan and inter-branch representation analyzes the crime, recidivism, and corrections data, and its associated costs, then develops cost-effective policy and practice options, and implements and measures those changes. 2) Site-based grant awards are made under the Justice Reinvestment: Reducing Crime by Improving Justice System Performance grant program, which allows eligible applicants to apply for funding to develop and implement innovative and research-based responses that address a range of criminal justice system problems. Successful applicants are expected to follow the five-step JRI process to meet their objectives: engage stakeholders; analyze data and the current landscape; develop a plan, procedures, and strategies; implement responses; and measure outcomes. 3. Justice Counts is a JRI-funded program that provides resources and support to state and local criminal justice agencies to bolster the use of data in policymaking and operational decision-making. The program employs a collaborative approach to develop consensus-driven metrics, a web-based platform for agencies to share their data in line with those metrics, and other associated tools and resources. 4. The Corrections Data Analysts program provides correctional agencies with much-needed analytical capacity and resources to enhance their ability to use data to drive decision-making. The program includes the development of national, virtual academies to facilitate the training and continuing educations of correctional data analysts as well as a resident corrections analysts program in which funded researchers and analysts will work closely with state correctional leaders to produce needed analyses. 5. The Price of Justice: Rethinking the Consequences of Fines and Fees program works in partnership with state, local, and tribal agencies to address the use of fines and fees and ensure they are being used in a constitutional and nondiscriminatory way. The purpose of this program is to address common barriers to creating a more equitable justice system by addressing how agencies use and apply fines and fees. Performance Measure 1: Number of jurisdictions that have received technical assistance through JRI; and, Performance Measure 2: Number of policies and practices developed through JRI that have been codified in statute or changed through administrative policy (e.g., regulations, adoption of certain policies, guidelines, or procedures).

Active 16.827 Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 To date, JRI has provided 30 states (through 39 engagements) and 17 local jurisdictions with assistance to support data- driven, evidence-based reforms to reduce corrections and related criminal justice spending and invest in strategies that can decrease crime and strengthen neighborhoods.
Fiscal Year 2018 To date, JRI has provided 30 states (through 39 engagements) and 17 local jurisdictions with assistance to support data- driven, evidence-based reforms to reduce corrections and related criminal justice spending and invest in strategies that can decrease crime and strengthen neighborhoods.
Fiscal Year 2019 As of October 2018, 30 states have engaged in JRI. All but three states implementing reforms (a total of 18 states enacted legislation prior to 2014) have achieved or exceeded their goals in safely avoiding prison growth, and nine have experienced reductions in their prison populations. Simultaneously, crime rates have decreased in 18 states concurrent with various policy changes. In addition, 12 states have reported savings ranging from $2.5 to $491 million, totaling $1.1 billion across all states reporting savings; and 22 states have invested a total of $551 million through FY 2017.
Fiscal Year 2021 BJA awarded nearly $5.9 million under the Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Reducing Crime by Improving Justice System Performance, which helps jurisdictions develop and implement innovative and research-based responses that address a range of criminal justice system problems designed to ensure a fair and efficient justice system, facilitate appropriate sentencing and treatment, and protect community security. BJA awarded $11.8 million under the Justice Reinvestment Initiative: State-level Training and Technical Assistance Program, which will fund training and technical assistance providers to help states implement data-driven strategies to improve public safety by reducing corrections spending and reinvesting those savings in efforts to decrease crime and strengthen neighborhoods.
Fiscal Year 2022 Please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/program/justice-reinvestment-initiative/overview Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328
Designates funding for “a justice reinvestment initiative, for activities related to criminal justice reform and recidivism reduction." Eligible applicants to provide Justice Reinvestment state-based training and technical assistance and site-based training and technical assistance include: national scope private and nonprofit organizations (including tribal nonprofit or for-profit organizations) and colleges and universities, both public and private (including tribal institutions of higher education). Eligible applicants for the Justice Reinvestment: Reducing Crime by Improving Justice System Performance grant program include states. 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. The application must include: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424); Program Abstract; Program Narrative; Budget and Budget Narrative; Required certifications; indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable); and Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire. Justice Reinvestment: Reducing Crime by Improving Justice System Performance - must also include documents related to compliance with section 1737. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. An applicant may find the names and addresses of State Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) at the following website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants must submit completed applications via the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Justice Grants (JustGrants) system or through grants.gov following established criteria. The receipt, review, and analysis of applications will follow Office of Justice Programs policies and procedures for the administration of grant applications. Specific application instructions for solicitations are available at the Office of Justice Programs web site https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm. 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 From 90 to 120 days. See the current fiscal year's solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs web site https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities. From 90 to 120 days. There are no appeal rights for rejection of a discretionary application. Please see 28 CFR Part 18. From 90 to 120 days. Yes, a grant can be supplemented or granted a no-cost extension, subject to BJA policy and contingent upon available appropriation. Criteria are described in the OJP Program Announcement available at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities and/or https://www.bja.gov/funding.aspx. • Engagement of stakeholders, including all agencies and individuals necessary to understand and address the problem. • Analyze data and the current landscape (current risk assessment tools used, data systems, policies) to determine the cause(s), symptoms, and scope of the problem, as well as the impediments to addressing the problem. • Develop a comprehensive set of strategies and then documents planned activities, including the parties responsible and timelines, and secures buy-in from stakeholders. • Implements the policies, plans, and strategies, testing for results and incorporating feedback into the implementation process. • Identifies existing and/or potential data sources that are required to conduct outcome evaluations of the proposed project strategies. Assess the effectiveness of the implemented strategies and activities to address crime and recidivism reduction. Performance Reports: To assist in fulfilling the Departments responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, recipients must provide data that measures the results of their work. Payments and transactions are subject to audits by the Government Accountability Office, 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. See 2 CFR 200 for the government-wide requirements for maintenance of records by grant recipients. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is . For direct grants to states, if a state has measured and reinvested savings (either projected or actual costs saved or avoided) into evidence-based strategies to reduce recidivism and make communities safer (see Selection Criteria outlined in the Solicitation for specifics), this solicitation does not require a match. If such a state proposes a voluntary match amount, however, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit. If a state has not measured and reinvested savings (see Selection Criteria outlined in the Solicitation for specifics), a match is required, and the following requirements apply: • The amount of the match must equal the amount of federal funds being sought. • Match funds are subject to the same regulations and restrictions as the federal funds for this program. • Applicants must identify the source of the non-federal funds and how they will use the 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. • Applicants may satisfy this match requirement with cash, in-kind services, or a combination of the two. • Match funds must be used for one or more of the state’s reinvestment strategies identified in the justice reinvestment process. For example, match funding can be used to expand or improve community-based treatment only if the JRI legislation or task force identified community-based treatment as a reinvestment priority. As another example, match funding could be used for skills-based trainings for probation officers if the state’s reinvestment strategies included more effective community supervision. • Applicants must identify the target(s) of the reinvestment match with specificity, including, if applicable, names of agencies, service providers, or staff positions to be funded; a description of the kind of service to be provided or functions to be performed; what period of time will be covered; and amounts of funding. Applicants must document these commitments by including relevant attachments to the application. Example: For a federal award amount of $1,750,000, the required reinvestment match is $1,750,000.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. See the current fiscal year’s solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs web site (https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities) and/or https://www.bja.gov/funding.aspx. Competitive award and money are released when grantee draws down funds based on an approve timeline. See the following for additional information on how assistance is awarded/release: 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). None/Not specified. Heather Tubman-Carbone
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531 US
heather.tubman-carbone@usdoj.gov
Phone: 2025141158 https://bja.ojp.gov/program/justice-reinvestment-initiative/overview 15-0404-0-1-754 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$56,506,997.00; FY 23 est $35,000,000.00; FY 24 est $35,000,000.00; FY 21$18,000,000.00; FY 20$23,790,630.00; FY 19$27,000,000.00; FY 18$0.00; FY 17$17,151,490.00; FY 16$24,224,613.00; - See the current fiscal year's solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs web site 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 2019 Some examples of JRI successes include the following: • South Carolina has saved $491 million and closed 2.5 prisons while increasing public safety. • Georgia’s prison population has decreased eight percent from 2011 projections, and the state averted $264 million in costs. • North Carolina's prison population decreased six percent between 2010 and 2016, allowing the state to close 11 prisons and use $24 million of the savings to hire 175 probation and parole officers. Recidivism has decreased for the probation population, and the state continues to experience overall declines in crime. • South Dakota’s prison population is 12 percent lower than projected prior to reforms, and the state has reinvested more than $8 million in community supervision and substance use and mental health treatment programs.
Fiscal Year 2021 Through JRI, states have invested in a wide range of public safety strategies:  community-based treatment and services  community supervision  in-prison programming  problem-solving courts  local corrections  victims’ services  law enforcement  pretrial reform  other investments. For more detail, please visit https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/98361/justice_reinvestment_initiative_data_snapshot_0.pdf.
Fiscal Year 2023 JRI provides technical assistance and competitive financial support to states. For example, in FY 2023, JRI funding was used for The Price of Justice: Rethinking the Consequences of Fines and Fees Program to solicit a training and technical assistance provider to work in partnership with five states, local, and/or tribal criminal justice agencies or systems to address the use of fines and fees and ensure they are being imposed in a constitutional and nondiscriminatory way. The selected provider will work with sites to address common barriers to creating a more equitable justice system by addressing how sites use and apply fines and fees.