A Guide to the Application Process for U.S. Department of Justice Grants

Across the country, there is a growing recognition that the status quo of public safety and justice systems has failed to meet community needs, perpetuated harm, particularly among people from disinvested communities, and failed to improve safety or justice. As a result, jurisdictions big and small are looking for opportunities to build up, sustain, or expand innovative initiatives that center community-based approaches that both improve safety outcomes and prevent crime before it happens. One of the biggest barriers to the success of these initiatives is a lack of necessary funding. Federal grants provided through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) can play a critical role in ensuring that jurisdictions have access to the funding that they need to advance community safety and justice.

Each year, the DOJ solicits applications for hundreds of grant opportunities through three grantmaking offices: the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Many of these funding opportunities can be used to support community safety and justice initiatives. While each grant has different eligibility requirements, there are opportunities for state, Tribal, and local governments; academic institutions; community organizations; and businesses to apply for funding.

CAP’s guide to the DOJ grant application process

The Center for American Progress has developed a guide to demystify the federal grant process and help ensure jurisdictions and other organizations have the funding needed to support community-based safety initiatives. The guide, “Guidance and Tips on Navigating the U.S. Department of Justice Grant Proposal Process To Advance Community Safety and Justice,” includes an overview of the grant application process, breaks down key components of a grant application, and provides tips for successfully completing the process. The “Select 2024 DOJ grant opportunities that can be used to support community-based approaches to safety” chart highlights key grant opportunities in the DOJ Grants Program Plan to support community safety and justice initiatives. This chart will be updated annually with the release of each year’s Grants Program Plan.

Conclusion

Everyone deserves to be safe where they live, regardless of race, wealth, health, ability, or background. Protecting the right of every individual to live a life free of crime and violence is one of the most important responsibilities of government and community leaders; it’s also essential to creating thriving, healthy, and durable communities.

As jurisdictions work to deliver community safety and reduce the reach and harms of the criminal legal system, DOJ grants can play a critical role in seeding community-based safety interventions.