Community Reentry Settings Initiative

The Community Reentry Settings Initiative, administered by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), is a federally funded opportunity focused on improving the decision-making framework used by state Departments of Corrections (DOCs) for placing incarcerated individuals into halfway houses and community reentry centers. The overarching goal of this initiative is to conduct a comprehensive process evaluation that sheds light on how such placement decisions are made, with an emphasis on understanding the criteria, discretion, and policies governing these transitions. This initiative is not intended to fund the creation, staffing, or physical expansion of halfway houses, but rather to explore the operational mechanics and challenges that influence placement practices and outcomes. This funding opportunity seeks a qualified organization to carry out a two-year cooperative agreement project. In the first year, the selected awardee will design and implement a process evaluation methodology, including surveys, interviews, and on-site visits with selected DOCs. The focus will be on gathering data related to how decisions are made, what tools and policies guide those decisions, and how discretion is applied in practice. Key areas of investigation include the balance between formalized policy and subjective judgment by correctional staff, criteria such as risk and protective factors, and the level of collaboration between DOCs and community-based organizations during the release and placement process. A written summary of findings will be required, including narratives and insights gathered through site visits and document analysis. In the second year, the project will convene a national working group composed of subject matter experts and criminal justice professionals, in collaboration with NIC, to synthesize findings from year one and develop national-level recommendations. These recommendations will aim to inform policy and best practices for DOCs nationwide on effective and equitable halfway house placements. The awardee will be responsible for organizing and facilitating these workgroups, creating agendas, designing meeting structures, and producing a final report summarizing the project’s findings and consensus recommendations. The total funding available for this initiative is $100,000 for a 12-month award period. Only one award will be made, and cost-sharing or matching is not required. Eligible applicants include nonprofit and for-profit organizations, as well as institutions of higher education. Foreign entities, federal agencies, and government organizations (such as state or local governments) are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate substantial experience in criminal justice research, including data collection, evaluation design, and analysis, with at least ten years of relevant experience. Entities submitting applications must ensure they waive any profit or fees, and documentation such as proof of nonprofit status or tribal authorization must be included. To apply, organizations must submit their applications through Grants.gov by May 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applications must include several mandatory components, including standard federal forms (SF-424 series), project abstract, narrative, logic model, budget documents, staff résumés, and accessibility and plain language compliance reports. No late submissions will be accepted, and applicants are strongly encouraged to submit at least 72 hours prior to the deadline. Additionally, pre-proposal questions are due no later than April 20, 2026. Applications will be evaluated based on programmatic merit (40%), organizational capacity (35%), and administrative planning (25%), with award notifications anticipated around June 5, 2026. NIC emphasizes the use of evidence-based practices in all project phases, and the successful applicant will be expected to engage with NIC staff throughout the project period. The NIC program manager will actively collaborate in design, review, and facilitation of key project activities and deliverables. All resulting materials must comply with federal accessibility and plain language standards, and a strong emphasis is placed on ethical standards, conflict-of-interest disclosure, and compliance with applicable regulations. This initiative represents an opportunity to shape national guidance on reentry practices and improve outcomes for individuals transitioning from incarceration to community-based settings.

Highlight evaluation expertise, address discretion vs. policy in decision-making, and demonstrate knowledge of reentry dynamics.