BJA FY25 Investigating and Prosecuting Sexual Assaults in Confinement Facilities Program

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) within the U.S. Department of Justice, is accepting applications for the "Investigating and Prosecuting Sexual Assaults in Confinement Facilities" grant program. This initiative is designed to support state, local, and tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to investigate and prosecute incidents of sexual assault within confinement facilities. These facilities include prisons, jails, and other detention settings, and the program seeks to enhance public safety, increase the accountability of perpetrators, and support the rights of victims. The BJA operates under the mandate of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), enacted in 2003, which sets national standards to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse in confinement. The primary objective of this grant is to bolster the capacity of law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies to pursue cases of sexual assault that occur in detention environments. It provides financial support to enhance investigative and prosecutorial infrastructure, including the establishment or expansion of prosecution units, improving evidence collection, training personnel, and implementing coordinated interagency responses. Additionally, funds may be used to acquire tools such as security cameras and to support sexual assault response teams (SARTs) within correctional facilities. Applications should align with BJA’s strategic priorities, such as combatting violent crime and supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault, although addressing these priorities is not a requirement for funding. Eligible applicants include state governments, counties, cities or townships, publicly funded law enforcement agencies, state and local prosecuting agencies, and Native American tribal governments—both federally recognized and otherwise. Only one application per entity is allowed, though entities may serve as subrecipients in multiple applications. Importantly, there is no cost sharing or matching requirement under this funding opportunity, which expands access for agencies that may face financial constraints. Applicants must follow a two-step submission process. First, they must submit the SF-424 form via Grants.gov by May 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Second, they must complete the full application in JustGrants by May 11, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET. Required components of the application include a proposal abstract, a detailed narrative, budget documentation, letters of support or memoranda of understanding (MOUs), resumes of key personnel, and various financial disclosures. Failure to submit required items will result in disqualification during the Basic Minimum Requirements review phase. Applications will be evaluated based on a combination of responsiveness to the program goals, quality of the project narrative, proposed activities and timelines, budget justification, and organizational capacity. Additional considerations include geographic diversity, prior performance, and alignment with federal priorities. All applicants must register in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), and maintain an active registration throughout the application and performance period. Entities are encouraged to begin the registration process as early as possible to avoid disqualification due to technical delays. The anticipated total funding available under this grant is $6,118,302, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000 per project and an estimated period of performance of 36 months starting June 1, 2026. The expected number of awards is four. While no deliverables beyond performance measures are required post-award, recipients must regularly submit both financial and performance reports through designated federal systems. The BJA may also support evaluation efforts to assess the program’s broader impact. Depending on the outcomes and availability of funds, recipients may be eligible for continuation awards in future years.

Ensure alignment to program goals and clearly describe coordination across agencies. Budget and narrative must be consistent and detailed.