OJJDP FY25 Family-Based Alternative Justice

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, has announced a funding opportunity titled “Family-Based Alternative Justice.” This initiative is part of OJJDP’s broader mission to enhance public safety, strengthen families, and reduce youth involvement in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. The grant supports programs that implement or expand pre-arrest and pre-sentencing alternatives for parents and primary caregivers who are at risk of or currently involved in the justice system. The focus is on rehabilitation over incarceration, family unification, and the prevention of children entering foster care or becoming involved in the justice system themselves. The programs funded through this opportunity aim to serve justice-involved families by allowing parents to remain with their children, when appropriate, while undergoing rehabilitative services. Eligible programs must be designed to prioritize the well-being of children and support parents in developing skills necessary for long-term family preservation. These services often include family-based interventions, parenting support, and wraparound services such as substance use treatment, mental health counseling, and educational support. By targeting systemic and familial factors contributing to incarceration, the initiative seeks to reduce recidivism and intergenerational justice system involvement. This funding opportunity explicitly excludes service provision to violent offenders, both adult and juvenile, as defined by specified federal criteria, such as those involving the use of weapons or resulting in bodily harm. Programs may not use funds for activities that violate federal immigration laws or civil rights legislation. The Department of Justice also outlines prohibited uses such as legal services for undocumented immigrants, with certain exceptions for crime victims. Grantees are expected to comply with strict civil rights, anti-discrimination, and financial management regulations. Eligible applicants include a broad range of public and private entities such as state, county, and local governments; Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (both with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status); and for-profit organizations including small businesses. However, nonprofit or educational applicants are required to demonstrate formal partnerships with public criminal justice agencies through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Collaborative implementation with community-based service providers is strongly encouraged, especially those offering family preservation services or treatment programs. The total funding available under this opportunity is $2.9 million, with an anticipated four awards of up to $750,000 each for a project period of 36 months. Cost sharing or matching is not required. The application process involves a two-step submission. First, the SF-424 form must be submitted through Grants.gov by May 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Then, the full application must be submitted in the JustGrants portal by May 11, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants must be registered with SAM.gov and JustGrants, and should begin that process well in advance of the deadline. Applications will undergo a two-part review: an initial screening for eligibility and completeness, followed by a merit-based peer review. Evaluation criteria include a clearly defined problem statement, alignment with program goals, sound project design and implementation plan, demonstrated organizational capacity, and cost-effective budgeting. Successful applicants will receive formal award notices via JustGrants and will be required to submit periodic financial and performance reports. Recipients are also expected to participate in performance evaluation activities coordinated by OJJDP. Awards may be eligible for continuation funding in subsequent years, subject to available appropriations and satisfactory performance.

Prioritize cross-system coordination; clearly link objectives to outcomes; outline both parent and youth programming; comply with violent offender exclusions.