BJA FY 18 Justice Accountability Initiative (JAI): Pilot Projects Using Data-driven Systems To Reduce Crime and Recidivism | BJA 2018 14652

Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2018 14652

The BJA FY 18 Justice Accountability Initiative (JAI): Pilot Projects Using Data-driven Systems To Reduce Crime and Recidivism is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to help criminal justice agencies and their partners use data-driven methods to cut crime and lower recidivism. The central aim is to fund pilot projects that modernize how jurisdictions predict reoffending risk, assess needs, and coordinate supervision and support strategies, while also strengthening cross-agency information sharing so that decision-makers have timely, actionable information.

The program is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect an active federal role during the life of the project (for example, coordination, guidance, and monitoring beyond what is typical in a standard grant). The opportunity is listed under CFDA 16.827 and aligns with several activity areas, including law and justice, information and statistics, science and technology, and research and development, reflecting its emphasis on applying rigorous analytics and technology to operational criminal justice problems.

BJA’s funding focus is split into two main project categories. Category 1 centers on developing and implementing improved, scientifically rigorous, and automated risk prediction tools and needs assessments. These tools are expected to be based on computer learning algorithms or comparable methods, with the practical purpose of identifying who may be more likely to reoffend and matching those individuals with appropriate supervisory strategies and supports to prevent future offending. In other words, BJA is not just looking for analytical models in isolation, but systems that can be used in real decision points (such as supervision planning, intervention targeting, or resource allocation) to reduce both crime and repeat involvement with the justice system.

Category 2 focuses on the infrastructure side of justice accountability: building or improving integrated data-sharing capacity and notification systems across agencies. This can include better connectivity and information exchange between law enforcement and corrections, or other relevant partners, so that key events and status changes are communicated quickly and reliably. The idea is that better integration and notification can reduce gaps in supervision, improve situational awareness, and support more coordinated responses, which in turn can help prevent crime and reduce recidivism.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full solicitation. This structure is typically intended to encourage participation from state, local, tribal, and territorial governments as well as other organizations that can credibly execute pilot projects involving justice data systems, analytics, and interagency coordination.

The opportunity was posted on June 28, 2018, with an original application deadline of July 30, 2018. BJA anticipated making approximately 14 awards, with an award ceiling of $3,300,000 per award. Overall, the grant is geared toward pilots that combine modern analytical methods with practical operational deployment, either by strengthening risk and needs assessment capabilities (Category 1) or by improving the data integration and notification backbone needed for coordinated justice responses (Category 2), all in service of measurable reductions in crime and recidivism.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the employment, labor and training, information and statistics, law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 18 Justice Accountability Initiative (JAI): Pilot Projects Using Data-driven Systems To Reduce Crime and Recidivism" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.827.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 28, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for BJA 2018 14652

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: