BJA FY 2023 Second Chance Act Training and Technical Assistance Program | O BJA 2023 171780

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2023 171780

The BJA FY 2023 Second Chance Act Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of Second Chance Act (SCA) reentry efforts by funding organizations that can provide hands-on training, technical assistance, and practical support to current SCA grantees and to the broader reentry field. The overall focus aligns with OJP priorities around advancing civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, supporting crime victims and people impacted by the justice system, improving community safety, addressing evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities.

Awards under this solicitation are made as cooperative agreements, which generally means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement in the funded work (for example, shaping deliverables, coordinating priorities, and monitoring progress more closely than in a standard grant). BJA anticipated making up to four awards, with an award ceiling of $3,000,000 per award. The opportunity falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity area and is associated with CFDA number 16.812. The solicitation was posted May 31, 2023, with an original application deadline of July 25, 2023.

A central feature of this opportunity is that funding is organized into four categories, each targeting a major component of successful reentry and recidivism reduction. Category 1 supports the National Reentry Resource Center, which functions as a national hub for reentry knowledge, tools, and peer learning. In practice, this type of category typically involves curating and disseminating evidence-informed resources, coordinating national-level convenings or learning communities, and helping grantees translate research and policy guidance into day-to-day operations. Category 2 focuses on Corrections and Community Engagement, emphasizing the connection between institutional corrections work and community-based partners, including strategies that improve collaboration, continuity of care, and engagement with families, service providers, and community stakeholders. Category 3 targets Health and Housing, reflecting how stabilizing health care access (including behavioral health and substance use needs) and securing safe housing are often decisive factors in whether people can successfully transition from incarceration to the community. Category 4 addresses Education and Employment, supporting approaches that build skills, credentials, job readiness, and employer connections, recognizing that stable work and educational advancement are core building blocks for long-term reintegration.

Eligibility for this program is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. In other words, BJA was open to a range of applicants so long as they could credibly deliver high-quality training and technical assistance at scale, tailored to the needs of SCA grantees and consistent with federal priorities on equity, access, and community safety.

In summary, this solicitation was aimed less at funding direct services and more at strengthening the national infrastructure that helps reentry programs succeed. By funding up to four specialized TTA providers across the four categories, BJA intended to improve implementation quality, spread effective practices, and help SCA grantees and the wider field address persistent reentry barriers in corrections-to-community transitions, health and housing stability, and education-to-employment pathways.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 2023 Second Chance Act Training and Technical Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.812.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 25, 2023. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses.

Apply for O BJA 2023 171780

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