DOJ Encouraging Innovation Grant Announcement

The Department of Justice recently announced a new grant administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to support innovative programs and strategies that enable local criminal justice systems to prevent and respond to emerging and chronic crime problems that affect local communities. Proposals must address a gap in the current knowledge base about how to respond to and prevent crime and be developed or implemented in a way that other communities and organizations can learn from. To be considered innovative, applications must propose:

• a strategy that has not been implemented previously, yet is supported by research, data, or evidence;
• a new modification to an existing strategy or response that is supported by research, data, or evidence; or
• a new approach to delivering evidence based strategies or responses that has not been implemented previously and that would remain effective while reducing costs and increasing efficiency in the local justice system.

Eligible applications are public or private entities including for profit (commercial) and nonprofit organizations, faith-based community organizations, institutes of higher education, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and units of local and state government are eligible to apply. Up to $350,000 may be requested in funding, with project periods ranging from 15-36 months. The application deadline is April 21, 2011.

The grant materials can be accessed here.