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Current Solicitations

FY 2021 Current Solicitations

2021 State Justice Statistics Program for Statistical Analysis Centers

• BJS-2021-19305
  The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is seeking applications from state Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs) for funding under the 2021 State Justice Statistics (SJS) program. This program furthers the Department's mission by supporting the collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistical information on crime and criminal justice at the state and local levels.
  
  Deadline: Grants.gov Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. eastern time on March 11, 2021; JustGrants Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. eastern time on March 18, 2021
  
  Eligibility: The following entities are eligible to apply: Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs) established by state legislation or executive order.
  
  Contact Information: For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact Stephanie Burroughs, SJS Program Manager, by telephone at 202-307-0765, or by email at AskBJS@usdoj.gov.
  
  Full solicitation in PDF format (PDF 350K)

FY 2021 National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP)

• BJS-2021-19307
  The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is seeking applications for funding for the fiscal year (FY) 2021 National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP). This program furthers the Department's mission to reduce violent crime and address gun violence by enhancing the criminal justice capabilities of U.S. state and tribal governments by improving the accuracy, utility, and interstate accessibility of criminal-history and related records in support of national record systems and their use for name- and fingerprint-based criminal history background checks. For the purpose of this solicitation, "state" includes the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
  
  Deadline: Grants.gov Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April, 8, 2021; JustGrants Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 15, 2021
  
  Eligibility: The following entities are eligible to apply: Agencies designated by the governor of their respective state to administer NCHIP (34 U.S.C. § 40301). Federally recognized tribal governments.
  
  Contact Information: For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact Devon Adams, Chief, Criminal Justice Data Improvement Program, by telephone at 202-307-0765, or by email at AskBJS@usdoj.gov. Include "NCHIP21" in the subject line.
  
  Full solicitation in PDF format (PDF 338K)

FY 2021 NICS Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP)

• BJS-2021-19306
  The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is seeking applications for funding for the 2021 National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP). This program furthers the Department's mission by enhancing the completeness, automation, and transmittal of records to state and federal systems used by the NICS. Eligible states and tribes may receive grant funding to improve the completeness, automation, and transmittal of records to state and federal systems. For the purpose of this solicitation, the term "state" includes the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
  
  Deadline: Grants.gov Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 22, 2021; JustGrants Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 29, 2021
  
  Eligibility: The following entities are eligible to apply: The agency designated by the Governor in each state to administer the National Criminal History Improvement Program (34 U.S.C. § 40301). The state or territory central administrative office or similar entity designated by statute or regulation to administer federal grant funds on behalf of the jurisdiction's court system. Federally recognized tribal governments.
  
  Contact Information: For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact Devon Adams, Chief, Criminal Justice Data Improvement Program, by telephone at 202-307-0765, or by email at AskBJS@usdoj.gov. Include "NARIP21" in the subject line.
  
  Full solicitation in PDF format (PDF 328K)

Previous solicitations and announcements

Applications and forms

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) requires that applications for funding be submitted through the OJP Grants Management System (GMS).

Applicants for financial assistance from BJS should also review:

• Applicant and Awardee Instructions for Federal Assistance
  
  
• BJS Human Subjects/Confidentiality Requirements
  

New Grants and Payment Management Systems Now Available! New

The Justice Grants System (JustGrants) and the Department of the Treasury's Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) are now available for all award management and payment activities. Award recipients with the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) can login to JustGrants or visit the informational website for further resources and support. Additionally, ASAP is now available for enrolled Department of Justice award recipients to request funds. For more information on how to request funds in ASAP, please reference the user guide.

BJS funding programs

Criminal justice statistics programs | Assistance to state, local, and tribal governments | IPA Mobility Program

Criminal justice statistics programs

Data collection and processing

BJS maintains nearly three dozen major statistical series designed to cover each stage of the criminal justice system. A description of the various BJS data series can be found under the topical references on the BJS home page. The U.S. Census Bureau carries out the majority of BJS's data collection activities. However, BJS conducts several statistical programs for which other non-profit organizations serve as BJS data collection agents. BJS periodically announces solicitations for these programs in the Federal Register and current solicitations are listed at the top of this page.

Statistical and methodological research

BJS conducts, supports, and implements methodological research and initiatives designed to improve the quality of justice statistics, records, and information systems.

BJS, in partnership with the American Statistical Association (ASA), sponsors research projects designed to foster improvements in the methods used to obtain, analyze, and report national-level data on crime and criminal justice. Each year, new topics for methodological research are identified by BJS and ASA. Solicitations for new research projects are announced each year in February and October.

The BJS Visiting Fellows Program promotes criminal justice statistical research among the academic and professional justice community. Visiting Fellows participate in a specifically designed research project of particular operational relevance to the national or international justice system. The program offers criminal justice researchers an opportunity to have a significant impact on specific BJS projects as well as a chance to examine innovative approaches to the analysis and dissemination of BJS data.

Assistance to state, local, and tribal governments

National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) provides financial and technical support to states in improving the accuracy, utility, and interstate accessibility of criminal history records and enhancing records of protective orders involving domestic violence and stalking, sex offender records, automated identification systems, and other state systems supporting national records systems and their use for background checks.

State Justice Statistics (SJS) Program for Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) offers technical and financial support to states to establish and maintain a state-level capacity to collect, analyze, and report statistics on crime and justice in order to contribute to effective state policies and programs and to participate in national data series. Through the creation of SACs, BJS encourages analyses of evolving criminal justice topics of interest within the state using data gathered from state and local agencies and promotes statistical inquiries into improved measures of crime incidence and prevalence.

Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program

Through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program, BJS invites individuals interested in pursuing criminal justice issues to apply for temporary assignments. Projects will be designed to focus on improving BJS's statistical programs. Assignments may vary in duration, up to 2 years, and may be intermittent, part-time, or full-time. Visit the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program page for deadlines and eligibility requirements.