Research on Juvenile Reoffending, Fiscal Year 2020 | NIJ 2020 18254

Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2020 18254

The Department of Justice, through the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), offered a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Research on Juvenile Reoffending, Fiscal Year 2020" (Funding Opportunity Number: NIJ 2020 18254). The purpose of the solicitation was to fund rigorous research projects aimed specifically at improving how juvenile reoffending is measured. NIJ was looking for studies that do more than report reoffending rates; the emphasis was on strengthening the underlying definitions, metrics, and data practices that jurisdictions rely on when they track youth outcomes after system involvement.

At its core, the opportunity focused on building better knowledge and tools around juvenile reoffending so that juvenile justice agencies and local or state governments can use reoffending data in a more accurate and meaningful way. NIJ encouraged proposals that advance understanding of what juvenile reoffending looks like, how it should be counted, and how measurement choices can affect conclusions about program success, policy effectiveness, and public safety strategies. The solicitation framed reoffending measurement as a practical decision-making issue for agencies: better measurement helps jurisdictions set priorities, design responses, and consistently monitor and evaluate programs and policies over time.

This grant fell under the broader activity areas of law, justice, and legal services, as well as science and technology and other research and development, and it was associated with CFDA number 16.560. The solicitation also connected the research purpose to Department of Justice strategic objectives, including combating violent crime, promoting safe communities, and upholding the rights of crime victims. In other words, while the research topic was technical (measurement and data), the intended payoff was improved policy and practice that supports community safety and accountability.

In terms of eligibility, the opportunity was open to a wide range of applicants. Eligible entities included state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, as specified); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The listing also noted an "Others" category with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full announcement, signaling that some additional applicant types might qualify depending on NIJ's specific eligibility language.

The solicitation was created on March 18, 2020, with an original application deadline of May 18, 2020. NIJ anticipated making about three awards, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $1,250,000 per award. Overall, the funding was designed to support a small number of high-quality, methodologically strong research efforts that could meaningfully improve the way juvenile reoffending is defined, measured, and applied in real-world juvenile justice decision-making.

• The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research on Juvenile Reoffending, Fiscal Year 2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 18, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2020. (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 $1,250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NIJ 2020 18254

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