BJA FY 17 John R. Justice Program | BJA 2017 11361

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the BJA FY 17 John R. Justice (JRJ) Program?

The BJA FY 17 John R. Justice (JRJ) Program is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to address a practical workforce challenge in the criminal justice system by supporting loan repayment assistance to help recruit and retain experienced prosecutors and public defenders in public service.

What problem is this grant trying to solve?

The program targets the recruitment and retention challenges caused by student loan debt among prosecutors and public defenders. As law school costs have increased and public-sector salaries have often not kept pace, many attorneys either avoid public service roles or leave them for higher-paying private sector jobs. The grant aims to reduce that pressure by supporting loan repayment assistance.

What is the main purpose of JRJ funding?

The main purpose is to stabilize and strengthen the criminal justice workforce by easing the student loan burden for eligible prosecutors and public defenders. By doing so, the program aims to support staffing stability, reduce excessive caseloads and burnout, and promote fair and effective administration of justice.

Who provides this funding?

The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

Is this grant awarded directly to individual prosecutors or public defenders?

No. Awards are made at the state and territory level (and the District of Columbia), not directly to individual attorneys or local offices. The federal government funds a statewide administrator, and that administrator runs the program within its jurisdiction and distributes the benefit to eligible recipients working as prosecutors or public defenders.

Who is eligible to apply for the grant at the federal level?

Eligibility is tightly defined. The applicant must be the agency in an eligible state or territory that is formally designated by the Governor (and in Washington, D.C., by the Mayor) to administer the JRJ Program. The solicitation lists the eligible applicant type as "Others," but in practice it refers to the Governor-designated or Mayor-designated administering agency.

Who administers the JRJ Program within each state, territory, or D.C.?

The agency designated by the Governor (or by the Mayor in Washington, D.C.) serves as the administering agency. That entity is responsible for establishing and maintaining a statewide JRJ Grant Program consistent with the governing statute and the guidance in the solicitation.

What does the designated administering agency have to do with the award?

The designated agency is responsible for setting up and operating a statewide JRJ Grant Program in its jurisdiction. This includes administering the program and distributing loan repayment assistance benefits to eligible prosecutors and public defenders, consistent with the statute and solicitation guidance.

What type of grant is this?

This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the Law, Justice and Legal Services funding area.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number is 16.816.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is BJA 2017 11361.

When was the solicitation created?

The solicitation was created on 2017-06-02.

When did the solicitation close?

The solicitation originally closed on 2017-07-18.

How many awards were anticipated?

BJA anticipated making about 21 awards.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling was $200,000 per award.

How is the program structured across jurisdictions?

The program is structured to issue one award per participating jurisdiction to support statewide administration and loan repayment assistance for eligible attorneys. Funding is awarded to the designated administering agency for each state, territory, or D.C., rather than to individual offices.

What kinds of impacts is the program intended to prevent or reduce?

By helping offices maintain staffing levels, the program is intended to reduce the downstream effects of attorney shortages, including overwhelming caseloads, burnout, and potential impacts on public safety, case outcomes, and public confidence in the justice system.

Does the program focus on prosecutors, public defenders, or both?

The program focuses on both prosecutors and public defenders, with the goal of retaining experienced attorneys and supporting recruitment into these public service roles.

Does BJA fund local prosecutor or public defender offices through this opportunity?

Not directly. The federal award is made to the state, territory, or D.C. administering agency, which then operates the statewide program and distributes loan repayment assistance benefits within the jurisdiction.

What is the overall goal of the JRJ Program for the justice system?

The overall goal is to support a stable, qualified criminal justice attorney workforce by easing financial pressures related to student loan debt, improving recruitment and retention, reducing excessive caseload pressures, and supporting the fair and effective administration of justice across states and territories.