The Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) convenes states justice system stakeholders and policy leaders to devise data-driven approaches to criminal justice reform designed to generate cost savings that can be reinvested in high-performing public safety strategies.

Under the JRI model,

credit: DUI

a governmental working group with bipartisan and inter-branch representation analyzes the correctional population and its costs, develops cost-effective policy options, and implements reforms to manage correctional populations while enhancing public safety.

JRI jurisdictions reinvest these cost savings into high-performing initiatives that make communities safer.

In addition to reducing prison populations, justice reinvestment encourages states to embrace a culture of greater collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and increased use of evidence-based practices.

The Justice Reinvestment Race to the Top program (JRR2T) is designed to cement or amplify the goals of states justice reinvestment reform efforts, deepening their investment in and commitment to and use of data-driven decisionmaking and evidence-based practices and programs.

The objectives of the JRR2T Program are the following:
• Increase corrections costs saved or avoided by reducing unnecessary confinement.
• Increase reinvestment in evidence-based practices that reduce recidivism.
• Support justice reinvestment reform efforts by promoting and increasing collaboration among agencies and officials who work in criminal justice, including state and local policymakers, law enforcement, prosecution, defense, pretrial, courts, probation, treatment, corrections, reentry, and parole.
• Enhance the translation of evidence into practice by supporting the use of data analysis results to inform policy decisions.

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

• Engagement of stakeholders across branches of government, political parties, and key special interest groups such as victim advocates, prosecutors, etc.
• Analysis of data to identify criminal justice population and cost drivers.


• Development of policy framework that leads to enacted JRI legislation at the state level.
• Implementation of JRI legislation through high-performing programs and strategies to reduce incarceration costs and increase public safety.


• Measurement of implementation of JRI strategy and reinvestment.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

None.

Beneficiary Eligibility

None.

Credentials/Documentation

The application must include: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424); Program Abstract; Program Narrative; Budget and Budget Narrative. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applicants must submit completed applications via the Office of Justice Programs, Grants Management System or through grants.gov following established criteria. The receipt, review, and analysis of applications will follow Office of Justice Programs policies and procedures for the administration of grant applications. Specific application instructions for solicitations are available at the Office of Justice Programs web site (http://www.ojp.gov/funding/solicitations.htm).

Award Procedures

Upon approval by the Assistant Attorney General (for science offices, would be the Director of the applicable Office), successful applicants are notified via the Grants Management System. One copy of the grant award must be signed by the authorized official and returned to the Office of Justice Programs.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 , Public Law 113-76, 128 Stat. 5, 61.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals

From 90 to 120 days. Determined by the Assistant Attorney General, OJP.

Renewals

From 90 to 120 days. Yes, a grant can be supplemented or granted a no-cost extension, subject to BJA policy.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements. If a state has measured and reinvested savings (either projected or actual costs saved or avoided) into evidence-based strategies to reduce recidivism and make communities safer (see Selection Criteria outlined in the Solicitation for specifics), this solicitation does not require a match. If such a state proposes a voluntary match amount, however, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit.

If a state has not measured and reinvested savings (see Selection Criteria outlined in the Solicitation for specifics), a match is required, and the following requirements apply:

• The amount of the match must equal the amount of federal funds being sought.

• Match funds are subject to the same regulations and restrictions as the federal funds for this program.

• Applicants must identify the source of the non-federal funds and how they will use the funds. If a successful applicant s proposed match exceeds the required match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit.

• Applicants may satisfy this match requirement with cash, in-kind services, or a combination of the two.

• Match funds must be used for one or more of the state s reinvestment strategies identified in the justice reinvestment process. For example, match funding can be used to expand or improve community-based treatment only if the JRI legislation or task force identified community-based treatment as a reinvestment priority. As another example, match funding could be used for skills-based trainings for probation officers if the state s reinvestment strategies included more effective community supervision.

• Applicants must identify the target(s) of the reinvestment match with specificity, including, if applicable, names of agencies, service providers, or staff positions to be funded; a description of the kind of service to be provided or functions to be performed; what period of time will be covered; and amounts of funding. Applicants must document these commitments by including relevant attachments to the application.

Example: For a federal award amount of $1,750,000, the required reinvestment match is $1,750,000.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

New grant. Assistance is drawn down according to a timeline submitted by grantee. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Competitive award and money are released when grantee draws down funds based on an approve timeline.

See the following for additional information on how assistance is awarded/release: Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide 2011 (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/index.htm) and Post Award Instructions (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/pdfs/post_award_instructions.pdf).

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Recipients are required to submit semi-annual Progress Reports.

Recipients are required to submit quarterly Financial Reports.

To assist in fulfilling the Departments responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111-352, recipients must provide data that measures the results of their work.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations (includes revisions published in the Federal Register 06/27/2003 and 06/26/2007) http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_default/

Payments and transactions are subject to audits by the Government Accountability Office, Department of Justice s Office of the Inspector General, state or local government auditors, and auditors from independent public accounting firms. Jurisdictions must follow their local policies and procedures, including maintenance of reliable and accurate accounting systems, record keeping, and systems of internal control.

Records

Recipients of federal funds are expected to retain documentation supporting all program transactions for at least 3 years after the closure of audit reports related to such funding. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all related issues, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Financial Information

Account Identification

15-0404-0-1-754.

Obigations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 13 $0; FY 14 est $27,500,000; and FY 15 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Awards may be up to $1,750,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

View solicitation at OJP Funding Opportunities
http://ojp.gov/funding/solicitations.htm;
OJP Financial Guide 2013 www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/index.htm;
Post award Instructions www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/pdfs/post_award_instructions.pdf; and, applicable OMB Circulars, and Department of Justice regulations applicable to specific types of grantees, which can be found in title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations (28 C.F.R.).

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

BJA Policy Advisor U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 7th Street, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20531 Phone: 202-616-6500

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Criteria are described in the OJP Program Announcement available at http://www.ojp.gov/funding/solicitations.htm.