The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is accepting applications for its Second Chance Act Community-based Reentry Program.
Donor Name: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/04/2026
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
This NOFO will support community-based organizations and tribal governments to provide mentoring and transitional services for adults returning to communities after a period of incarceration and who are assessed as moderate to high risk for recidivism. Services may be provided pre- and/or post-release.
Applicants may use funding to support:
- Use of validated tools to assess risk of recidivism and criminogenic needs
- Educational, literacy, and vocational services
- A Transitional Jobs strategy
- Substance use and mental health treatment and services
- Individual and/or group mentoring or peer supports
- Services to support family reunification and restoration
- Service coordination, including connections to physical health care, providing or making referrals to safe and affordable housing, and continuity of substance use and mental health care
- Training on reentry and victim-related topics
A Transitional Jobs strategy is:
- Serves people who are chronically unemployed or have barriers to employment
- Is conducted by governments, workforce boards, and non-profit organizations
- Provides short-term employment without displacing existing employees
- Provides services that help people build skills and overcome job barriers including continuing and vocational education, job retention and re-employment services
- Pays at least the minimum wage set by federal, state, or local law—whichever is highest, and is partly or fully paid by public funds
- Has a long-term goal to move people into permanent, unsubsidized jobs
Goals
- Goal: Create safer communities by improving reentry outcomes and reducing recidivism for people who have been incarcerated.
- Objective 1: Provide mentoring and other transitional services.
- Objective 2: Prioritize service to people at moderate to high risk of recidivism.
Funding Information
- Anticipated Total Amount To Be Awarded Under This Funding Opportunity: $12,000,000
- Anticipated Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
- Anticipated Period of Performance: 36 months
Eligibility Criteria
The types of entities that are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity are listed below:
- Government Entities
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (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 more information, visit Grants.gov.
