Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Over Non-Indians:
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022
Federal Funding for Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction
(Closed) OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program
This program is authorized by Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Pub. L. No. 117-328, 136 Stat. 4459, 4532 and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-42, 138 Stat. 25, 143. Financial Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program (FAV Program (CFDA 16.063)) supports victim service providers, Tribal governments, and Tribal organizations to provide flexible financial assistance to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, alongside other victim services. Flexible financial assistance is intended to support survivors in achieving safety, stability, and healing by paying for necessities that are not easily met by traditional service providers and with the flexibility to meet self-identified needs quickly.
Link to full announcement: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/1360126/dl?inline
(Closed) Tribal Access Program – 2024 Applications
The TAP application period closed on August 30, 2024. Tribal Justice and Safety | Tribal Access Program – 2024 Applications New applications and new court staff usually means questions about TAP.
In order to assist interested Tribes and inform new staff about TAP and its capabilities, TAP will host a TAP Overview webinar on the following dates and times (EST). Please email TAP.App@usdoj.gov and let us know which event you are interested in attending.
TAP Overview: Provides an overview of the TAP program and benefits for criminal justice and non-criminal justice agencies to enhance Tribal public safety.
Who should attend: Anyone interested in learning about TAP, including Tribal police chiefs, judges, court administrators, sex offender registry managers, social service directors, and senior executive Tribal government leaders who will decide whether their Tribe should submit an application during the current application period.
(Closed) OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program - Solicitation
This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C § 12511(e). The Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program (TSASP) (CFDA # 16.024) supports efforts to create, maintain, and expand sustainable sexual assault services provided by Tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit tribal organizations within Indian country and Alaska Native villages. TSASP supported projects provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment (e.g., accompanying victims to court, medical facilities, or police departments), support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, non-offending family and household members of victims, and those collaterally affected by the sexual assault.
(Closed) OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative (STCJ AK) Program Solicitation
The OVW website has been updated for the extended deadlines for the Solicitation on the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes. Here is the direct solicitation link: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/1353731/dl?inline
The PDF copy of webinar, "FY 2024 Pre-Application Information Session" can be found here: https://1af47f34-99f9-4bcc-87eb-bb56dff8a82d.usrfiles.com/ugd/1af47f_1ef486fb08944b4d87c4ae94095545ff.pdf
Link to the "FY 2024 Pre-Application Information Session" recording can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGrNB9e7xgo
This is a short application period in order to get awards out by October 1.
Department of Justice Funding
Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) | View Open Funding Opportunities
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The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) currently administers grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and subsequent legislation. These grant programs are designed to develop the nation's capacity to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by strengthening services to victims and holding offenders accountable. Here, you can read about each of our grant programs, learn about eligibility, and access resources to apply for and manage your grants.
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) | View Open Funding Opportunities
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OVC administers two Victims of Crime Act formula grant programs that support crime victim compensation and assistance—the cornerstone of support for victims throughout the Nation.
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Additionally, OVC is charged by Congress with administering set-aside funds from the Crime Victims Fund for a Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside program which provide support to Tribal communities to enhance services for victims of crime.
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OVC also administers discretionary grants that are used to fund national-scope demonstration projects and training and technical assistance delivery to enhance the professional expertise of victim service providers. Such grants can be awarded to states, local units of government, Tribal communities, individuals, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations.
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These funds can be used to identify and implement promising practices, models, and programs, and to address gaps in training and technical assistance for the victim services field.
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) | View Open Funding Opportunities
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The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) offers funding through a variety of different programs. Visit their website to access currently available opportunities, learn about funding webinars, apply to become a peer reviewer, find information about previously available solicitations, and see award details.
Office of Justice Programs (OJP) | View Open Funding Opportunities
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Welcome to OJP's Funding Resource Center. Whether you're looking for a funding opportunity or need an overview of OJP's grant process, the Center provides you with access to the information you need.
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Once you find a funding opportunity your organization is eligible for, you are ready to begin the application process. Grants 101 provides an overview, then walks you through the entire application process, including writing the application and receiving notifications from OJP.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) | View Open Funding Opportunities
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The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) offers funding through formula and discretionary grants, cooperative agreements, and payment programs.
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In FY 2021, OJJDP made 289 discretionary grant awards totaling $343,990,228 to support state, Tribal, and community efforts to promote the safety and well-being of youth and to deter delinquency.
(Closed) OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program
The OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program solicitation has been released and is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/1345256/dl?inline
The OVW Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Grant Program (Tribal Jurisdiction Program) (Assistance Listing # 16.025) supports tribes in their efforts to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction (STCJ) over non-Indians who commit “covered crimes” within the Tribe’s jurisdictional boundaries and provides technical assistance for planning and implementing changes in their criminal justice systems necessary to exercise the jurisdiction. “Covered crimes” are: assault of Tribal justice personnel; child violence; dating violence; domestic violence; obstruction of justice; sexual violence; sex trafficking; stalking; and violation of a protection order. The program supports tribes in preparing to exercise or exercising the jurisdiction to ensure that victims find safety and justice and that non-Indians who commit covered crimes within their communities are held accountable.
(Closed) FY 2024 OVW Tribal Governments Program and Tribal Governments Program – Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Response Track (START)
The FY 2024 OVW Tribal Governments Program and Tribal Governments Program – Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Response Track (START) solicitations are posted.
Please find the link to the solicitations in the notice, below. Feel free to share with anyone that may be interested in these funding opportunities.
OVW is conducting optional weekly, web-based Pre-Application Information Sessions. During these sessions, OVW staff answers questions about the solicitation and application process. These sessions are held every Wednesday, starting February 7, 2024, and ending April 24, 2024, from 5:30pm-6:30pm ET. Registration is required. In addition, OVW will post a pre-recorded Pre-Application Information Session on its website. Listening to this session is optional and not a requirement to be eligible to apply. The session is tentatively scheduled to be available by February 1, 2024, on the OVW website.
The Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program (referred to as the Tribal Governments Program) assists tribal governments and authorized designees of tribal governments to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in their communities.
The Tribal Governments Program – Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (referred to as Tribal Governments START) is targeted toward Tribal governments, or their designees, that have never, or not recently, received funding through this program. Tribal Governments START grantees will focus on capacity building early in the project and will receive additional training, technical assistance, and support.
Eligible applicants for Tribal Governments Program and Tribal Governments START include federally-recognized Native American tribal governments, authorized designees of Indian Tribal Governments, and Tribal Consortiums in the United States or U.S. territories. For more information, see the Eligibility Information section of the solicitation.
New This Year
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Most notably, OVW is issuing two separate solicitations under the Tribal Governments Program. The first is the standard OVW Tribal Governments Program solicitation. The standard solicitation is appropriate for current Tribal Governments Program grantees and recent Tribal Government Program grantees interested in continuing and enhancing existing Tribal governmental responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking. The second, the Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) is targeted toward Tribal governments, or their designees, that have never, or not recently, received funding through this program. Tribal Governments START grantees will focus on capacity building early in the project and will receive additional training, technical assistance, and support. Applicants should apply only to the Tribal Governments START or Tribal Governments Program. Applicants that apply under both the standard Tribal Governments and Tribal Governments START solicitations can only receive one award. All open OVW solicitations can be found on the OVW Open Solicitations Page.
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In FY 2024, OVW has one programmatic priority for the Tribal Governments and Tribal Governments START solicitations. Applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to address this priority area. Applications proposing activities in the following area will be given special consideration:
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Strengthen efforts to prevent and end sexual assault, including victim services and civil and criminal justice responses.
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In FY 2024, OVW has provided a Proposal Narrative Sample for both the Tribal Governments Program and Tribal Governments START solicitations. The Proposal Narrative Samples can be found on the OVW Applicant Resources page, under Tribal Governments and Tribal Governments START. Please be sure to reference the sample narrative that aligns with the correct Tribal Governments solicitation your program is applying for (Tribal Governments Program OR Tribal Governments START).
Important Dates and Information
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Application deadline for Grants.gov: April 24, 2024 11:59 p.m. ET
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Application deadline for JustGrants: April 25, 2024 8:59 p.m. ET
To submit an application, all applicants must register online with the System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov. To ensure sufficient time to complete the registration process, applicants should register online with SAM and with Grants.gov immediately, but no later than April 4, 2024.
Contact: OVW.TribalGovernment@usdoj.gov or 202-307-6026
In FY 2024, OVW has provided a Proposal Narrative Sample for both the Tribal Governments Program and Tribal Governments START solicitations. The Proposal Narrative Samples can be found on the OVW Applicant Resources page, under Tribal Governments and Tribal Governments START. Please be sure to reference the sample narrative that aligns with the correct Tribal Governments solicitation your program is applying for (Tribal Governments Program OR Tribal Governments START).
FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation
This solicitation provides federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia an opportunity to apply for funding to aid in developing a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety. Many of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) existing tribal government-specific programs are included in and available through this single Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS).
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 CTAS refers to the DOJ’s tribal government-specific competitive grant programs as purpose areas (PA). Applicants may select the PA(s) that best address their tribe’s concerns related to public safety, criminal and juvenile justice, and the needs of victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
Each tribe, tribal consortium, or tribal designee may only submit one application. A tribe may apply as part of a consortium and also submit its own independent application provided that the independent application is for funding of activities that are different from those activities for which the tribal consortium has applied.
Following are the seven PAs and their DOJ components:
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PA 1: Public Safety and Community Policing Tribal Resources Grant Program – Hiring and Equipment/Training [Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office)]
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PA 2: Tribal Justice Systems Strategic Planning Program [Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), COPS Office, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)]
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PA 3: Tribal Justice Systems Program (BJA)
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PA 4: Tribal Justice System Infrastructure Program (BJA)
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PA 6: Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities (OVC)
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PA 8: Youth Healing to Wellness Courts (OJJDP)
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PA 9: Tribal Youth Program (OJJDP)
Note that, in FY 2024, PAs 5 and 7 are not included in CTAS.
Eligible Applicants:
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Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
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Other (consortia consisting of two or more federally recognized Indian Tribes)
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Other (tribal designees are eligible for certain activities related to OVC PA #6)
Additional Resources:
See the solicitation for additional opportunity and eligibility details, as well as directions on how to apply. Also visit the Department of Justice site for templates, legal documents, and more about the FY 2024 CTAS opportunity.
Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program
The Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Reimbursement Program (Tribal Reimbursement Program), reimburses Tribal governments for expenses incurred in exercising Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) over non-Indians who commit certain "covered crimes" on Tribal lands. The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) recognized the inherent power of participating tribes to exercise STCJ and establishes a pilot program under which the Attorney General may designate up to five Alaska Tribes per calendar year as participating Tribes to exercise STCJ over all persons present in the Tribe’s village.
VAWA 2022 authorized this reimbursement program to reimburse participating tribes for expenses incurred in exercising STCJ. After consulting with tribes, OVW issued implementing regulations for the program. Read the implementing regulations.
Who Can Apply for Reimbursement?
Tribal governments can seek reimbursement under this program if they are recognized by and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs by virtue of their status as Indian Tribes, and exercise STCJ over at least one of the covered crimes during calendar year 2024. Exercise of jurisdiction over all covered crimes is not required.
Tribes that are in the planning phases prior to implementing STCJ are not eligible for reimbursement of planning costs from this program. Participating tribes that are currently exercising STCJ over any covered crime and are in the planning phase to exercise jurisdiction over additional covered crimes are eligible for reimbursement for their STCJ cases, but not for planning costs.
Learn more about OVW's grant funding for STCJ implementation.
How Do I Apply for Reimbursement Under This Program?
OVW will post notices of reimbursement opportunity for this program in Grants.gov as well as on the OVW's Open Solicitations webpage. You can also sign up to receive emails as an alert when new solicitations for this and other OVW programs are open.
Applicants not currently receiving Department of Justice funding must complete registrations with multiple systems:
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System for Award Management (SAM) (https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration)
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Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration)
When applying for these funds, you'll need to follow the instructions in notice of reimbursement opportunity. The application has a two-step process:
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Submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application for Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424) in Grants.gov. To view the SF-424 prior to completing it in Grants.gov, you can go to the Package tab under the funding opportunity that you're applying for and select "preview." The preview provides a link to the SF-424.
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Submit the full application for reimbursement, including required attachments, in JustGrants by the JustGrants application deadline shown in the solicitation. You can also review the JustGrants website for more information, resources, and training.
Note: The JustGrants registration needs to be completed ONLY after successful submission of Step 1.
You can also watch a webinar that OVW conducted to provide detail about the reimbursement program.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal Court Assessment Program
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Unlocks access to BIA funding for courts in PL 280 states (including AK)
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Less formal, begins with a letter to BIA requesting a Tribal Court Assessment
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Opportunity to develop a budget and request funding to meet court needs - called "one-time funding" but can be requested multiple times
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Timeline: a Tribal Court Assessment can be requested at anytime.
To being the process, send a letter to the BIA-OIS. There is a template letter available online:
https://www.bia.gov/CFRCourts/Assessments.
You can also email Jennifer Cross at jennifer.cross@bia.gov.