Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Over Non-Indians:
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022
Federal Funding for Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction
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.
OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program
The Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program supports Tribal governments in preparing to exercise or exercising STCJ over non-Indians who commit “covered” crimes within the Tribe’s jurisdictional boundaries. “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. More information on the scope and requirements of STCJ is available on the DOJ website at https://www.justice.gov/tribal/2013-and-2022-reauthorizations-violence-against-women-act-vawa.
The direct link to the STCJ Notice of Funding Opportunity is: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/1384916/dl?inline
Pre-Application Information Session:
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
OVW will conduct an online pre-application information session. Participation is optional. During this session, OVW staff will summarize the program’s requirements, review the funding opportunity, and answer questions. The webinar will be captioned in English. To register and request language
assistance contact: OVW.TribalJurisdiction@usdoj.gov.
Deadline to submit Standard Form/SF-424 in Grants.gov: April 29, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Deadline to submit application in JustGrants: May 1, 2025, by 8:59 PM Eastern Time
OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program
For your awareness, the FY 2025 OVW Tribal Governments Program Notice of Funding Opportunity is posted on the OVW Open Solicitations page.
New This Year
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OVW has streamlined the application process and reduced the required items needed to apply.
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In addition, OVW has provided a sample proposal narrative and a sample budget narrative which can be completed and uploaded in JustGrants.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include Indian Tribal governments, Tribal designees, and Tribal consortia. Additional eligibility criteria may apply based on the application type chosen. Information about application types provided, below.
New: All applicants other than FY 2023 and FY 2024 Tribal Governments Program grantees are eligible to apply as new applicants. These awards may range between $400,000-$1,200,000 and are for 36 months.
Non-competitive Continuation: Only Tribal Governments Program grantees that received a new, 36-month award in FY 2022 are eligible to apply for a 24-month non-competitive continuation award. These awards range between $400,000-$1,000,000 and are for 24 months. FY 2022 grantees can choose to apply for a new competitive 36-month award instead of a 24-month continuation award.
Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START): START is a special track to apply for funding that is focused on Tribal governments (or their designees) that have never, or not recently, received funding through the Tribal Governments Program. Tribal Governments START grantees will focus on capacity building early in the project and will receive additional training, technical assistance, and support. These awards range between $400,000-$1,200,000 and are for 36 months.
Key Dates and Information
Pre-Application Information Sessions: Office Hours are held on Wednesdays from January 15 to April 9, 2025, 3:00-4:00 PM ET. Registration Link
Grants.gov deadline: April 8, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET
JustGrants deadline: April 10, 2025, by 8:59 PM 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 March 20, 2025.
Questions? Contact: OVW.TribalGovernment@usdoj.gov or 202-307-6026.
OVC Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) Formula Grant Program
OVC’s Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) formula grant program is dedicated to supporting the vital work of American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes in meeting the needs of crime victims.
OVC strongly encourages federally recognized Tribes to submit a Population Certification Form to signal their intent to apply for the noncompetitive FY25 TVSSA formula grant program funding opportunity. Tribes also have the option to designate another organization to apply on their behalf, or to seek TVSSA funding as part of a Tribal consortium.
OVC will use the Population Certification Form submissions to determine each applicant’s eligibility to receive Set-Aside funding. OVC will also apply a population-based administrative formula to calculate the maximum award amounts for each applicant.
FY 25 TVSSA Population Certification Webinar
Submitting a Population Certification Form is the first of two steps in the process of applying for TVSSA funds. The OVC Tribal Division hosted a webinar on how to submit a Population Certification Form for the FY25 TVSSA program. During the webinar, OVC reviewed the data required to complete the Population Certification Form, walked participants through the submission process, and answered questions from participants.
Please note: All FY25 TVSSA applicants must submit their data in the online form. Link to Population Form: FY25 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Population Certification Form
Deadline: Submit a population certification by 11:59 p.m. Alaska time on January 17, 2025.
FY25 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation
This Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) funding opportunity seeks to provide funding to improve public safety and victim services in tribal communities. CTAS 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 funding opportunity.
Grants.gov Deadline March 18, 2025, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline March 25, 2025, 8:59 pm Eastern
Funding Categories/Purpose Areas (PA) and DOJ Component:
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PA #1: Public Safety and Community Policing [Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)]
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PA #2: Comprehensive Tribal Justice Systems Strategic Planning [Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), COPS, 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 #5: Adult Tribal Treatment Courts (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)
Eligible Applicants:
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Government Entities
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Native American Tribal governments (federally recognized)
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“Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians
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Other
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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)
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Agency Contact Information:
For assistance with the requirements of this funding opportunity:
DOJ Response Center
Phone: 800-421-6770 or 301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only)
Email: tribalgrants@usdoj.gov
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) Monday–Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 8:59 p.m. ET on the funding opportunity closing date.
For assistance with SAM.gov (registration/renewal):
SAM.gov Help Desk
Phone: 866-606-8220
Web: SAM.gov Help Desk (Federal Service Desk)
Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET Monday–Friday
For assistance with Grants.gov (registration, submission of the Application for Federal Assistance SF-424):
Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline
Phone: 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035
Email: support@grants.gov
Web: Grants.gov Customer Support
Hours of operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays
For assistance with JustGrants (registration, submission of full application):
JustGrants Service Desk
Phone: 833-872-5175
Email: JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov
Hours of operation: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET Monday–Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays.
Opportunity Webinars
A series of webinars will be held related to this opportunity. Submit any questions in advance of the webinars to tribalgrants@usdoj.gov with the subject "Questions for CTAS NOFO Webinar."
The webinars will be recorded and available on the CTAS Resources page when ready.
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 Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program
DOJ OVW Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program is intended to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by funding comprehensive legal services projects. The legal services projects should include organizations that have a mission and history of providing direct services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations; publicly funded entities acting in a nongovernmental capacity, such as law schools; Indian Tribal governments; Indian Tribal organizations; and territorial organizations.
Deadline to submit Standard Form/SF-424 in Grants.gov: January 28, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Deadline to submit application in JustGrants: January 30, 2025, by 8:59 PM Eastern Time
Read and download the Request for Proposal PDF here: OVW FY2025 Legal Assistance For Victims Notice of Funding Opportunity
Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI) – Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program
The Expanding Legal Services Initiative intends to expand legal representation available to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking by funding organizations with a history of providing direct services to victims of these crimes, but that do not currently offer in-house legal representation for victims. The initial ELSI award includes a planning phase during which recipients engage in ongoing training and technical assistance to set up a legal department in the organization. Continuation funds support the direct legal services provided by the legal department established during the planning phase.
Deadline to submit Standard Form/SF-424 in Grants.gov: January 28, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Deadline to submit application in JustGrants: January 30, 2025, by 8:59 PM Eastern Time
Read and download the Request for Proposal PDF here: OVW FY2025 Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI) Notice of Funding Opportunity
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.
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, FY25 Improving Adult and Youth Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Program
This funding opportunity seeks to support state, local, and tribal governments, as well as community-based nonprofit organizations, to support cross-system collaboration between criminal and juvenile justice agencies, mental health and substance use agencies, community based organizations that provide reentry services, and community-based behavioral health providers. The goal is to improve clinical stabilization pretrial, during confinement, and support continuity of care and recovery during the transition to the community through clinical and other evidence-based activities or services for individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders. In addition, this funding seeks to minimize the potential for experiencing crisis and improve recovery outcomes for people with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders who are currently involved with the criminal or juvenile justice systems or reentering the community from these systems.
Please see the Eligible Applicants section for the eligibility criteria.
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Category 1: State and local governments
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Category 2: Nonprofit organizations
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Category 3: Tribal government
Deadline to submit SF-424 in Grants.gov: February 24, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Deadline to submit application in JustGrants: March 03, 2025, 8:59 PM ET
Download the entire Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/O-BJA-2025-172294.pdf