BJA FY 2026 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program
Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0
V. Buch (Law)
Limiting Language
You may only submit one application to only one category of the NOFO. If you submit multiple applications, only the most recent system validated version will be reviewed. You may be proposed as a subrecipient in more than one application.
If a project will be carried out by two or more entities (project partners), only one entity may submit the application. The other entities (project partners) must be proposed as subrecipients rather than co-applicants. An entity may be proposed as a subrecipient in more than one application. For additional information regarding subawards, see the Application Resource Guide.
Purpose of the Funding
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is committed to advancing work that furthers the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) mission to keep our country safe and secure and uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of American citizens. OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis.
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program. This opportunity strengthens the capacity of wrongful conviction review (WCR) entities and their criminal justice and victims’ services partners to more effectively and efficiently identify, assess, and manage post-conviction claims of innocence. Additionally, it aims to enhance public safety by preventing future errors, identifying actual perpetrators of crimes, and delivering justice to victims.
Projects under this NOFO will be led by a WCR entity that focuses on the review of postconviction claims of innocence. This project can support a collaborative partnership with a prosecutor’s office or conviction integrity units (CIUs). If applicants include this partnership, they should document how it will coordinate relevant information-sharing of post-conviction claims of innocence. It must include a description of policies and procedures that are in place to avoid conflicts of interest and protect defendants’ rights, including plans for obtaining a waiver of attorney-client privilege and informed consent.