With this solicitation, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks to invest in current and future leaders in the criminal justice field to advance priority national policy issues and offer cross-developmental opportunities for Department of Justice (DOJ) staff and criminal justice practitioners and researchers. The purpose of each fellowship is to make important policy and programmatic contributions in a criminal justice focus area. Fellows will collaborate with BJA and DOJ staff members to provide critical outreach, data, research, and subject matter expertise to inform the development of new BJA strategies, policies, and programs to benefit the field.
BJA will host up to eight fellows in the following focus areas to build capacity to address gaps and emerging issues in the criminal justice field:
- Supporting enhanced research partnership efforts to assist in the reduction of substance use-related crime and overdose.
- Enhancing support of and reducing stigma for persons with criminal justice involvement who are in recovery.
- Improving corrections and reintegration under the Second Chance Act.
- Enhancing the Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Conviction Program.
- Advancing strategies to prevent and respond to hate crimes.
- Enhancing strategies for addressing violent crime in tribal communities.
Awards made under the BJA Visiting Fellows Program will fund fellowships for a period of 24 months, including a “residency” period of 9 to 12 months when the fellow will be expected to commit a significant portion of their time to the fellowship and have an opportunity to work closely with BJA staff members both virtually and with some portion of their time working onsite at BJA in Washington, D.C.
Eligible Applicants:
- City or township governments
- County governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the 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
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and state controlled institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- State governments
See the solicitation for additional opportunity and eligibility details, as well as directions on how to apply.