FY24 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program

With this solicitation, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks to support efforts by both wrongful conviction review (WCR) entities that represent individuals with postconviction claims of innocence to review individual cases, and conviction integrity or review units (CIUs) to enhance criminal justice system integrity. This includes a category to select a training and technical assistance (TTA) provider to ensure WCR and CIUs entities and the field obtain the skills, training, and information on the latest practices to safeguard the integrity of convictions and support post-conviction review of claims of wrongful convictions. The TTA provider will also build and maintain a database for the field on exonerations.

Funding Categories:

• Category 1: WCR Entity-Led Strategy
• Category 2: Prosecutor/CIU-Led Partnerships with WCR Entities
• Category 3: WCR/CIU TTA

Eligible Applicants:

• For Category 1 and 2:
  • State governments
  • Special district governments
  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
  • 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
  • Public- and state-controlled institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Other:
    • State, county, or local public defender offices that have in-house post-conviction representation programs that show demonstrable experience and competence in litigating post-conviction claims of innocence. If the applicant is not a WCR entity, they must be partnered with one.
• For Category 3:
  • Eligible applicants are limited to entities that have experience and expertise in administering conviction integrity and review units or experience in reviewing cases of post-conviction and appeal claims of innocence such as those applicants in Category 1 and 2.
  • The following entities are eligible to apply:
    • Public- and state-controlled institutions of higher education
    • Private institutions of higher education, other than institutions of higher education
    • 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

See the solicitation for additional opportunity and eligibility details, as well as directions on how to apply.