Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, addressed a training and outreach session for potential grant applicants from rural and tribal communities in Minnesota.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) recently sponsored training and outreach sessions in nine states to educate rural and tribal organizations and agencies about funding opportunities from OJP and offer guidance for communities interested in applying for Department of Justice (DOJ) grants. Sessions in a tenth state are planned for late April. The Attorney General has set a high priority on expanding the Department’s support of public safety in less populated areas of the country.

To date, sessions have been held in Arizona, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Facilitators and presenters highlighted application requirements for grants from OJJDP, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office on Violence Against Women. They identified tools and resources that will assist with the application process and led Q&A discussions.

On February 4, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan addressed a training and outreach session for potential grant applicants from rural and tribal communities in Minnesota. Ms. Sullivan told the audience that OJP grants totaling almost $270 million are now active in Minnesota; these grants support victim services, child protection and delinquency prevention programs, and efforts to curb the opioid crisis, among other initiatives. OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp was also on hand for the Minnesota training. OJJDP Deputy Administrator Chyrl Jones participated in trainings on January 29 in South Dakota and February 6 in Arizona.

On January 29, 2020, representatives from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and other Department of Justice bureaus offered presentations in Pierre, SD, to help rural and tribal organizations and agencies apply for OJP funding. Shown (from l. to r.) are Kathy Mitchell, Program Manager, OJJDP; Geislia Barnes, State Policy Advisor, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA); Chyrl Jones, Deputy Administrator, OJJDP; Joel Hall, Victim Justice Program Specialist, Office for Victims of Crime; Maria Fryer, Senior Policy Advisor, BJA; and Andy Dorr, Assistant Director for Grants Administration, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

“The presentations discussed funding opportunities out of the various OJP bureaus,” said OJJDP Program Manager Kerri Strug, who led a training on OJJDP funding opportunities and grant requirements in Rio Rancho, NM. “It provided those in the room an opportunity to see that there are a lot of different options available to them, and they can apply and tailor their program needs to the many different solicitations offered by OJP.”

OJP, which comprises six offices (including OJJDP), provides grants, training, research, and statistics to the criminal justice community. It is one of three grantmaking components of the Department of Justice. The other two grantmaking components are the Office on Violence Against Women and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

Resources:

OJJDP Funding: This section of the OJJDP website offers an overview of the OJJDP grant and funding process, current funding opportunities, past funding, OJJDP’s performance measurement system, and other resources to assist applicants.

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide: Revised for fiscal year 2020, this guide contains information and assistance to help applicants prepare and submit applications for OJP funding.

OJP Funding Resource Center: Find current opportunities, solicitation requirements, forms and worksheets, and post-award instructions to help applicants apply for and manage OJP awards.

DOJ Grants Financial Guide: Learn about the laws, rules, and regulations that affect the financial and administrative management of an OJP award.