BJA FY24 Adult Treatment Court Program | O BJA 2024 171972

FAQs: BJA FY24 Adult Treatment Court Program (O-BJA-2024-171972)

What is the BJA FY24 Adult Treatment Court Program?

The BJA FY24 Adult Treatment Court Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It funds the planning, implementation, and improvement of adult treatment courts that serve people in the criminal justice system who have substance use disorder treatment needs.

What is the main purpose of this grant?

The purpose is to strengthen adult treatment courts by improving how they manage participants, coordinate services, and deliver programming in a way that stays true to recognized adult treatment court models. The program emphasizes building a strong operational structure and improving day-to-day court team functioning, not simply paying for treatment slots.

Who is this funding designed to help?

This funding is designed to help jurisdictions operating adult treatment courts that serve justice-involved adults with substance use disorder treatment needs, with the goal of reducing repeat offending and improving long-term outcomes.

What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?

The program aims to reduce repeat offending, improve long-term recovery and stability outcomes, strengthen community safety, and support overdose prevention, particularly during transitions such as release from custody or program completion.

What are adult treatment courts (as described in the solicitation)?

Adult treatment courts are structured court programs that combine multiple evidence-backed components in one coordinated setting to address substance use disorders among justice-involved participants. The solicitation highlights treatment, accountability, monitoring, and transitional supports as core elements.

What key components of the adult treatment court model are emphasized?

The solicitation highlights these components: evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions to support compliance and accountability, and transitional services to help participants stabilize and continue recovery beyond the court program.

What does the solicitation mean by "fidelity" to the adult treatment court model?

Fidelity means operating the court in alignment with established standards and best practices for adult treatment courts, rather than running a loosely defined diversion program. Grant-supported improvements are intended to help courts maintain or strengthen that model alignment.

Does the program focus only on funding treatment services?

No. BJA indicates the funds are intended to strengthen the operational backbone of adult treatment courts, including participant management, service coordination, monitoring, case planning, recovery support services, and court team operations. The focus goes beyond simply covering treatment slots.

What kinds of activities may be supported with awarded funds (based on the notice summary)?

Based on the information provided, supported activities may include strengthening participant management systems, improving coordination among courts, supervision, treatment providers, and community supports, enhancing participant monitoring and case planning, supporting recovery services that reduce barriers to stability, and improving day-to-day court team operations while maintaining model fidelity.

Why is overdose prevention a major goal in this program?

The solicitation identifies overdose prevention as a major goal due to ongoing risks faced by justice-involved people with substance use disorders, especially during transition periods like release from custody or after completing the program.

How does this opportunity align with DOJ and OJP priorities?

The opportunity emphasizes alignment with DOJ and OJP priorities related to civil rights and equity, access to justice, support for people impacted by the justice system (including victims), stronger community safety, protection from evolving public safety threats, and building community trust.

Is this a discretionary grant or a formula grant?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by BJA.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments; city, township, county, and special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and certain other entities as described in the full solicitation.

Which types of applicants are specifically noted as strong fits for this funding?

BJA notes funding is intended to assist states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized tribal governments, indicating a strong fit for court-led or government-led collaborations that can operate and sustain an adult treatment court docket.

What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?

The opportunity number is O-BJA-2024-171972.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number is 16.585.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $2,500,000 per award.

How many awards does BJA anticipate making?

BJA anticipates making about 45 awards.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on February 7, 2024.

What was the application closing date?

The original application closing date was May 2, 2024.

What does BJA mean by supporting the "operational backbone" of adult treatment courts?

As described, this refers to the systems and coordination that make the court function effectively: participant management and monitoring, coordinated service delivery, court team operations, case planning, recovery supports, and ongoing efforts to keep the program aligned with recognized treatment court models.

Does the program include technical assistance?

Yes. The notice describes the grant as providing both financial and technical assistance to help jurisdictions expand capacity, improve quality, and achieve measurable public safety and health outcomes through well-run adult treatment courts.

What population does the program focus on?

The focus is on adults in the criminal justice system who have substance use disorder treatment needs and are served through adult treatment court programs.

How do incentives and sanctions fit into the model described?

The solicitation identifies a system of incentives and sanctions as a key element used to reinforce compliance and accountability within the structured adult treatment court setting.

What role do transitional services play in the program?

Transitional services are highlighted as a core component that helps participants stabilize and continue recovery beyond the court program, supporting longer-term outcomes and reducing risk during critical transition periods.