OJJDP FY 2026 Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence

Under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvements Grant Program, state administering agencies (SAAs) may be eligible and apply for both formula and competitive funds. This NOFO is ONLY for formula funds. An applicant seeking to apply for Coverdell competitive funds (consistent with 34 U.S.C. § 10563(a)(2)) that are available to eligible states and units of local government would need to apply separately under BJA’s FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement—Competitive Grants Program NOFO.

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) — Competitive Grants Program. This opportunity will increase capacity of states and units of local government with existing crime laboratories to process DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The purpose of the CEBR Competitive Program is to maximize the effective utilization of DNA technology to strengthen evidence-based criminal justice responses. The priorities of the CEBR Competitive Program are (1) to use DNA technology to increase the capacity and/or efficiency of publicly funded forensic DNA laboratories to conduct analysis of DNA samples for entry into CODIS and (2) implementing Rapid DNA in the booking station(s) in eligible jurisdictions. The program is designed to fairly and efficiently prioritize jurisdictions facing operational challenges by considering key performance measures reported by publicly funded forensic DNA laboratories. This program is for Competitive funding only. The BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) — Formula Grants Program for formula funding will post at a later date. Eligible agencies may apply for both Competitive and Formula CEBR Funding.

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative. This opportunity supports local law enforcement in rural jurisdictions to prevent, respond to, and reduce violent crime. The goal is to equip rural law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices with the resources necessary to implement a violent crime reduction strategy to solve a specific violent crime challenge utilizing one or more of the following approaches: • Personnel, Tactics, Training, and Equipment to Reduce Violent Crime. This includes updated technology and tools, including records management systems, vehicles, vests, and firearms that assist agencies in responding to and preventing violent crime. This also includes hiring additional personnel such as a prosecutor or criminologist to strategically address persistent crimes, early case management, and increased police training. • Technological Enhancements to Reduce Violent Crime. Technology takes the form of hardware, software, communications systems, intelligence centers, and equipment. Technology systems can create the infrastructure for actionable intelligence, enhance officer safety, support efficient operations, shorten case filing timelines, and manage risk. • Data Analytics and Intelligence. Enhance crime analysis capabilities through personnel, training, and software enhancements to identify crime hotspots, predict high-risk times and locations, and allocate resources more effectively to prevent violent incidents before they occur. • Other approaches that align with the Department’s priorities and provide a significant reduction in violent crime rates.

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY2026 Adult Treatment Court Program. This opportunity supports the implementation and enhancement of Adult Treatment Court (ATC) operations to prevent overdoses and reduce the use of opioids, stimulants, and other substances by high-risk/high-need adults in the criminal justice system. Adult Treatment Courts (ATCs) combine judicial supervision, substance use disorder treatment, mandatory and random drug testing, case management, sanctions and incentives, and recovery support services to improve participant outcomes and public safety.

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY2026 Veterans Treatment Court Program. This opportunity supports the implementation and enhancement of veterans’ treatment court (VTC) operations to reduce the use of opioids, stimulants, and other substances, including alcohol, by high-risk/high-need veterans in the criminal justice system. VTCs effectively integrate substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health disorder (MHD) treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services in judicially supervised court settings that have jurisdiction over veterans in the criminal justice system who have SUD and/or co-occurring mental health disorders (MHSUD), including those with a history of violence and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Formula Grants Program. This opportunity will support states and units of local government with existing crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis to process, and/or to increase the capacity to process, more DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), thereby helping to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis and/or to prevent a backlog of forensic and database DNA samples.

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OJJDP FY 2026 Mentoring for Youth Impacted by Opioids and Other Substance Use program. This opportunity supports the implementation and delivery of high-quality mentoring services for youth who are currently using or dependent on substances, as well as youth at risk of substance use or who have close family members experiencing substance use or dependency. Mentoring services may include one-on-one, group, or peer mentoring—or a combination of these approaches or hybrid (traditional in-person combined with virtual mentoring).

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OJJDP FY 2026 Multistate Mentoring Programs. This opportunity supports the implementation and delivery of mentoring services to youth populations that are at risk or high risk for delinquency, victimization, and going into the juvenile justice system. Mentoring services can be one-on-one, group, peer, or a combination of these types.

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OJJDP FY 2026 Victims of Child Abuse Act Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Professionals program. This opportunity will support a national training and technical assistance program for child abuse professionals to enhance coordinated, multidisciplinary investigations and responses to child abuse and increase the quality of intervention and treatment services available to child abuse victims. Multidisciplinary teams may include, but are not limited to, law enforcement, prosecutors, service providers, Child Protective Services (CPS) investigators, social workers, and adult and juvenile probation officers. The successful applicant will be responsible for providing training and technical assistance covering a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, improved child interview techniques, thorough investigative methods, interagency coordination, and effective court preparation and presentation.

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OJJDP FY 2026 Internet Crimes Against Children On-Line Child Protection System (ICACCOPS). This opportunity supports maintenance of and enhancements to the Internet Crimes Against Children On-line Child Protection System (ICACCOPS) investigative tools. ICACCOPS is a system that provides a common information technology infrastructure for child exploitation and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) investigative tools and services. ICACCOPS supports investigative applications and data by providing data services, system services, network services, security and authentication services, and management tools to support users and the delivery of investigative data and services. Ultimately, this work supports the work of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force program, a national network of 61 multi-agency, multijurisdictional task forces engaged in investigations, forensic examinations, and prosecutions related to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation.