Applications Due: June 9, 2015, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Description: Authorized by the Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act of 2000, Title I (25 U.S.C. 3651, et seq. (Public Law 106-559)), BJA’s Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance (TCCLA) grants enhance tribal justice systems and improve access to those systems. Targeted to non-profit organizations as defined in the eligibility section on the title page, the grants serve to strengthen and improve the representation of low-income tribal members who are litigants in civil causes of action and all indigent defendants in criminal proceedings under the jurisdiction of Indian tribes. Finally, a third category funds training and technical assistance (TTA) that supports the development and enhancement of tribal justice systems.

Funding Title: Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Grants, Training, and Technical Assistance

Agency Name: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. The grant announcement states:

“Under Category 1, applications are solicited to provide civil legal assistance services for members of Indian tribes pursuant to the federal poverty guidelines, Indian tribes, and tribal justice systems. These services may include guardian ad-litem appointments, court-appointed special advocates, and development and enhancement of tribal court policies, procedures, and code. ”

“In Categories 1 and 2, funding may be awarded to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations to collaborate with tribal justice systems to provide direct legal representation in civil and criminal proceedings under the jurisdiction of Indian tribes. This may include strategies to collaborate with private, public, or tribal colleges and universities to create clinical programs that serve these goals. Clinical programs may also provide legal services to tribes. These services might include code development and legal representation. Programs may also provide assistance to enhance the operation of tribal justice systems in addressing tribal safety issues, such as alternatives to incarceration and enhanced sentencing authority under the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) and special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA)”

Target Population: Members of Indian tribes and tribal justice systems

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

How to Apply: Applicants must register in, and submit applications through Grants.gov, a “one-stop storefront” to find federal funding opportunities and apply for funding. Find complete instructions on how to register and submit an application at http://www.Grants.gov. Applicants that experience technical difficulties during this process should call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518- 4726 or 606–545–5035, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process; however, processing delays may occur, and it can take several weeks for first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password. OJP encourages applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. In addition, OJP urges applicants to submit applications 72 hours prior to the application due date to allow time to receive validation messages or rejection notifications from Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely fashion any problems that may have caused a rejection notification. BJA strongly encourages all prospective applicants to sign up for Grants.gov email notifications regarding this solicitation. If this solicitation is cancelled or modified, individuals who sign up with Grants.gov for email updates will be notified.

Current Closing Date for Applications:   June 9, 2015, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Award Ceiling:  $875,000

Award Floor:    $0

Eligible Applicants: Limited to non-profit organizations, as defined by Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) § 501(c)(3)), including tribal enterprises and educational institutions (public, private, and tribal colleges and universities), that provide legal assistance services for members of federally recognized Indian tribes pursuant to federal poverty guidelines, Indian tribes, or tribal justice systems.

Current/Past Funding Recipients: 2013 (for civil)

Samples of Successful Application:  2010

Link to Full Announcement:  Here

Contact Information:  For technical assistance with submitting the application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or 606–545–5035 or via e-mail to support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays.

Applicants that experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond their control that prevent them from submitting their application by the deadline must e-mail the BJA contact identified below within 24 hours after the application deadline and request approval to submit their application. Additional information on reporting technical issues is found under “Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues” in the How To Apply section.

Categories: Department of Justice, Education Organizations, Express Language for Legal Aid, Native American, Native American Tribes or Tribal Organizations, Native Americans, Non-profit Organizations, Rural, Subgrant Possibilities