Applications Due: June 23, 2016, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Description:

The Tribal Jurisdiction Program is designed to assist Indian tribes in exercising SDVCJ. Through this grant program, Indian tribes will receive support and technical assistance for planning, developing and implementing changes in their criminal justice systems necessary to exercise SDVCJ. The program encourages collaborations among tribal leadership, tribal courts, tribal prosecutors, tribal attorneys, tribal defenders, law enforcement, probation, service providers, and other partners to ensure that non-Indians who commit crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of protection orders are held accountable. The Tribal Jurisdiction Program encourages the coordinated involvement of the entire tribal criminal justice system and victim service providers to incorporate systemic change that ensures victim safety and offender accountability.

Purpose Areas In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. § 1304(f), funds under the Tribal Jurisdiction Program may be used for the following purposes:

(1) to strengthen tribal criminal justice systems to assist Indian tribes in exercising SDVCJ, including:

(A) law enforcement (including the capacity of law enforcement or court personnel to enter information into and obtain information from national crime information databases);

(B) prosecution;

(C) trial and appellate courts;

(D) probation systems;

(E) detention and correctional facilities;

(F) alternative rehabilitation centers;

(G) culturally appropriate services and assistance for victims and their families; and

(H) criminal codes and rules of criminal procedure, appellate procedure, and evidence;

(2) to provide indigent criminal defendants with the effective assistance of licensed defense counsel, at no cost to the defendant, in criminal proceedings in which a participating tribe prosecutes a crime of domestic violence or dating violence or a criminal violation of a protection order;

(3) to ensure that, in criminal proceedings in which a participating tribe exercises SDVCJ, jurors are summoned, selected, and instructed in a manner consistent with all applicable requirements; and

(4) to accord victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of protection orders rights that are similar to the rights of a crime victim described in section 3771(a) of Title 18, consistent with tribal law and custom.

Funding Title: OVW FY 2016 Grants to Tribal Governments to Exercise Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction

Agency Name: Office on Violence Against Women

Funding Opportunity Number:   OVW-2016-10120

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: No

Target Population: Native American victims of domestic violence and dating violence

Expected Number of Awards: 7

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,700,000

Award Ceiling: $450,000

Award Floor: $300,000

Current Closing Date for Applications:  June 23, 2016, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Length of Project Period: 36 months

Project Start Date: 10/1/2016

Current Closing Date for Applications:   by June 23, 2016, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

Eligible Applicants: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Link to Full Announcement: Here

How to Apply: The complete application package is available on Grants.gov or at the OVW website at http://www.justice.gov/ovw. Applicants wishing to request a paper copy of the application materials should contact OVW.TribalJurisdiction@usdoj.gov.

Letter of Registration: Applicants intending to apply for FY 2016 funding under this program are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration. The letter should state that the applying organization is registered and current with the System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov. The letter should be submitted to OVW at OVW.TribalJurisdiction@usdoj.gov by May 30, 2016. This will ensure that the applicant is well-positioned to successfully submit a proposal by the application deadline. This letter will not obligate the applicant to submit an application. See APPENDIX B for a sample Letter of Registration.

Pre-Application Webinar: OVW will conduct one Pre-Application Webinar. During this webinar, OVW staff will review the FY 2016 Tribal Jurisdiction Program solicitation and grant requirements followed by a brief question and answer session. Participation in this webinar is optional. The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, May 25, 2016, 4-5 p.m. E.T. Anyone who is interested in participating in the webinar must register in advance. The number of participants for this webinar is unlimited. To register, please e-mail OVW.TribalJurisdiction@usdoj.gov. Please state in the subject line “pre-application webinar.” Registration must be received by OVW at least two days prior to the start of the webinar to allow time for scheduling, receipt of confirmation and to provide webinar information which will be sent to all registrants.

Contact Information:

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, call OVW at (202) 307- 6026. In Fiscal Year 2016, OVW applications for the Tribal Jurisdiction Program will be submitted through Grants.gov. For technical assistance with Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726.

Categories: Department of Justice, Domestic Violence, Native American, Native American Tribes or Tribal Organizations, Native Americans, Subgrant Possibilities, Victims of Crime