DOJ – CAREERRS Second Chance Act (2020)

By NLADA on March 26, 2020

Applications due: by April 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET

The Correctional Adult Reentry Education, Employment, and Recidivism Strategies (CAREERRS) Program, a Second Chance Act program, is designed to help communities establish education, vocation, and job training programs in their correctional systems that address employment challenges facing incarcerated youth and adults re-entering those communities and the workforce.

BJA is seeking applications to implement or expand education and employment programs that emphasize strong partnerships with corrections, parole, probation, education, workforce development, and reentry service providers, in order to enhance employment prospects for incarcerated youths and adults reentering the workforce. These partnerships can support the establishment and improvement of academic and vocational education programs and career training programs available in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities. Programs should be focused on the 3-year period before release, as well as upon transition and reentry into the community.

Helpful resources

Presentation on July 26, 2019 at the MIE Fundraising Conference – Advancing Your Work with Federal Funding: Addressing the opioid epidemic, facilitating reentry, and serving victims of crime (see slides on “Facilitating Reentry”)
Presentation on May 9, 2018 at the Equal Justice Conference – Advancing Your Work through Federal Funding: Creating Opportunity through Criminal Record-Clearing
The Justice in Government Project research brief about how legal aid addresses barriers to employment for people with a criminal record

Grant information

Funding Title: Correctional Adult Reentry Education, Employment, and Recidivism Reduction Strategies (CAREERRS) Program

Agency Name: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance

Funding Opportunity Number: BJA-2020-17104

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: No, there isn’t express language for legal aid. However, legal aid that works to provide transitional services to assist in reintegration are eligible. It is likely that legal aid would subgrant from an organization specializing in career or workforce development work. More information about allowable uses can be found on page 5 of the grant announcement.

Target Population: Youth and adults re-entering society post incarceration

Expected Number of Awards: 8

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Estimated Total Program Funding: $4,000,000

Award Ceiling: $900,000

Award Floor: $0

Current Closing Date for Applications: by April 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Eligible Applicants: Applicants must apply under one of these four categories:

Category 1: Units or components of state government agencies.
Category 2: Units or components of county or city local government agencies.
Category 3: Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior).
Category 4: Nonprofit organizations with a documented history of providing comprehensive reentry services.

For more information

Link to Full Announcement: Link to Grants.gov listing. Link to solicitation

Contact Information: For assistance with any requirements of this solicitation, contact the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Response Center: toll free at 800–851–3420; via TTY at 301–240–6310 (hearing impaired only); email to grants@ncjrs.gov; fax to 301–240–5830; or web chat.The NCJRS Response Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., eastern time, Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., ET on the solicitation closing date.