OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response Program | O OVW 2025 172417

FAQs: OVW FY 2025 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response (ICJR Program)

1) What is the OVW FY 2025 ICJR Program?

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response (ICJR Program) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice. It supports efforts to strengthen how the criminal justice system responds to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

2) What is the main goal of this grant program?

The program is designed to improve criminal justice responses in ways that treat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law. It emphasizes system-level improvements intended to increase victim safety while also supporting victim autonomy.

3) What kinds of crimes and victimization does the ICJR Program focus on?

This opportunity specifically focuses on improving the justice response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

4) What types of improvements does the ICJR Program support?

Based on the program description provided, the ICJR Program supports practical, coordinated, system-level improvements across the criminal justice response. This can include building or enhancing coordinated approaches that lead to more effective investigations, prosecutions, court processes, and victim-centered services.

5) What does it mean that the grant emphasizes victim safety and victim autonomy?

The opportunity describes a victim-centered approach where system improvements are intended to increase victim safety while also supporting victim autonomy. In other words, the program aims to strengthen justice-system interventions without losing sight of victim needs and decision-making.

6) Who is offering this funding opportunity?

This funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

7) Is this a discretionary or formula grant?

This is a discretionary grant. That means applications are competitively reviewed and selected based on the application and OVW priorities described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

8) Is this a cooperative agreement or a standard grant?

The opportunity is offered as a standard grant instrument (not a cooperative agreement).

9) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is O-OVW-2025-172417.

10) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 16.590.

11) What funding category does this opportunity fall under?

This opportunity falls within the Law, Justice and Legal Services funding activity category.

12) How many awards does OVW expect to make under this program?

OVW expects to make about 35 awards under this program.

13) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award.

14) When did this funding opportunity open (created date)?

The opportunity was created on May 6, 2025.

15) What is the application deadline for this funding cycle?

The closing date listed for this funding cycle is June 16, 2025.

16) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to specific entities involved in the justice response to these crimes. Eligible applicants include: state governments; units of local government (such as counties and cities/townships); Indian Tribal governments and certain Tribal organizations; and state and local courts (including juvenile courts). The program also allows applications from state, Tribal, or territorial domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions, as well as victim services providers operating in the United States or U.S. territories, including qualifying nonprofit organizations such as 501(c)(3) entities.

17) Are courts eligible to apply?

Yes. State and local courts are listed as eligible applicants, including juvenile courts.

18) Are Tribes eligible to apply?

Yes. Indian Tribal governments and certain Tribal organizations are included among eligible applicants.

19) Are state and local governments eligible to apply?

Yes. State governments and units of local government (including counties and cities/townships) are included among eligible applicants.

20) Are domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions eligible to apply?

Yes. The program allows applications from state, Tribal, or territorial domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions.

21) Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?

Victim services providers operating in the United States or U.S. territories are included as eligible applicants, including qualifying nonprofit organizations such as 501(c)(3) entities, as described in the opportunity information provided.

22) Can organizations outside the U.S. apply?

The eligibility description provided references victim services providers operating in the United States or U.S. territories. No other geographic eligibility details are stated in the provided information.

23) How should an applicant confirm eligibility?

The information provided notes that applicants must fit within the listed eligibility categories and should confirm eligibility status and any special conditions by reviewing the Eligibility Information section of the NOFO.

24) What is the overall purpose of the ICJR Program in practice?

In practice, the program aims to help jurisdictions and justice partners build or enhance coordinated approaches so that investigations, prosecutions, court processes, and victim-centered services are more consistent, more effective, and more responsive to victim needs.

25) How are awards selected?

Because it is a discretionary grant, awards are competitively selected based on the application and OVW priorities described in the NOFO.