Justice Reinvestment Initiative

his program will support states and/or local and tribal governments to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of criminal and juvenile justice system operations by implementing targeted solutions to high-cost drivers of crime and other public safety and/or justice system challenges. Challenges may include chronic or emerging crime problems, or barriers to justice agencies’ ability to address such problems that make it difficult for communities to ensure the security and safety of their residents and drive improved outcomes for youth in the system.

For direct grants to states, if a state has measured and reinvested savings (either projected or actual costs saved or avoided) into evidence-based strategies to reduce recidivism and make communities safer (see Selection Criteria outlined in the Solicitation for specifics), this solicitation does not require a match. If such a state proposes a voluntary match amount, however, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit.

If a state has not measured and reinvested savings (see Selection Criteria outlined in the Solicitation for specifics), a match is required, and the following requirements apply:
• The amount of the match must equal the amount of federal funds being sought.
• Match funds are subject to the same regulations and restrictions as the federal funds for this program.
• Applicants must identify the source of the non-federal funds and how they will use the funds. If a successful applicant’s proposed match exceeds the required match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit.
• Applicants may satisfy this match requirement with cash, in-kind services, or a combination of the two.
• Match funds must be used for one or more of the state’s reinvestment strategies identified in the justice reinvestment process. For example, match funding can be used to expand or improve community-based treatment only if the JRI legislation or task force identified community-based treatment as a reinvestment priority. As another example, match funding could be used for skills-based trainings for probation officers if the state’s reinvestment strategies included more effective community supervision.
• Applicants must identify the target(s) of the reinvestment match with specificity, including, if applicable, names of agencies, service providers, or staff positions to be funded; a description of the kind of service to be provided or functions to be performed; what period of time will be covered; and amounts of funding. Applicants must document these commitments by including relevant attachments to the application. Example: For a federal award amount of $1,750,000, the required reinvestment match is $1,750,000.