FY 2026 Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP)
🏛 National Institute of Justice (USDOJ-OJP-NIJ)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations evaluating the effectiveness of crisis intervention programs funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP). Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, research institutions, universities, and government entities conducting rigorous evaluation research. Applications must propose a two-phased evaluation strategy: Phase I focuses on evaluability assessments, and Phase II evaluates program effectiveness. This is a national opportunity supporting research on law enforcement crisis interventions, court-based programs, mental health/drug/veterans treatment courts, and extreme risk protection order (ERPO) programs.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the NIJ FY 2026 Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP).1 This opportunity will support research and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of programs funded under FYs 2022-2026 BJA’s Byrne SCIP NOFOs.
BJA’s Byrne SCIP provides funding for the creation or enhancement of state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives, including extreme risk protection order (ERPO) programs, as well as mental health courts, drug courts, and veterans treatment courts. Such programs or initiatives can include, but are not limited to:
1) Law enforcement crisis interventions;
2) Court-based programming;
3) Referrals to treatment for people in crisis; and
4) ERPO programs.
Applicants may apply to assess multiple program areas where applicable. NIJ anticipates making at least one award per topic area for a total of 4 awards. Applicants should clearly state the program area(s) on the title page.
This NOFO invites applications proposing a two-phased evaluation strategy to assess Byrne SCIP. The approach includes:
• Phase I: Evaluability Assessments.
• Phase II: An Evaluation of the Byrne SCIP’s Effectiveness.
Applications to this NOFO should include both phases. Applications that do not meet this requirement would not be considered responsive to this funding opportunity.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal Application for Grants and Cooperative Agreements)
- Project Narrative
- Evaluation Design and Methodology
- Budget Narrative and Cost Breakdown
- Organizational Capacity Documentation
- Letters of Commitment from Program Partners
- Organizational Resumes/Biosketches (key staff)
- Past Evaluation Examples or Portfolio
Program contact
- 👤 National Institute of Justice
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-616-5314
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.560 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$18,393,640
-
$13,250,000
-
$12,361,120
-
$6,998,958
-
$5,997,434
-
$5,691,859
-
$4,581,851
-
$4,501,620
-
$4,000,000
-
$3,416,415
Top States by Funding
- NC 10 awards $42.3M
- VA 14 awards $28.8M
- PA 3 awards $14.3M
- CA 8 awards $13.3M
- MA 12 awards $12.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.560). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $57,808,937 | |
| 2025 | $3,183,371 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this evaluation grant?
Nonprofit research organizations, universities, research institutes, and government entities with demonstrated evaluation research capacity. Applicants must have expertise in rigorous research methodology and criminal justice evaluation.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is fixed at November 16, 2026. There is no rolling acceptance or extension dates.
What activities are supported by this grant?
Funded research must evaluate BJA's Byrne SCIP programs, including law enforcement crisis interventions, court-based programming, mental health courts, drug courts, veterans treatment courts, and ERPO programs through a two-phase evaluation strategy.
Is this grant competitive?
Yes, this is highly competitive. NIJ anticipates making at least four awards (one per topic area). Only applications proposing both Phase I and Phase II evaluations will be considered responsive.
What is the funding range?
NIJ is awarding approximately $5.9 million per award, with a total funding pool of $23.8 million. Exact award amounts vary based on proposal scope and evaluation design complexity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly state which program area(s) your evaluation will assess (law enforcement, courts, ERPOs, treatment courts) on your title page and throughout the proposal.
- Demonstrate extensive experience with rigorous evaluation methodology. Include past evaluation projects and outcome measurement expertise.
- Design a realistic two-phase approach: start with evaluability assessment, then transition to effectiveness evaluation with clear metrics.
- Build evaluation partnerships early. Include letters of commitment from Byrne SCIP program sites you will evaluate.
- Budget carefully for multi-year evaluation work. Include costs for data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing only Phase I or Phase II without both components will result in rejection. Unclear specification of which program areas you will evaluate weakens competitiveness. Overcommitting to evaluate too many sites without adequate staffing or budget leads to rejection.
Similar grants
- CLOSED 2026 JAG/SCIP Innovation — Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy
- OPEN BJA FY 2026 National Center for Veterans Justice — Bureau of Justice Assistance
- OPEN NIJ FY 2026 Crime and Justice Research — National Institute of Justice
- OPEN BJA FY 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program—Local Formula — Bureau of Justice Assistance
- OPEN NOFO# 3342 – 0726 SCIP: Local FRO Implementation Support — Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority