FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 5
🏛 Bureau of Justice Assistance (USDOJ-OJP-BJA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies seeking to strengthen prosecution of crimes committed by aliens, fraud, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. Eligible applicants include state prosecutors, county prosecutors, city prosecutors, Tribal prosecutors, and territorial prosecutors. The program supports agencies to assign or hire prosecutors as Special Attorneys (cross-designated) or Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys. Prosecuting agencies must employ prosecutors full-time or part-time on a case-by-case basis under federal direction. Applicants should have established prosecutorial capacity and ability to coordinate with federal authorities including the National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, and United States Attorney's Offices.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program. This program will support state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to assign or hire qualified prosecutors to serve full-time or part-time (on a case-by-case basis) as Special Attorneys under the direction of the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or to serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) within a United States Attorney’s Office. These “cross-designated” prosecutors will remain employees of their home agencies but will investigate and prosecute assigned fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (hereafter referred to as “criminal aliens”) for the duration of their appointment under this program. Cross-designated prosecutors may also be assigned cases involving drug or human trafficking committed within the United States. The National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices will coordinate with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis to address logistics and any unique local circumstances. This grant program, authorized under Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055 (codified at 34 U.S.C. § 61101), is intended to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacity, expand intergovernmental coordination, and enhance the ability of jurisdictions to investigate and prosecute fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States, as well as investigate and prosecute drug and human trafficking crimes. The program is also intended to increase the availability of cross designated prosecutorial personnel who can pursue these matters in coordination with federal authorities and contribute to the effective enforcement of applicable criminal laws.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational capability documentation
- Staff qualifications and resumes
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Justice Assistance
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-514-9354
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 16.076 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
State, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies are eligible. This includes county prosecutors, city prosecutors, Tribal prosecutors, and territorial prosecutors.
What is the deadline?
The application deadline is July 24, 2026. This is a fixed deadline with no rolling acceptance.
What activities are supported?
Grants fund assignment or hiring of prosecutors to handle fraud, crimes by aliens, drug trafficking, and human trafficking cases under federal coordination.
What is the funding range?
Individual awards are typically up to $3,000,000, though specific award amounts vary based on proposal scope and agency capacity.
Can agencies apply for multi-year funding?
The program description does not specify multi-year options. Check the full NOFO for project duration terms.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize existing prosecutorial capacity and staff qualifications available for cross-designation roles. Strong staff experience matters significantly.
- Clearly demonstrate established relationships or readiness to coordinate with federal partners (DOJ divisions and U.S. Attorney's Offices).
- Detail the specific crimes your jurisdiction encounters (alien-related crimes, fraud, trafficking) to show need and fit for the program.
- Show how your agency will manage dual-employment relationships where prosecutors remain home-agency employees while serving federally.
- Include documentation of prosecutor licenses, relevant criminal justice expertise, and prior federal prosecution coordination if available.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to clearly establish prosecutorial staff capacity and qualifications for cross-designation. Weak demonstration of coordination readiness or existing relationships with federal DOJ partners. Unclear budget justification for prosecutor salary and operational support costs.
Similar grants
- CLOSED DOJ FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (“BIDEN”) Program — Bureau of Justice Assistance
- CLOSED OVW Calendar Year 2025 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program — Office on Violence Against Women
- OPEN DOJ FY 2026 Invited to Apply – National Integrated Ballistic Information (NIBIN) Modernization Program — Bureau of Justice Assistance
- OPEN BJA FY 2026 Invited to Apply -Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program — Bureau of Justice Assistance
- CLOSED BJA FY25 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) — Bureau of Justice Assistance