DOJ and DOL Announce $155.5M in Federal Funding Opportunities for Reentry, Community Supervision, Behavioral Health, Youth, and Incarcerated Parents
Updated March 2, 2026
(Photo Credit: Peter E/Flickr)
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced several federal funding opportunities to support improvements to state and local criminal justice systems and better outcomes for people involved in them.
These opportunities address critical challenges such as adult and youth reentry, community supervision effectiveness, crisis response and behavioral health services, and support for incarcerated parents and their children.
Application deadlines range from March 19–April 6, 2026.
For each funding opportunity below, we’ve provided an overview of the federal grant’s goals and deadlines as well as related data and/or solutions that can help inform applications.
BJA FY25 Smart Reentry Demonstration Program
Supports comprehensive reentry strategies to reduce recidivism and increase successful community reintegration for adults leaving incarceration or supervision.
Anticipated Total Amount to Be Awarded: $4,000,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 4
Anticipated Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Deadline: March 19 (Grants.gov) / March 26 (JustGrants)
Recommended Pre-reading: Reentry 2030—A national whole-of-government initiative to break incarceration cycles by reducing barriers to basic needs like housing, health care, and jobs.
BJA FY25 Strengthening Community Supervision Agency Operations Program
Helps probation and parole agencies improve supervision outcomes and prevent recidivism through enhanced operations.
Anticipated Total Amount to Be Awarded: $10,687,630
- Category 1: Smart Supervision
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 7
- Anticipated Award Ceiling: Up to $1,000,000
- Category 2: Implementing Swift, Clean, and Fair Principles
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 4
- Anticipated Award Ceiling: Up to $1,000,000
Deadline: March 19 (Grants.gov) / March 26 (JustGrants)
Recommended Pre-reading:
- 50-State Report on Public Safety: Strategies on how to use data to drive recidivism-reduction efforts, ensure the effective use of risk and needs assessments, improve the effectiveness of supervision, and provide people on supervision with the resources they need to succeed.
- A 10-Step Guide to Transforming Probation Departments to Reduce Recidivism: A practical framework for implementing evidence-based supervision probation practices that improve outcomes.
BJA FY25 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative
Funds comprehensive approaches to address mental illness and substance use at the intersection of justice and health systems, including crisis stabilization centers, treatment services, housing access, and technology modernization.
Total Amount to Be Awarded: $42,000,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 14
Anticipated Award Ceiling: Up to $3,000,000
Deadline: March 30 (Grants.gov) / April 6 (JustGrants)
Recommended Pre-reading:
- Aligning Health and Safety—Practical guidance for communities developing coordinated responses to behavioral health crises at the intersection of public safety and health systems.
- Justice and Behavioral Health Strategy Lab—Interactive tools and resources to help communities design and implement effective interventions at the intersection of justice and behavioral health systems.
OJJDP FY25 Second Chance Act: Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Parents and Their Minor Children
Supports programs that strengthen parent-child connections and reduce intergenerational justice involvement through services for incarcerated parents and their minor children.
Total Amount to Be Awarded: $4,200,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 5
Anticipated Award Ceiling: Up to $750,000
Deadline: March 30 (Grants.gov) / April 6 (JustGrants)
Recommended Pre-reading: Statewide Correctional Initiatives Supporting Children with Incarcerated Parents—A first-of-its-kind action plan with evidence-based strategies for states to help maintain and improve children’s relationships with their parents in jail or prison.
OJJDP FY25 Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program
Provides comprehensive reentry services for youth assessed as moderate-to-high risk before, during, and after release from confinement.
Total Amount to Be Awarded: $13,650,000
Total Anticipated Number of Awards: 18
Anticipated Award Ceiling: Up to $750,000
Deadline: March 30 (Grants.gov) / April 6 (JustGrants)
Recommended Pre-reading: Reentry 2030—A national whole-of-government initiative to break incarceration cycles by reducing barriers to basic needs like housing, health care, and jobs.
DOL Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) Initiative
Supports workforce readiness skills and employment for youth, young adults, and adults who are reentering the community.
Total Amount to Be Awarded: $81,000,000
Total Anticipated Number of Awards: 20
Anticipated Award Ceiling: $5,100,000
Deadline: April 15
Recommended Pre-reading: Reentry 2030—A national whole-of-government initiative to break incarceration cycles by reducing barriers to basic needs like housing, health care, and jobs.
Interested in partnership opportunities?
The CSG Justice Center provides data-driven solutions for the most complex justice challenges facing states and communities today. We do this by combining three powerful ingredients: trusted data, practical strategies, and deep cross-systems collaboration.
We’ve worked with leaders across all 50 states to develop and implement successful reentry, community supervision, and behavioral health programs through practical, research-informed strategies that deliver measurable results.
To learn more, please reach out to the following staff:
- Reentry and juvenile justice: Contact Susan Gottesfeld at sgottesfeld@csg.org
- Intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice: Contact Hallie Fader-Towe at hfader@csg.org
- Community supervision: Contact Grace Beil Call at gcall@csg.org