Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2023 171523
The BJA FY 23 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to strengthen reentry efforts and reduce recidivism by funding evidence-based services and financing approaches that are tied to measurable results. It sits within the broader Second Chance Act (SCA) framework, first enacted in 2007 and later reauthorized through the First Step Act of 2018, which focuses on helping people transition more safely and successfully from incarceration in prisons, jails, or juvenile residential facilities back into their communities. The program is grounded in OJP priorities that include advancing civil rights and racial equity, increasing access to justice, supporting victims and justice-impacted individuals, improving community safety, responding to evolving public safety threats, and building trust between communities and law enforcement.
A central idea in this solicitation is that "reentry" is not a single intervention that begins at release, but a continuous process that starts when a person is first incarcerated and extends through release and long-term reintegration. In practical terms, this means applicants are expected to think beyond short-term discharge planning and instead propose coordinated strategies that address the ongoing barriers that often drive repeated justice involvement. The solicitation specifically highlights the need to expand or strengthen clinical services and other proven interventions that improve reentry outcomes, reduce repeat offending, and address treatment and recovery needs for people with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions who are currently involved in the criminal justice system or who were previously involved.
The "Pay for Success" focus signals that BJA is looking for approaches that use performance-based or outcomes-based contracting, where funding and payments are linked to achieving predefined performance measures or outcomes rather than simply delivering activities. The solicitation offers two main funding categories. The first category is Performance-based and Outcomes-based Contracting for Reentry Services, which supports structured contracting models that pay for effective services aimed at improving reentry and reducing recidivism. The second category is Performance-based and Outcomes-based Contracting for Permanent Supportive Housing, which centers on housing as a stabilizing platform for reentry, typically pairing long-term housing assistance with supportive services and then tying payments to outcomes such as housing stability and reduced justice system contacts. Across both categories, the expectation is that applicants will define outcomes clearly, use evidence-based service models, and build strong measurement and evaluation plans so results can be tracked and verified.
Eligibility is limited to public-sector entities and certain housing authorities, specifically state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities. The opportunity is listed under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 16.812 and is administered by BJA. The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per award, and the original application closing date for this FY 2023 solicitation was March 21, 2023. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
This program is presented as one part of a larger FY 2023 Second Chance Act "suite" of solicitations, alongside other reentry and supervision funding opportunities (for example, community reentry, crisis stabilization and community reentry, education and employment outcomes, substance use disorder treatment and recovery for adults in reentry, smart supervision, swift-certain-fair supervision, and the HOPE Institute). The solicitation emphasizes that not every applicant will be eligible for every program in the suite, and it encourages prospective applicants to read each solicitation carefully to confirm fit and eligibility, especially if combining or sequencing multiple funding opportunities could support a more comprehensive community strategy for addressing substance use, mental health needs, and co-occurring disorders among justice-involved populations.Apply for O BJA 2023 171523
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 23 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.812.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-01-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-03-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BJA FY 23 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Program?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The program is intended to strengthen reentry efforts and reduce recidivism by funding evidence-based services and financing approaches that are tied to measurable results, using Pay for Success style performance-based or outcomes-based contracting.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is to improve reentry outcomes and reduce repeat justice involvement by supporting evidence-based interventions and contracting approaches where payments are linked to achieving predefined outcomes (not just delivering activities).
How does this opportunity define "reentry"?
Reentry is framed as a continuous process, not a single intervention at the point of release. It begins when a person is first incarcerated and continues through release and long-term reintegration in the community. Applicants are expected to propose coordinated strategies that go beyond short-term discharge planning.
What does "Pay for Success" mean in this solicitation?
"Pay for Success" signals that BJA is looking for performance-based or outcomes-based contracting models where funding and payments are tied to achieving clearly defined performance measures or outcomes, rather than solely reimbursing activities or services delivered.
What are the two main funding categories under this program?
The solicitation describes two primary categories:
- Performance-based and Outcomes-based Contracting for Reentry Services: supports structured contracting models that pay for effective reentry services intended to improve reentry outcomes and reduce recidivism.
- Performance-based and Outcomes-based Contracting for Permanent Supportive Housing: centers housing as a stabilizing platform for reentry, generally pairing long-term housing assistance with supportive services and tying payments to outcomes such as housing stability and reduced justice system contact.
What types of services or interventions are emphasized?
The solicitation highlights expanding or strengthening clinical services and other proven (evidence-based) interventions that improve reentry outcomes, reduce repeat offending, and address treatment and recovery needs. It specifically calls attention to services for people with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions who are currently involved in the criminal justice system or were previously involved.
Who is the target population for the program?
The focus is on justice-involved individuals, including people currently in the criminal justice system or previously involved. The solicitation specifically emphasizes individuals with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions, and individuals transitioning from prisons, jails, or juvenile residential facilities back into the community.
Why is housing included as a major focus area?
One category is specifically dedicated to Permanent Supportive Housing, reflecting the idea that stable housing can be a foundation for successful reentry. In that model, housing assistance is typically paired with supportive services and payments are tied to outcomes such as housing stability and fewer justice system contacts.
What is expected regarding outcomes, measurement, and evaluation?
Applicants are expected to define outcomes clearly, use evidence-based service models, and build strong measurement and evaluation plans so results can be tracked and verified. This aligns with the performance-based structure, where payments depend on measurable results.
What are the key priorities this program aligns with at OJP?
The solicitation is grounded in OJP priorities that include advancing civil rights and racial equity, increasing access to justice, supporting victims and justice-impacted individuals, improving community safety, responding to evolving public safety threats, and building trust between communities and law enforcement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to certain public-sector entities and housing authorities:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Public housing authorities
- Indian housing authorities
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing 16.812 (historically referenced as CFDA 16.812).
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per award.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
Is this a discretionary or formula grant program?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity.
When was the application closing date for the FY 2023 solicitation?
The original application closing date was March 21, 2023.
How does this solicitation relate to the broader Second Chance Act framework?
The Pay for Success Program sits within the broader Second Chance Act framework, which was first enacted in 2007 and later reauthorized through the First Step Act of 2018. The overall SCA focus is helping people transition more safely and successfully from incarceration back into their communities.
Is this program part of a larger set of FY 2023 Second Chance Act opportunities?
Yes. The solicitation is presented as one part of a larger FY 2023 Second Chance Act "suite" of solicitations, alongside other reentry and supervision-related opportunities.
What other types of Second Chance Act opportunities are mentioned as part of the FY 2023 suite?
The description references other examples in the FY 2023 suite, including community reentry, crisis stabilization and community reentry, education and employment outcomes, substance use disorder treatment and recovery for adults in reentry, smart supervision, swift-certain-fair supervision, and the HOPE Institute.
Can the same applicant be eligible for every program in the FY 2023 Second Chance Act suite?
Not necessarily. The solicitation emphasizes that not every applicant will be eligible for every program in the suite, and it encourages applicants to read each solicitation carefully to confirm eligibility and fit.
Does the solicitation encourage coordinating multiple funding opportunities?
It encourages prospective applicants to consider reading each solicitation carefully, especially if combining or sequencing multiple opportunities could support a more comprehensive community strategy for addressing substance use, mental health needs, and co-occurring disorders among justice-involved populations.
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