Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project

BJA Mental Health Courts Program Issues Call for Concept Papers

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is issuing a call for concept papers from state, local, or tribal governments, including courts, to fund one additional mental health court demonstration project that reflects innovative and collaborative efforts for systemwide court improvements for offenders with mental illness.

All applications are due by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 2, 2006.

The successful applicant will be asked to submit a more detailed application, including a complete budget and budget narrative, time and task plan, and letters of support. BJA is supported in this effort by its technical assistance provider, the Council of State Governments (coordinator of the Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project and the Mental Health Courts Program).

For more information, visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/mentalhealth.html.

To download the call for concept papers, please click here.

Amount and Length of Award
One award in the amount of $150,000 will be made for up to 24 months.

Eligibility
Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal government agencies, including courts.

Match Requirement
A minimum 25 percent match is required; federal funding for this project may not exceed 75 percent of the total project costs. In-kind contributions may constitute a portion of the non-federal share of the grant.

Review Process
All concept papers will be peer reviewed. The successful applicant will be asked to submit a detailed application. The BJA Director will then make an award recommendation to OJP's Assistant Attorney General, who will make the final determination.

How To Apply
Complete instructions can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/HowToApply.pdf. If you experience difficulties at any point during this process, please call the Grants.gov customer support hotline at 1-800-518-4726.

For more information, please contact Michael Guerriere, BJA Senior Policy Advisor, at 202-616-3176, or Eunice Pierre, BJA Policy Advisor, at 202-514-1473.