BJA FY 2026 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Summary
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program. This opportunity strengthens the capacity of wrongful conviction review (WCR) entities and their criminal justice and victims’ services partners to more effectively and efficiently identify, assess, and manage post-conviction claims of innocence. Additionally, it aims to enhance public safety by preventing future errors, identifying actual perpetrators of crimes, and delivering justice to victims.
Eligibility
Other Units of Local Government: For the purposes of this NOFO, other units of local government include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general purpose political subdivisions of a state. States and counties that have in-house post-conviction representation programs that show demonstrable experience and competence in litigating postconviction claims of innocence. | applicant types: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; State governments; Special district governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); City or township governments; Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification); County governments; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized); Private institutions of higher education; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education