BJA FY 17 Smart Reentry: Focus on Evidence-Based Strategies for Successful Reentry from Incarceration to Community | BJA 2017 11541

FY 17 BJA Smart Reentry Grant (BJA-2017-11541) - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FY 17 BJA Smart Reentry grant?

The FY 17 Smart Reentry grant is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help jurisdictions strengthen how they support people returning to the community from incarceration, with a central goal of improving public safety by reducing recidivism.

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The central purpose is public safety through measurable reductions in recidivism. The solicitation focuses on improving the overall reentry process for individuals assessed as having a medium to high risk of reoffending.

Does the grant fund a single "reentry program"?

Not in the way many people think of a standalone program. The opportunity frames reentry as a continuous, coordinated process that begins during incarceration and continues through release and community reintegration until risk is measurably reduced and the person is stabilized in the community.

When does "reentry" start and end under this solicitation?

Under this grant concept, reentry begins at the point of incarceration (not at release) and continues after release into the community until the person is stabilized and their risk of recidivism is measurably reduced.

Who is the target population for services supported by this grant?

The solicitation emphasizes individuals returning from incarceration who are assessed as having a medium to high risk of reoffending.

Why is risk level important in this opportunity?

Risk level matters because the grant prioritizes strategies that use empirically validated risk/needs assessments to drive planning. The expectation is that service and supervision strategies should match an individual's assessed risk of recidivism and identified needs, rather than relying on generic referrals or one-size-fits-all case plans.

What does "evidence-based strategies and practices" mean in this context?

It means applicants are expected to build a reentry approach grounded in research-supported practices and driven by information from empirically validated risk/needs assessments. The goal is to use interventions that research suggests are more likely to reduce reoffending, especially when they are matched to risk level and criminogenic needs.

What type of assessments are emphasized by the grant?

The opportunity stresses the use of empirically validated risk/needs assessments. These assessments are intended to identify risk of recidivism and specific criminogenic needs so jurisdictions can develop targeted intervention plans.

What are "criminogenic needs" and why do they matter for this grant?

Criminogenic needs are dynamic factors linked to criminal behavior. The solicitation gives examples such as substance use, antisocial thinking patterns, and unstable employment. They matter because the grant expects jurisdictions to identify these needs through assessment and match services and supervision strategies to address them in ways that can reduce reoffending.

What is the grant's expectation for case planning and service matching?

Applicants are expected to avoid generic referrals and one-size-fits-all plans. Instead, each individual should be assessed and then connected to targeted services and supervision strategies aligned to both their risk level and their identified criminogenic needs.

What does "comprehensive reentry planning" include?

Reentry planning is described as intentionally comprehensive and spanning both pre-release and post-release phases. It can include coordinated transition planning, benefits enrollment or reactivation where allowable, connections to community-based providers, and preparation to address barriers such as housing, employment readiness, behavioral health treatment continuity, and prosocial supports. Post-release, it focuses on rapid service start, addressing emerging needs, and maintaining continuity of care and supervision.

What are examples of pre-release activities mentioned in the opportunity?

Examples include coordinated transition planning, enrollment or reactivation of benefits where allowable, connection to community-based providers, and preparation addressing practical barriers such as housing, employment readiness, behavioral health treatment continuity, and prosocial supports.

What are examples of post-release activities mentioned in the opportunity?

Examples include ensuring services begin quickly after release, addressing emerging needs as circumstances change, and maintaining continuity of care and supervision.

What does it mean that the reentry plan should be more than a document?

The solicitation indicates the reentry plan should include an actionable strategy for how needs will be met over time, who is responsible for each component, and how the jurisdiction will ensure handoffs between institutions, supervision agencies, and community providers do not break down.

Why does the grant emphasize continuity and "handoffs" between systems?

The opportunity highlights that reentry outcomes depend on multiple systems working together. It specifically notes the importance of ensuring handoffs between jail/prison, supervision agencies, and community providers do not break down, so services and supervision remain consistent from incarceration through community reintegration.

How important is collaboration for this grant?

Collaboration is a core feature. The opportunity is designed for jurisdictions that can bring together corrections, community supervision, service providers, and other local partners in a coordinated model, reflecting that reentry success depends on aligned multi-system efforts rather than disconnected activities.

What types of partners are implied or referenced for collaboration?

The solicitation references collaboration across corrections (jail/prison), community supervision agencies, community-based organizations, and service providers that may deliver treatment, employment supports, housing assistance, and other stabilizing services, along with other local partners.

What is the CFDA number for this grant opportunity?

This grant program is listed under CFDA 16.812.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is BJA-2017-11541.

Which federal agency is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

What category is this opportunity listed under?

It is listed in the Law, Justice and Legal Services category.

Who was eligible to apply based on the solicitation summary?

Eligible applicants included state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

What was the maximum award amount?

Awards were capped at $1,000,000 per award.

How many awards did BJA anticipate making?

BJA anticipated making up to six awards under this solicitation.

When was the opportunity posted, and what was the closing date?

The opportunity was posted on January 11, 2017. The original closing date was March 14, 2017.

What outcomes is this grant intended to achieve?

The intended outcomes include a measurable reduction in recidivism among medium- to high-risk returning individuals, safer communities, and more effective use of correctional and community resources.

What kind of overall approach does BJA appear to be pushing with this solicitation?

The opportunity is positioned as a push for jurisdictions to move beyond ad hoc reentry efforts and toward structured, data-informed reentry systems that begin early during incarceration, rely on validated assessment tools, target criminogenic needs with evidence-based interventions, and maintain continuity of support after release.