DOJ PRESS RELEASE

Justice Department Announces Funding Opportunities to Support Public Safety in Tribal Communities

The Justice Department today announced the opening of the 2024 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) period for comprehensive funding to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes. CTAS funding supports crime prevention activities, victim services and coordinated community responses to violence in Indian Country.

Administered by the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the solicitation includes guidance on how federally recognized Tribal governments and Tribal consortia can apply for funding to aid in the development of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety and victimization.

“The Office of Justice Programs is committed to working with Tribes and Tribal communities to provide a wide array of services and supports to help keep their communities safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon of OJP. “Our grants provide funding to Tribes for their juvenile justice and criminal justice systems, including providing support to victims and families, helping to strengthen Tribal court systems and enabling tribes to develop, expand or strengthen approaches along the juvenile justice continuum.”

The funding from OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and Office for Victims of Crime, along with funding from the COPS Office, can be used for a range of public safety and justice-related projects and services. These include enhancing law enforcement, advancing fair and effective adult and juvenile justice systems and reducing juvenile delinquency and improving youth outcomes. In addition, the grants serve American Indian and Alaska Native victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and elder abuse.

“The COPS Office is well aware of the vital role Tribal law enforcement plays in ensuring the safety and well-being of our Native American communities,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “Our commitment to providing them with the resources they need — including officers, equipment and training — is unwavering. By investing in the capabilities of Tribal law enforcement, we strengthen the fabric of justice that spans across state, local, Tribal, and territorial jurisdictions.”

In FY 2023, the department awarded 182 CTAS grants, amounting to more than $96 million in CTAS funding to 111 Tribes and Tribal consortia across the United States.

The grants.gov application deadline for CTAS is March 5, 2024, at 8:59 p.m. ET, and the JustGrants deadline is March 12, 2024, at 8:59 p.m. ET.

The department will also facilitate a series of webinars to guide applicants through the application process. Details, including how to register for these webinars, will be made available online in the coming weeks here.