This fact sheet provides a brief description of current indigent defense projects and programs as well as related funding opportunities.
This fact sheet on indigent defense projects and programs by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), provides overviews of two current programs: the Sixth Amendment Training and Technical Assistance Initiative, which aids to ensure that states and local government are provided with the capacity and tools necessary to meet the obligations established by the Sixth Amendment; and the Capital Case Litigation Training and Technical Assistance Initiative, which provides support to defense counsel, prosecutors, and the judiciary across the U.S. on implementing improvements throughout the field of capital case litigation, while supporting litigators with tools and resources to mitigate risk for error. Funding opportunities covered by this fact sheet include: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program (JAG); John R. Justice Program; Upholding the Rule of Law—Wrongful Conviction Review (WCR) Program; and the Encouraging Innovation—Field Initiated Program. The four funding programs aim to provide a wide range of critical funding in support of a various of program areas including law enforcement; prosecution; indigent defense; courts; crime prevention and education; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment and enforcement; planning and evaluation; technology improvement; crime victim and witness initiatives; mental health programs; law enforcement and corrections programs; behavioral programs and crisis intervention; the attraction and retention of local and state prosecutors and public defenders; post-conviction representation for defendants in post-conviction claims of innocence; the development of strategies to address crime rates and chronic crime problems; and law enforcement capacity building.