BJA FY 20 Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations Program | BJA 2020 18017

Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2020 18017

The BJA FY 20 Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to help jurisdictions pursue unsolved homicide cold cases that are suspected of being racially motivated. The program focuses on providing practical financial support to move long-unsolved cases forward, from renewed investigative work through potential prosecution, while also recognizing the continuing impact these cases have on victims' families and affected communities.

This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: BJA 2020 18017) offers grant funding to cover costs tied directly to investigating and prosecuting eligible cold case homicides. In real terms, this can include investigative activities such as reviewing case files, re-interviewing witnesses, conducting new forensic testing where feasible, pursuing leads that were not available or actionable at the time of the original investigation, and coordinating with prosecutors to prepare cases for charging decisions. A key feature of the program is that it explicitly includes support for victims' families and other stakeholders impacted by these cases, which reflects an emphasis not only on solving crimes but also on addressing the long-term harm and trauma associated with racially motivated violence.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of governmental entities that typically house or oversee law enforcement and prosecutorial functions. This includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The intent is to ensure that the agencies most directly responsible for cold case investigations and prosecutions, including tribal jurisdictions, can access resources to restart or strengthen case work that may have stalled due to limited staffing, outdated evidence processing methods, or the passage of time.

The award ceiling for this solicitation is $300,000 per award, with an expectation of making approximately six awards. The opportunity was created on March 4, 2020, with an original application closing date of May 4, 2020. The program is associated with CFDA number 16.031 and falls under funding activity areas connected to law, justice, and legal services, with an additional categorization that references humanities and cultural affairs, reflecting the historical and community significance of addressing racially motivated cold case homicides.

Overall, the Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations Program is structured to help agencies take concrete steps toward accountability in cases that may have been neglected or left unresolved for decades, while pairing the investigative and prosecutorial work with attention to survivors, families, and communities who continue to live with the effects of these crimes.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 20 Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.031.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 04, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 04, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).

Apply for BJA 2020 18017

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