Crime and Criminal Justice
Policing, courts, incarceration, reentry, and justice-system involvement.
43 opportunities · 17 traditional · 26 nontraditional
Traditional (17)
- Research grants and the Graduate Research FellowshipFederal grantNational Institute of JusticeThe research arm of the Department of Justice: policing, courts, corrections, reentry, victimisation — plus a dedicated fellowship for doctoral students working on justice questions.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Mar, Apr, May
- Grants and research partnershipsFoundation grantThe Annie E. Casey FoundationChild welfare, juvenile justice, and family economic security, with a strong applied bent: the foundation funds work that changes what public systems do, and publishes the data behind it.Amount not published · By invitation
- Evidence-based policy fundingFoundation grantArnold VenturesFunds rigorous evaluation — often randomised — of criminal justice, health and public finance interventions, and will pay for replication and for null results other funders avoid.$250k–$5M · Rolling / open
- Grants and open callsFoundation grantOpen Society FoundationsRights-based funding across justice, migration, health and democratic practice in many countries, including research done with movements rather than only about them.Amount not published · Periodic calls
- U.S. Department of Justice FY 2026 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS)Training & capacityBureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice (with COPS Office, OJJDP and OVC)A single application covering eight DOJ purpose areas for tribes. Purpose Area 2 (BJA/COPS/OJJDP/OVC) funds justice-system strategic planning with a comprehensive needs assessment and data gathering; other areas fund tribal youth justice, healing to wellness courts, and children's justice act partnerships.$100k–$900k · Annual cycle · Aug, Sep, Oct
- NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation of Services for Victims of CrimeFederal grantNational Institute of Justice (with the Office for Victims of Crime), U.S. Department of JusticeFunds research and evaluation on crime victims' needs and victim services. Category 1 covers law enforcement-based victim services and evaluations of other victim service programs; Category 2 covers technology-facilitated abuse, including nonconsensual deepfake images.up to $1.5M · Annual cycle · Jun, Jul, Aug
- NIJ FY 2026 State and Local Collection and Reporting of Crime DataFederal grantNational Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of JusticeSupports rigorous research on the accuracy of crime data collection and reporting across state and local jurisdictions, including documented inaccuracies in offender race and ethnicity data, with the goal of scalable best practices for data quality and governance.up to $2M · Periodic calls · Jun, Jul, Aug
- Criminal Justice and Youth Justice grants (General Support, Program/Project Support, Special Opportunities)Foundation grantPublic Welfare FoundationGrants for structural criminal and youth justice reform, community-centred approaches to reducing harm and violence, leadership by people with lived system experience, and narrative and transparency work. General operating and project support, including research and evaluation components of reform work.$120k–$400k · Periodic calls · Sep, Oct, Nov
- Causal Research on Community Safety and the Criminal Justice System (Request for Proposals)Foundation grantArnold VenturesFunds causal-design studies (RCT, difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables) of US policies, practices and interventions affecting crime and criminal justice outcomes, measured with real-world behavioural or administrative data.$110k–$500k · Rolling / open
- NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) ProgramDissertation awardNational Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of JusticeGrants to accredited academic institutions supporting doctoral students whose dissertation research addresses crime prevention, victimization, victim services, or the fair administration of criminal and juvenile justice. Open to students from any discipline.up to $180k per year · Annual cycle · Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
- Causal Research on the Criminal Justice System (CRCJ) Early Career AwardsEarly-career awardRussell Sage FoundationSupports early-career scholars using causal designs to study police, courts, jails, prisons, probation and parole, and immigration detention, including sentencing policy, post-prison outcomes, bias and disparities. Co-funded with Arnold Ventures.up to $100k · Annual cycle · Apr
- Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) ProgramFederal grantSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Cooperative agreement to implement court-ordered community-based treatment for adults with serious mental illness, working with civil courts and community partners. Aims to reduce hospitalisation, homelessness and criminal justice contact.up to $750k per year · Periodic calls · Apr
- Distinguished Scholar AwardsFellowshipHarry Frank Guggenheim FoundationIndividual research awards for work on the causes, manifestations and control of violence, including crime, punishment, family violence, and racial or ethnic conflict. Awards go to the individual scholar rather than the institution.$15k–$75k per year · Annual cycle · Jul, Sep
- Behavioral Health and Community Safety Partnerships (BH-CSP)Federal grantSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Supports communities in reducing the behavioral health impacts of crime, violence and disorder and improving outcomes for affected youth and families. Formerly known as ReCAST. Requires quarterly indicator reporting through SPARS.up to $750k per year · Periodic calls · Jul
- Emerging Scholar Awards (dissertation fellowship)Dissertation awardHarry Frank Guggenheim FoundationOne-year dissertation writing fellowship for doctoral candidates whose research addresses the causes, manifestations and control of violence and aggression, including crime, punishment and family violence.$25k · Annual cycle · Feb, Mar
- National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP)Federal grantBureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of JusticeNCHIP funds states, territories and tribes to improve the quality, timeliness and accessibility of criminal history records by integrating data across law enforcement, prosecution, courts and corrections. For social work researchers the value is the administrative-data infrastructure it builds: NCHIP-funded record systems are the backbone for research on protective orders, firearm prohibitors, reentry and justice-involved families, and awards routinely fund analytic and evaluation subcontracts.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Jan, Feb, Mar
- State Justice Statistics (SJS) Program for Statistical Analysis CentersTraining & capacityBureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of JusticeSJS builds state analytic capacity by funding Statistical Analysis Centers to coordinate statistical activities, analyze administrative justice data and act as the liaison between BJS and state agencies. Recent cycles offered Core Capacity-Building projects (NIBRS compatibility, performance measurement, data access) and Special Emphasis projects using administrative and criminal history data, which is a direct fit for social work researchers studying reentry, diversion and justice-system contact.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Mar, Apr, May
Nontraditional (26)
- Grants to address the overdose crisisRapid-response fundFoundation for Opioid Response EffortsA funder created specifically for the overdose crisis, moving faster than federal cycles on treatment access, harm reduction and recovery supports, and funding evaluation alongside services.$100k–$500k · Periodic calls
- Federal and state evaluation contracts (SAM.gov)Evaluation contractU.S. federal and state agenciesAgencies buy evaluation as a service through procurement, not as a grant. Deliverable-driven and less prestigious than a grant, but it is steady applied research money most academics never look at.$50k–$5M · Rolling / open
- Youth Fund for Social ChangeParticipatory grantmakingCrossroads FundGrants of $5,000-$15,000 to youth-led social change projects in the Chicago region, decided by a grantmaking committee that includes youth organizers and young people who conduct the site visits.$5k–$15k · Annual cycle · Aug, Sep
- Kluz Prize for PeaceTechPrize or challengeKluz FoundationAn annual prize recognising people and organisations using emerging technology to reduce conflict, build peace and safeguard human dignity. Application is a short structured form, not a grant proposal.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Jun, Jul, Aug
- CIVICUS Crisis Response FundRapid-response fundCIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen ParticipationA rolling rapid-response fund for civil society facing sudden restriction, supporting both advocacy responses to unexpected civic-space closures and resiliency or emergency measures for groups under immediate threat. Applications are accepted year-round with no fixed deadline, and funded activities run three to six months. Coalitions of two or more co-applicants can request a larger budget than a single organisation. For social work research this is the instrument that keeps a community research partner operating — security, legal defence, organisational resilience — when a coup, a new NGO law$10k–$20k · Rolling / open
- The Center Fellowship (formerly Right of Return)FellowshipCenter for Art & AdvocacyAn annual fellowship for formerly incarcerated artists, founded by formerly incarcerated artists, funding projects that document and challenge the criminal legal system. Money comes with a retreat, mentorship and a peer network.$20k · Annual cycle
- Protection GrantsRapid-response fundFront Line DefendersEmergency protection grants for human rights defenders at risk — physical and digital security, legal fees under judicial harassment, medical costs after attack — sustaining the capacity to keep documenting abuses.up to $8k · Rolling / open
- Community Power Grantmaking ProgramParticipatory grantmakingiF, A Foundation for Radical PossibilityMulti-year general operating grants in the Washington DC region decided by a committee of community members with lived experience of racial inequities, including people organising around criminalisation and safety.$75k per year · Periodic calls · Apr, May, Jun
- Rapid Response GrantsRapid-response fundNorth Star FundSmall rapid grants for grassroots organizing groups responding to unforeseen political shifts or critical campaign moments, including mutual aid, healing justice and bail funds. Decision within two weeks.$3k · Rolling / open
- Unlocked Futures (Catalyze cohort)Training & capacityNew ProfitA year-long cohort for nonprofits led by formerly incarcerated and directly impacted social entrepreneurs, combining unrestricted money with convenings, strategic advising and leadership development.$110k · Annual cycle · Feb
- Michigan Justice Fund Rapid Response Grant ProgramRapid-response fundCommunity Foundation for Southeast MichiganSmall rolling grants from a statewide justice fund for Michigan organisations working with justice-impacted people, aimed at moments that cannot wait for a grant cycle.$2k–$10k · Rolling / open
- AAPI Community Development Fund (AAPI CDF)Participatory grantmakingCoalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF)New York State money regranted by an AAPI-led coalition to community-based organizations working holistically on anti-Asian hate and bias, in sub-awards of up to $30,000.up to $30k · Annual cycle · Mar
- Illinois Judicial Branch Procurement OpportunitiesEvaluation contractOffice of the Illinois Courts / Administrative Office of the Illinois CourtsThe Illinois judiciary lists its own solicitations here, and they regularly include research-shaped work — most notably a comprehensive validation of the state's Adult and Juvenile Risk Assessment instruments and strategic planning consulting for the Judicial Conference.Amount not published · Rolling / open
- NIJ Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars Program for AcademicsIn-kind resourceNational Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of JusticeA three-year non-monetary scholars programme for early-career academics who do research with law enforcement agencies. NIJ covers domestic travel, accommodation and per diem for LEADS events, and provides networking, peer review and funding-notification access.Not a cash award · Annual cycle · Mar, Apr, May
- Quest for Democracy Fund (Q4D)Participatory grantmakingFormerly Incarcerated, Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM)A regranting fund created and governed by the national network of formerly incarcerated and convicted people, moving money to small organizations led by people who have been inside. Grants come paired with capacity building and technical assistance.Amount not published · Periodic calls
- Integrated Database (IDB) of Federal Court FilingsIn-kind resourceFederal Judicial CenterA free, unified longitudinal database of federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy, and appellate case filings and terminations from 1970 to the present, downloadable in full with codebooks — the standard backbone for quantitative federal court research.Not a cash award · Rolling / open
- Emergency Assistance ProgramRapid-response fundFreedom HouseStanding emergency assistance for human rights defenders and civil society organisations under threat, including rapid response advocacy and opportunity grants and resiliency grants for security training and threat mitigation.Amount not published · Rolling / open
- Court Improvement Program Grants (Mediation, Technology, Court Navigator Pilot)Training & capacitySupreme Court of Ohio, Office of the Chief Financial OfficerOhio's high court re-grants federal Court Improvement Program money to local courts for mediation in abuse, neglect and dependency cases, juvenile and probate court technology, and a court navigator pilot — each with stated outcome expectations.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Jul, Aug
- LISC Community Development Lending, Grants and Capacity BuildingTraining & capacityLocal Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)One of the largest U.S. community development intermediaries, combining flexible lending to under-resourced borrowers with grantmaking, capacity-building services, a public resource library and its own policy research and impact assessment through the LISC Institute for Community Power. The dual role matters here — LISC both capitalizes community organizations and publishes research on them, so it is a plausible funder, data partner and dissemination route for social work research on housing, safety and justice, health, and income and wealth building.Amount not published · Varies by programme
- SAFE Housing NetworkIn-kind resourceA New Way of Life Reentry ProjectA national network of formerly incarcerated people that gives organisations the model, training, technical assistance and mentorship to open safe reentry homes and build the leadership of the women who live in them.Not a cash award · Rolling / open
- Youth Grants (Youth Advisory Council)Participatory grantmakingCapital Region Community FoundationA council of high school students runs its own triennial youth needs assessment, sets the funding priorities from it, and reviews applications from programs serving teens in Michigan's tri-county capital region.Not a cash award · Annual cycle
- Court Improvement Program Evaluation and Technical Assistance SolicitationsEvaluation contractSupreme Court of Ohio, Office of the Chief Financial OfficerOhio's high court posts its own RFPs directly on this page, including program evaluation of the state Court Improvement Program and technical assistance for juvenile court mediation and a court navigator pilot.Amount not published · Several times a year
- Immigration Frontlines FundRapid-response fundFour Freedoms Fund (NEO Philanthropy)A national, large-scale rapid response fund defending immigrant communities, supporting organizing, mobilization and defense work across 38 states and prioritizing groups led by immigrant, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ leaders.Amount not published · Rolling / open
- Texas Office of Court Administration Contracting and ProcurementsEvaluation contractTexas Office of Court Administration (judicial branch agency)The judicial branch agency that runs Texas court data and administration explains here how it buys services. Its bid opportunities post to the Electronic State Business Daily rather than to a court-specific list.Amount not published · Rolling / open
- Judicial Council of California Bidders and SolicitationsEvaluation contractJudicial Council of CaliforniaThe standing solicitation portal for California's judicial branch, searchable by request type, department, topic, year, and status. This is where branch-wide professional-services and consulting RFPs appear.Amount not published · Rolling / open
- Higher Education in Prison programme grantsFoundation grantLaughing Gull FoundationFunds college-in-prison access and quality in the US South, including an explicit priority for research, evaluation and awareness building on higher education in prison as a strategy for reducing mass incarceration, plus reentry transition support to community colleges.Amount not published · Varies by programme
Other clusters
- Adolescent and Youth Development
- Aging Services and Gerontology
- American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Global Indigenous Populations (Indigenous Cluster)
- Asian and Asian-Pacific Islander Focused-Research
- Black and African Diaspora Focused-Research
- Child Welfare
- Communities and Neighborhoods
- Disability
- Gender
- Gender-Based Violence
- Health
- History
- Inequality, Poverty, and Social Welfare Policy
- International Social Work and Global Issues
- Immigrants and Refugees
- LatinX Focused-Research
- Mental Health
- Military Service Members, Veterans and Their Families
- Organizations and Management
- Race and Ethnicity
- Research Design and Measurement
- Research on Social Work Education
- School Social Work
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Social Work Practice
- Substance Misuse and Addictive Behaviors
- Sustainable Development, Environmental and Climate Justice
- Work and Work-Life Policies and Programs