This funding opportunity seeks to support wrongful conviction review (WCR) entities and conviction integrity units (CIU). WCR entities represent and review individual cases of post-conviction claims of innocence. CIUs enhance criminal justice system integrity. The goal of this program is to enhance the ability of WCR entities and CIUs and their criminal justice and victims’ services partners to better identify, assess, and manage post-conviction claims of innocence while preventing future error and bring justice for victims.
• Category 1: Wrongful Conviction Review Entity-Led Strategy (WCR Entity-Led Strategy)
• Category 2: Prosecutor/Conviction Integrity Unit-Led Partnerships with Wrongful Conviction Review Entities (CIU-Led Partnerships)
Deadline: April 3, 2025
Eligible Applicants:
For Category 1 and 2 • State governments • Special district governments • City or township governments • County governments • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education • Public- and State-controlled institutions of higher education • Private institutions of higher education • Other: State, county, or local public defender offices that have in-house post-conviction representation programs that show demonstrable experience and competence in litigating post-conviction claims of innocence. If the applicant is not a WCR entity, they must be partnered with one.
For Category 3 Eligible applicants are limited to entities that have experience and expertise in administering conviction integrity and review units or experience in reviewing cases of post-conviction and appeal claims of innocence such as those applicants in Category 1 and 2. The following entities are eligible to apply: • Public- and State-controlled institutions of higher education • Private institutions of higher education, other than institutions of higher education • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
An applicant may submit more than one application, if each application proposes a different project in response to the solicitation. Also, an entity may be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one application.