The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks applications for funding under the John R. Justice (JRJ) Grant Program, which provides student loan repayment assistance for local, state, and federal public defenders and local and state prosecutors who commit to extended service in those roles. This program furthers the DOJ’s mission by assisting in the recruitment and retention of qualified attorneys to enhance the efficacy of the criminal justice system.
The purpose of the JRJ Grant Program is to encourage qualified individuals to enter and continue employment as prosecutors and public defenders.
Goals: For all states and territories to be able to recruit and retain talented (and eligible) local, state, and federal public defenders and local and state prosecutors by setting up and maintaining a student loan repayment assistance program for attorneys with the most student loan financial burden who agree to commit to extended employment in public interest law.
The objective of the JRJ Grant Program is to offer an incentive to allow jurisdictions to attract and retain qualified local, state, and federal public defenders and local and state prosecutors who commit to extended employment in those roles and continue in that capacity for a minimum of 36 months.
Estimated Total Program Funding: