Grant Details

The Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Conviction (ROL/WCR) Program supports CIU and WCR entities. CIUs enhance criminal justice system integrity. WCR entities represent and review individual cases of post-conviction claims of innocence. The goal of this program is to strengthen the capacity of CIUs and WCR entities and their criminal justice and victims' services partners to more effectively and   efficiently identify, assess, and manage post-conviction claims of innocence. Additionally, it aims to prevent future errors, identify and apprehend actual perpetrators of crimes, and deliver justice to victims, thereby enhancing public safety.  

This NOFO included two categories of funding: 

• Category 1: Projects are led by state or local prosecutor offices or CIUs that focus on the prevention of wrongful convictions and the review of post-conviction claims of innocence. This can include a collaborative partnership involving both prosecutors and defense counsel, with attention to potential conflicts of interest. Applicants must describe policies and procedures in place to prevent conflicts of interest or perceptions of bias, particularly involving prosecutors originally assigned to the case. They must also describe policies for handling evidence of prosecutorial misconduct, with a strong preference for referral to an independent entity upon discovery. 
• Category 2: Projects are led by a WCR entity that focuses on the review of post-conviction claims of innocence while also supporting efforts to assess and reduce risk of future error by enhancing system integrity. This project can support a collaborative partnership with a prosecutor's office or CIU. If applicants include this partnership, they should document how it will coordinate relevant information-sharing of post-conviction claims of innocence. It must include a description of policies and procedures that are in place to avoid conflicts of interest and protect defendants' rights, including plans for obtaining a waiver of attorney-client privilege and informed consent. 

Note: If resources are needed for the partnering WCR entity, the WCR entity should apply for funds under Category 2.

In order to advance public safety and help meet its mission, OJP will provide priority consideration to applicants that propose (as applicable within the scope of this funding opportunity) projects designed to advance the goals listed below. Applicants seeking priority consideration should specify in the proposal narrative (and in the budget detail form, if applicable) which of the following goal(s) the project is intended to advance and how it will do so: 

• Directly supporting law enforcement operations (including immigration law enforcement operations);
• Combatting violent crime; 
• Supporting services to American citizens; 
• Protecting American children; and 
• Supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault. 

Note: Addressing these priority areas is one of many factors that OJP considers in making funding decisions. Receiving priority consideration for one or more priority areas does not guarantee a funding award.