SDFI^®-TeleMedicine Grant Information

This document represents findings in a broad preliminary scan of multi-sector funding opportunities including government, as well as corporate and private foundations for SDFI technology. This mapping process can be used as the basis for more in-depth research to create sector and geographically specific funding opportunities for consumers of SDFI technology. This is intended to identify some of the most applicable resources that communities around the country can use as a starting point for funding research. Funding streams explored include corrections, juvenile and criminal justice, child welfare, public safety, homeland security, advocacy and technology, as well as domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

Many federal funding streams are administered through state government and sexual assault/domestic violence coalitions, including funds supported by the Victims Of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), as well as Family Violence Prevention and Services Grants (FVPSA) and Community Development Block (CDBG) grants. The funding priorities for Block Grants will vary from state to state. Funding opportunities also vary based on activities in certain geographic areas. For example, in Colorado, there is a Limited Gaming Impact Program that allows the state to fund local government agencies in addressing documented gaming impacts including substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse in jurisdictions where limited stakes gambling is legal, as well as in the surrounding areas. The State Office of Criminal Justice Services in each state provides a good starting point to identify applicable state and local resources. Private and corporate foundations provide funding based on matching their mission and eligibility criteria with grant-seeking entities. In addition, some foundations operate nationally, while others may be limited in scope to a county or local jurisdiction. In the case of foundations, it is best to look locally first and then expand your search outward to larger geographic regions.

Lastly, many funding sources look favorably on projects involving regional collaboration between multiple agencies including the government and non-profit sectors and often will consider funding equipment such as SDFI technology as part of a more comprehensive program proposal. Consumers wishing to purchase SDFI technology to enhance their service delivery could also incorporate the cost of acquiring the technology into future proposals submitted to their current funding sources. Fund development is an ongoing relationship-based process. Agencies seeking funds need to reach out to each other to form strong collaborations providing unduplicated services and to funders themselves to engage in a constructive dialogue resulting in both grantseekers and grantmakers fulfilling their mission.

From the National Network to End Domestic Violence
"In January, Congress passed a 2014 funding bill, restoring significant cuts that had been imposed through sequestration last year. The measure commits increased resources to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) shelter funding."

The fiscal year 2014 bill releases additional vital funding from the VOCA fund, a non-taxpayer fund dedicated to direct services for victims of crime, including survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The bill also funds the Office on Victims of Crime Vision 21 initiative, which will support important improvements in technology, strategic planning, research and data in the victim services field. VAWA’s cornerstone STOP state formula grant program, which supports effective and life-saving coordinated community responses to domestic and sexual violence, received a much needed increase this year. FVPSA, the federal government’s only dedicated funding stream for domestic violence shelters and programs, received a modest increase that will help more of the nation’s shelters meet the pressing needs of victims fleeing abuse. Additionally, the VAWA Sexual Assault Services Programs (SASP) state formula fund program was increased, which will allow rape crisis centers to serve more victims.

In March, President Obama released his 2015 budget, which commits modest increases to programs serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, including the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) shelter funding.

The President's proposal would release additional vital funding from the VOCA fund, a non-taxpayer fund dedicated to direct services for victims of crime, including survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Importantly, the proposed budget also maintains the recently increased funding for the VAWA cornerstone STOP state formula grant program, which supports effective and life-saving coordinated community responses to domestic and sexual violence.

FVPSA, the federal government's only dedicated funding stream for domestic violence shelters and programs, would receive a modest proposed increase of about 4% over the 2012 budget, which is critically important but does not keep pace with inflation. The President's budget restores some of the funding that had been cut from housing and also provides increased legal services assistance to victims.

The proposed increase of $2 million in the VAWA Campus program would help to implement improvements to our nation's response to the epidemic of campus sexual assault and dating violence. Significant funding of $35 million to address the nationwide rape kit backlog would help to identify serial rapists and prosecute dangerous assailants. The President's proposal, unfortunately, would decrease funding for VAWA's critical Rural grant program.”

Office of Justice Programs funds development, evaluation, and testing of technology to help ensure public safety, and help state and local communities better use existing technology. Technology helps to improve public safety in several ways. For example, enhanced criminal records and identification systems keep high-risk individuals from obtaining weapons or positions of trust. Closed-circuit television allows young victims or witnesses of crime to testify in a less-intimidating setting. Bulletproof vests and less-lethal weapons mitigate risk to law enforcement officers. DNA technology advances justice by solving crimes and protecting the innocent. And crime mapping allows law enforcement to target crime "hot spots". OJP also has launched an initiative to develop information-sharing capacity across the criminal justice system. The OJP Information Technology Executive Council coordinates funding and technical assistance to ensure that technology is deployed in a manner that allows information-sharing across agencies.
http://ojp.gov/programs/technology.htm

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding for research and technology development leading to the introduction into practice of new, innovative means to: (1) speed forensic processing of large capacity digital media, and (2) reduce digital evidence storage requirements. This program furthers the Department’s mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the State and local levels.
https://ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl001078.pdf

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is seeking applications for the Vision 21: Building State Technology Capacity program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by awarding funds to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Formula State Administrating Agencies to enhance the state’s access to technology, increase victims' access to resources, and increase accuracy of administrative reporting. Application Deadline: 05/15/2014 OVC anticipates that it will make an unspecified number of awards totaling approximately $2,250,000 to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Formula State Administrating Agencies that identify technological improvements to 1) enhance their current systems, 2) develop new systems to increase access to technology, 3) increase victims' access to resources, or 4) improve the accuracy of administrative reporting. Awards will range from $25,000 to $250,000, depending on funding justification, population of the state, needs assessment/strategic planning, and the breadth and complexity of the proposed technology enhancement program. Those applying are urged to begin in advance of the May 15, 2014, deadline.

More Information: https://ojp.gov/ovc/grants/pdftxt/FY14_V21_State_Technology.pdf

Office for Victims of Crime will make three awards of up to $100,000 each to implement the Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims Strategy (ELERV) to improve agencies’ response to victims of crime, with a strong focus on reaching and serving underserved and unserved victims in the community. In the first phase of this project, successful applicants will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment in their jurisdiction and develop a plan for implementing the ELERV Strategy in the subsequent three project phases. Eligible applicants are limited to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies serving populations of 50,000 to 500,000. Those applying are urged to begin in advance of the June 9, 2014, deadline.

Funding for Equipment
NIJ's mandate does not allow them to provide direct funding for equipment purchases and training beyond that supplied under the Forensic Laboratory Enhancement program. However, NIJ has identified a number of other sources for new and surplus equipment.

NOTE: Applications for Research Funding may rightfully involve the acquisition of equipment, materials, or supplies if they are intended to support the conduct of applied research, development, demonstration, evaluation, or analysis work.
http://www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/lab-operations/capacity/nfsia/pages/welcome.aspx

Description and Purpose
The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (the Coverdell program) awards grants to states and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. State Administering Agencies (SAAs) may apply for both "base" (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds.

Coverdell NFSIA Application and Award Totals, 2002–2012
A state or unit of local government that receives a Coverdell grant must use the grant for one or more of these three purposes:

1. To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services in the State, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the State and those operated by units of local government within the State.
2. To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, [1] including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, toxicology, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence.
3. To train, assist and employ forensic laboratory personnel as needed to eliminate such a backlog.

Allocation of Funds

“Base” funds for States
Approximately 75 percent of the funds available for Coverdell grants will be allocated among eligible States based on population. See the specific solicitation to which you are applying for the approximate amount for each eligible State.

Competitive funds for States and units of local government
Twenty-five percent of the available funds will be allocated among States and units of local government through a competitive process. The average annual number of part 1 violent crimes reported by each State to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in prior years, existing resources, and current needs of the potential grant recipient will be considerations in award decisions.

Units of local government that provide forensic science or medical examiner services (whether through a forensic science laboratory, medical examiner’s office, or coroner’s office) may apply directly to NIJ for competitive funds. A State may apply through its SAA for competitive funds for forensic sciences improvements above and beyond those it can accomplish with its estimated amount of base funds.

The Crime Identification Technology Act (CITA) was authorized with the passage of Public Law 105-251 on October 9, 1998, and provides assistance to states to establish or upgrade criminal justice information systems and identification technologies.

CITA expands on the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) administered by OJP's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and provides assistance for virtually every technology-based, criminal justice information, identification, and communications need. CITA funds also may be used to support state and local-level participation in national databases managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, such as the National Instant Check System (NICS), Combined DNA Information System (CODIS), and the Interstate Identification Index (III) system. In all, states, in conjunction with local governments, may use funds awarded under CITA to improve or expand criminal justice technology efforts in 17 specified areas. Click here for more information on the 17 Purpose Areas.

CITA identifies 17 specific purpose areas in which funds may be used:

• Improving adult and juvenile criminal history record information systems.
• Creating automated fingerprint identification systems that are compatible with standards established by the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and are interoperable with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Integrated Automated Fingerprint System.
• Establishing finger imaging, live scan, and other automated systems to digitize and communicate fingerprints consistent with NIST standards and ensure interoperability with print systems operated by the States and the FBI.
• Augmenting state and local participation in the Interstate Identification Index of the National Crime Information System.
• Improving systems to allow any compact relating to the Interstate Identification Index to participate fully in the National Crime Information System.
• Enhancing systems to enhance state and local participation in the FBI's National Instant Check System (NICS), which was authorized with the creation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.
• Creating an integrated criminal justice systems, so that law enforcement agencies, courts, prosecutors, and corrections agencies have access to the same information.
• Improving no criminal history record information to determine eligibility to purchase firearms under NICS.
• Developing court-based criminal justice information systems that integrate with other criminal justice information systems and promote the reporting of dispositions to central state repositories and to the FBI.
• Accessing ballistics identification programs and technology that are compatible with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' National Integrated Ballistics Network.
• Enhancing the capabilities of forensic science laboratories and medical examiner programs.
• Improving sex offender identification, tracking, and registration systems.
• Creating systems to track and share information about domestic violence offenders.
• Supporting fingerprint-supported background checks for non-criminal justice purposes.
• Developing criminal justice information systems that provide research and statistical analysis.
• Establishing multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional communications systems among the States to share information among federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
• Enhancing the capability of the criminal justice system to deliver timely, accurate, and complete criminal record information to child welfare agencies, organizations, and programs that are engaged in the assessment of risk and other activities related to the protection of children, including protection against child sexual abuse, and placement of children in foster care.

In addition to providing this financial assistance, Congress has given OJP discretion to set-aside portions of its CITA appropriation for training, technical assistance, technology development, and evaluation. Click here for a link to the CITA Authorizing Legislation.
https://it.ojp.gov/fund/files/cita.html

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications from eligible entities to plan and implement place-based, community-oriented strategies to address targeted crime issues within a neighborhood as a part of a broader neighborhood revitalization initiative. Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) resources will target hot spots of crime where a significant proportion of crime occurs as compared to the overall jurisdiction. BCJI furthers the Department’s mission by leading efforts to enhance the capacity of local and tribal communities to effectively target and address significant crime issues through collaborative cross-sector approaches that help advance broader neighborhood development goals.

Eligibility
Eligible entities to serve as fiscal agent include states, unit of local governments, non-profit organizations (including tribal non-profit organizations), and federally recognized Indian tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

The BCJI application requires a consortium of partners (hereinafter referred to as “cross-sector partnership”) to design a strategy addressing a targeted crime problem. The application must contain a strategy that responds to the scope and requirements of this solicitation. The cross-sector partnership must designate one eligible entity to serve as the fiscal agent.1 The fiscal agent must ensure that the cross-sector partnership is committed to and can successfully oversee key enforcement, prevention, intervention, and community engagement strategies AND access and analyze key data. https://www.bja.gov/Funding/14BCJIsol.pdf