Swift, Certain, and Fair Sanctions (SCF)/ Replicating the Concepts Behind Project HOPE | BJA 2016 8993

Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2016 8993

The Swift, Certain, and Fair Sanctions (SCF) / Replicating the Concepts Behind Project HOPE grant opportunity is a discretionary federal funding program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to help jurisdictions strengthen community supervision by adopting or improving SCF-style approaches. These models are built around the idea that supervision is more effective when responses to violations are prompt (swift), predictable (certain), and perceived as even-handed (fair). The opportunity is rooted in the interest generated by Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program, which drew national attention for promising results related to reducing recidivism and preventing crime by using clear rules and consistently applied, immediate consequences for noncompliance.

The core purpose of the funding is to support state, county, city/township, and federally recognized tribal governments that want to implement a HOPE-like model or enhance an existing approach using SCF principles. Rather than relying on delayed or inconsistent responses to infractions, the SCF framework emphasizes setting transparent expectations for people under supervision and then following through with proportionate sanctions when those expectations are not met. A key theme is that the supervision system should operate in a way that participants can understand: consequences should not feel random, arbitrary, or dependent on who is supervising them or which courtroom they appear in.

BJA describes several intended outcomes for SCF investments. First, the approach is meant to improve supervision strategies in ways that reduce recidivism, meaning fewer new crimes and fewer repeated violations among people being supervised in the community. Second, it aims to increase coordination and collaboration among the agencies and officials involved in community corrections and related systems, such as probation, courts, prosecutors, defense, law enforcement, treatment providers, and jail administrators. Third, it seeks to strengthen the perception among supervised individuals that decisions are made fairly and applied consistently, with rules and consequences that are clear and transparent. Finally, the overall goal is to improve participant outcomes, which can include better compliance with supervision conditions, reductions in substance use or other risk behaviors, and more stable progress during the supervision period.

A defining feature of this grant is the emphasis on implementing the model "with fidelity," meaning applicants are expected not just to adopt the language of SCF, but to put the key operational elements in place in a way that matches the approach's underlying design. To support that, awardees are required to work with BJA and its designated training and technical assistance (TTA) partner. This typically signals that BJA expects jurisdictions to receive structured guidance on planning, interagency agreements, operational protocols, data tracking, and ongoing troubleshooting so that the program is implemented consistently and can be assessed credibly.

The program is cataloged under CFDA number 16.828 in the law, justice, and legal services category. The funding opportunity number listed is BJA 2016 8993, with an original closing date of April 11, 2016, and a creation date of February 9, 2016. BJA anticipated making about 7 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $400,000 per award. Overall, the opportunity reflects BJA's interest in helping jurisdictions shift from uneven or delayed enforcement of supervision conditions toward a structured, predictable system where supervision responses are timely, coordinated, and viewed as legitimate by both practitioners and the individuals under supervision.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Swift, Certain, and Fair Sanctions (SCF)/ Replicating the Concepts Behind Project HOPE" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.828.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-02-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-04-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).

Apply for BJA 2016 8993

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