Overview:
On September 4, 2003, President George W. Bush signed into law the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-79). The goal of the Prison Rape Elimination Act is to eradicate prisoner rape in all types of correctional facilities in this country. As a result of the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act, BJA established the Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities Program in FY 2004. Funding was made available to states to support efforts to prevent and eliminate prisoner rape between inmates in state and local prisons, jails, and police lockup facilities and to safeguard the communities to which inmates return.
The two main goals of the Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities Discretionary Grant Program are to assist states and local jurisdictions in ensuring that budget cuts don't compromise efforts to protect inmates and to safeguard communities upon the inmate's reentry. Applicants may apply for funding under the Protecting Inmates portion, the Safeguarding Communities portion, or both. Allowable activities under the grant program include:
1) Protecting Inmates
a) undertaking efforts to more effectively prevent incidents;
b) investigation of incidents; and/or
c) prosecution of incidents
2) Safeguarding Communities
a) Technical assistance and training to state and local governments on moderating growth with without compromising public safety;
b) Utilization of prison population analysis and development of risk assessment instruments to reduce the risk associated with reentry;
c) Mapping of returning offenders and services;
d) Development of collaborative efforts with appropriate state and local governments and public and private service systems to understand and address the needs/risks involved when victims and sexual aggressors reenter a community; and/or
e) Development of policies/programs to reduce revocations without compromising public safety.
In accordance with the provisions of the Prison Rape Elimination Act, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) conducts training, technical assistance, and education programs for federal, state, and local authorities responsible for the prevention, investigation, and punishment of instances of prison rape. Grantees and non-grantees that are interested in learning more about NIC's training and technical assistance program should visit www.nicic.org.
Legislation: The Bureau of Justice Assistance established the Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities Discretionary Grant Program as a result of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (Public Law 108-79).
Funding: FY 2005 funding is approximately $20 million.
Eligibility: States (defined as the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, and U.S. territories) are eligible to apply for this solicitation. States are encouraged to apply in partnership with local units of government.
How/When To Apply: The FY 2005 grant solicitation is not yet available. More details to follow.
Related Information:
FY 2004 awards
Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities (FY 2004 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Contact Information:
Julius Dupree, Jr.
Policy Advisor
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street NW.
Washington, DC 20531
202-514-1928
Fax:202-616-2421
E-mail: Julius.Dupree@usdoj.gov
