# BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/o-bja-2026-172698-bja-fy-2026-second-chance-act-improving-reentry/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/363637

> Bureau of Justice Assistance offered grants of up to $1.0 million to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. Applications closed on November 6, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | O-BJA-2026-172698 |
| Agency | Bureau of Justice Assistance |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | November 6, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $1.0 million |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 16.812 |

## Who can apply

- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Other Units of Local Government: For the purposes of this notice of funding opportunity, other units of local government include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general purpose political subdivisions of a state.; Faith-based Organizations: Religious organizations, faith-based nonprofits, and organizations with religious charters, names, or missions.

## What the grant funds

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act (SCA) Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes. This opportunity supports state, local, and tribal governments and community-based organizations to provide education and employment programs for adults and youth leaving prison and jail. The goal of the program is to improve academic and vocational/trade programs available to adults and youth in prisons and jails and expand workforce development and career pathways that result in improved job readiness, employment attainment, and retention, thereby improving employment prospects and reducing recidivism. Applicants may consider proposing projects that develop marketable skills, leverage technology, and build capacity to align with their local job market and engage in the digital economy.

## Questions people ask

### Is O-BJA-2026-172698 still open?

No. It closed on November 6, 2026.

### Who can apply for BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes?

Bureau of Justice Assistance accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes?

Closed November 6, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $1.0 million each.

### Who has won Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The Council of State Governments LTD., American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences, Impact Justice. The program made 447 awards worth $402 million in that time.