Justice Systems Response to Families (16.021)
Justice Systems Response to Families (Assistance Listing 16.021) is run by the Offices, Boards and Divisions, part of the Department of Justice. It awarded $73.5 million in 128 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $574,047 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $600,000. Half of the 128 awards fell between $550,000 and $600,000, and they ranged from $82,116 to $700,000.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$73.5 million
- Grant awards128
- Typical award$600,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$17.0 million
- Size rank901 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements (discretionary grants)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $13.6 million in fiscal 2021 to $17.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 901st largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 33% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 42 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Grants to Support Families in the Justice System program (referred to as Justice Systems Response to Families Program) was authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013 to improve the response of all aspects of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. The program includes purpose areas previously authorized under the Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program (Supervised Visitation) and the Court Training and Improvements Program (Courts), along with new purpose areas and applicant requirements.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are states, local governments, courts (including juvenile courts), Indian tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, legal services providers, and victim service providers.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Grants can be used for the following statutory program purpose areas: 1) Provide supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children and youth by and between parents in situations involving domestic violence, dating violence, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, or stalking; 2) Develop and promote state, local, and tribal legislation, policies, and best practices for improving civil and criminal court functions, responses, practices, and procedures in cases involving a history of domestic violence or sexual assault, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse, including cases in which the victim proceeds pro se; 3) Educate court-based and court-related personnel and court-appointed personnel (including custody evaluators and guardians ad litem) and child protective services workers on the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including information on perpetrator behavior, evidence-based risk factors for domestic and dating violence homicide, and on issues relating to the needs of victims, including safety, security, privacy, and confidentiality, including cases in which the victim proceeds pro se; 4) Provide appropriate resources in juvenile court matters to respond to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault (including child sexual abuse), and stalking and ensure necessary services dealing with the health and mental health of victims are available; 5) Enable courts or court-based or court-related...
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Award range and average, in the agency's words
$600,000-700,000
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Justice Systems Response to Families (16.021) awarded$73.5 million across 128 grant awards, an average of $574,047 per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 76% of the money, state and local governments 21% and tribes 1.1%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 97 | $55.9 million | 76% |
| State and local governments | 27 | $15.7 million | 21% |
| Other | 2 | $1.1 million | 1.5% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 2 | $794,550 | 1.1% |
By state
29 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 20 | $11.2 million |
| California | 11 | $6.6 million |
| Ohio | 8 | $4.6 million |
| Missouri | 5 | $2.9 million |
| Illinois | 5 | $2.9 million |
| North Carolina | 5 | $2.7 million |
| Oregon | 4 | $2.4 million |
| Washington | 4 | $2.3 million |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | $2.3 million |
| North Dakota | 3 | $1.9 million |
| Wisconsin | 3 | $1.8 million |
| Maine | 3 | $1.8 million |
| Texas | 3 | $1.7 million |
| Idaho | 3 | $1.7 million |
| Minnesota | 3 | $1.6 million |
| Michigan | 3 | $1.6 million |
| Hawaii | 3 | $1.5 million |
| Colorado | 3 | $1.4 million |
| Indiana | 2 | $1.3 million |
| South Dakota | 2 | $1.3 million |
| Tennessee | 2 | $1.2 million |
| District of Columbia | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Louisiana | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Rhode Island | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Kentucky | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Iowa | 2 | $1.1 million |
| New Mexico | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Florida | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Arizona | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Georgia | 1 | $700,000 |
| Maryland | 1 | $700,000 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $650,000 |
| Guam | 1 | $600,000 |
| Nebraska | 1 | $600,000 |
| Utah | 1 | $600,000 |
| West Virginia | 1 | $600,000 |
| New Jersey | 1 | $599,512 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $598,392 |
| Virginia | 1 | $550,000 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $549,965 |
| Montana | 1 | $519,374 |
| Vermont | 1 | $467,358 |