Deadline: 27-Oct-2025
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has launched a major funding initiative aimed at addressing the persistent challenge of unsubmitted and partially tested sexual assault kits (SAKs).
This program seeks to reduce sexual assault and violent crime, ensure accountability for offenders, and deliver timely support and justice for survivors. By tackling significant backlogs of SAKs, the program will provide critical resources to criminal justice agencies to strengthen their response to sexually motivated crimes.
The funding is structured across six categories, offering both comprehensive support and targeted enhancements. Category 1 provides up to $2.5 million for jurisdictions that need a full-scale approach, including inventory, testing, investigations, and victim support. Category 2 supports smaller law enforcement agencies with up to $1 million to establish or expand sexual assault response programs. Category 3 allocates $1.5 million to jurisdictions working to collect lawfully owed DNA from offenders or arrestees who have not yet been entered into CODIS. Category 4, with awards of up to $1.5 million, focuses on the complex investigative and prosecutorial work associated with cold cases involving sexual violence.
In addition, Category 5 provides $1 million for sustainability planning, ensuring jurisdictions develop long-term policies and procedures for handling SAKs and related investigations. Category 6, the National Cold Case Initiative, dedicates up to $2.5 million to applying the BJA model to violent cold cases beyond sexually motivated crimes, with the goal of resolving cases, bringing offenders to justice, and preventing further violence.
In total, $38.4 million will be awarded under this opportunity, with projects beginning October 1, 2025, and running for up to 36 months. Anticipated awards include up to eight for Category 1, one for Category 2, four for Category 3, seven for Category 4, one for Category 5, and four for Category 6.
Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and township governments, federally recognized and other Tribal governments, as well as state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutor’s offices, and certain governmental non-law enforcement agencies. Small law enforcement agencies with fewer than 250 sworn officers may apply under Category 2, while previous or current SAKI grantees with a strong record of addressing backlogs are eligible for Category 5.
This funding opportunity represents a significant step forward in addressing the legacy of untested SAKs, supporting survivors, and ensuring safer communities through stronger investigative and prosecutorial practices.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.