OJJDP FY 2026 Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program | O OJJDP 2026 172751

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172751

The OJJDP FY 2026 Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), focused on improving reentry outcomes for youth returning to the community after being held in juvenile residential or correctional facilities. The program is designed to reduce recidivism and strengthen public safety by funding coordinated, service-rich reentry approaches for moderate- to high-risk youth. It emphasizes continuity of care across the full reentry timeline, meaning services should start before release, continue during the transition, and remain in place after the youth returns home.

At its core, the grant supports two connected areas of work. First, it funds comprehensive reentry services for moderate- to high-risk youth, with programming intended to prepare them for release, stabilize them during the transition, and support their long-term success in the community. Second, it supports transitional services that help youth reintegrate successfully, such as connecting them to education, employment readiness, behavioral health supports, mentoring, prosocial activities, family engagement, and other wraparound services that address the practical and social barriers that often lead to reoffending. The overall expectation is that funded projects will deliver structured, evidence-informed supports that improve reentry planning and reduce the likelihood that youth will cycle back into confinement.

A central theme of this NOFO is collaboration. OJJDP is explicitly looking for projects that bring together state agencies, units of local government, federally recognized Tribal governments, and community- and faith-based organizations. The goal is to build coordinated systems where facility-based staff, supervision agencies, service providers, schools, employers, families, and community supports are aligned around a single reentry plan. That collaboration is meant to address persistent reentry challenges like disrupted schooling, unstable housing, untreated mental health or substance use needs, family strain, limited job prospects, and gaps in service access immediately after release, which is often when risk is highest.

Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American Tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education). The funding instrument is a grant, and the program falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services category, with CFDA number 16.812. The funding opportunity number is O-OJJDP-2026-172751.

In terms of scale, the maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $750,000, and OJJDP expects to make about 16 awards under this solicitation. The original application closing date listed is November 2, 2026, and the opportunity was created on September 25, 2026. Overall, this NOFO is aimed at supporting local and state reentry strategies that are organized, partnership-driven, and targeted to the needs and risks of youth leaving confinement, with the larger purpose of improving community reintegration and reducing reoffending.

• The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OJJDP FY 2026 Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.812.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-02. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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, Others.

Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172751

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