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

BJA is offering up to $1,000,000 per award with no required match for reentry education, vocational training, workforce development and employment programs serving adults and youth leaving prison and jail. Eligible governments, Tribal entities, school districts, higher-education institutions, nonprofits and for-profit organizations may qualify; the federal two-step application begins September 24, 2026.

FundingUp to $1,000,000 per award; approximately $20 million anticipated across the two categories. No cost sharing or matching required.

DeadlineStep 1 Grants.gov: September 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET; Step 2 JustGrants: October 1, 2026 at 8:59 PM ET

Last verifiedSeptember 13, 2026

Required next actionSelect the correct applicant category, verify SAM.gov and Grants.gov/JustGrants readiness, document required correctional and reentry partnerships and assurances, define measurable education or employment outcomes, submit the Grants.gov step by September 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET, and complete JustGrants by October 1, 2026 at 8:59 PM ET.

Broad Eligibility

Eligible applicant types include state and local governments; federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal organizations; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits; and eligible for-profit organizations including small businesses. The NOFO includes program-specific partnership and assurance requirements.

Atlas Analysis

The Bureau of Justice Assistance has opened O-BJA-2026-172698 — BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes. The program supports education, vocational and trade training, workforce development and employment programs for adults and youth leaving prison and jail, including projects that build marketable skills, align services with local labor demand and use technology to support participation in the digital economy.

Applicants may request up to $1,000,000 for a 36-month project. The NOFO anticipates approximately $20 million across two program categories. No cost sharing or matching is required.

The federal application is two-step: Grants.gov is due September 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, followed by JustGrants on October 1, 2026 at 8:59 PM Eastern Time.

Eligibility and fit

Eligible applicant types include state, county, city, township and special-district governments; federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal organizations; independent school districts; public and private higher-education institutions; nonprofits; and eligible for-profit organizations, including small businesses. Applicants with established correctional, reentry, education, workforce or employer partnerships may be strong candidates when they meet the controlling eligibility, partnership and assurance requirements.

Category 1 supports education and vocational or trade programs for incarcerated adults and youth generally within two years of release. Category 2 supports employment-focused programs for incarcerated adults generally within two years of release, including career planning, employer connections, job readiness, attainment and retention. Applicants must follow the NOFO’s partnership, assurance, registration, budget and submission requirements.

N9+ assessment

N9+ Fit: 3/100. This opportunity is fundamentally a reentry education and workforce grant, not a telehealth, remote physical examination, RPM or clinical-device funding vehicle. Atlas does not recommend forcing N9+ into the project.

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