Opportunity Information: Apply for O SMART 2023 171748
The SMART FY 2023 Fellowship Program: Sex Offender Registry Law Enforcement Liaison and Sexual Violence Prevention Fellowships is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through the SMART Office. It is designed to support a small number of 12-month fellowships that strengthen how jurisdictions implement and sustain the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and improve the overall management of individuals convicted of sexual offenses. The program is positioned within OJP's broader public safety and justice priorities, including advancing civil rights and racial equity, expanding access to justice, supporting crime victims and justice-impacted individuals, enhancing community safety, addressing evolving public safety threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities.
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically means the federal agency expects to have an active role in shaping and overseeing the work rather than simply providing pass-through funding. The fellowships run for a 12-month period, and fellows are expected to work closely with SMART Office staff, including periodic onsite work in Washington, D.C. The practical aim is to pair specialized expertise with SMART Office priorities so that the fellowship work directly informs national guidance, technical assistance, and strategies used by practitioners across the country.
Substantively, the fellowships focus on helping states, territories, tribes, and other jurisdictions either reach substantial implementation of SORNA or maintain that status once achieved. This includes improving registry-related policies and practices and strengthening approaches to supervision, monitoring, and information-sharing connected to individuals convicted of sexual offenses. A central theme is using research and field-based practice to reduce sexual violence, not just by improving compliance systems, but also by translating evidence and practitioner experience into clearer tools and recommendations that can be used by agencies on the ground.
Fellows are expected to collaborate with SMART Office and broader DOJ staff to deliver outreach, data and research support, and subject matter expertise. In practice, that can include synthesizing research findings, helping interpret registry and compliance data, engaging with stakeholders in the field, and contributing to the development of new strategies, guidance documents, and program ideas that can improve how jurisdictions manage SORNA responsibilities and sexual offender management more generally. The opportunity frames the fellowships as a way to expand the SMART Office's capacity and reach, with fellows serving as high-level resources who can help move policy and practice forward nationally.
The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: O-SMART-2023-171748; CFDA/Assistance Listing: 16.750) anticipated making two awards, with an award ceiling of $300,000. Eligible applicants were broad and included state, county, and city/township governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding universities in that category); and individuals. The solicitation was created on June 15, 2023, and had an original closing date of July 31, 2023, indicating a defined application window for candidates and organizations positioned to support the fellowship structure and its deliverables.Apply for O SMART 2023 171748
- The Department of Justice, SMART in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SMART FY 2023 Fellowship Program: Sex Offender Registry Law Enforcement Liaison and Sexual Violence Prevention Fellowships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.750.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 15, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2023. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals.
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FAQs: SMART FY 2023 Fellowship Program (Sex Offender Registry Law Enforcement Liaison and Sexual Violence Prevention Fellowships)
What is the SMART FY 2023 Fellowship Program?
The SMART FY 2023 Fellowship Program: Sex Offender Registry Law Enforcement Liaison and Sexual Violence Prevention Fellowships is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through the SMART Office. It supports a small number of 12-month fellowships intended to strengthen how jurisdictions implement and sustain the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and improve the overall management of individuals convicted of sexual offenses.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through the SMART Office.
What is the primary purpose of these fellowships?
The fellowships are designed to strengthen SORNA implementation and sustainability across jurisdictions and to improve registry-related policies and practices, supervision, monitoring, and information-sharing connected to individuals convicted of sexual offenses. A central theme is translating research and field-based practice into practical tools and recommendations that can reduce sexual violence and improve day-to-day operations for agencies.
How long does each fellowship last?
Each fellowship runs for a 12-month period.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The solicitation anticipated making two awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $300,000.
What type of federal award is used for this program?
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically means the federal agency expects to have an active role in shaping and overseeing the work rather than providing pass-through funding.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
In this opportunity, a cooperative agreement indicates that the SMART Office expects to be actively involved in the fellowship work. The fellowships are structured so that fellows work closely with SMART Office staff and contribute to priorities that inform national guidance, technical assistance, and strategies used by practitioners.
Who is the fellowship intended to support (which jurisdictions)?
The fellowship work is aimed at helping states, territories, tribes, and other jurisdictions either reach substantial implementation of SORNA or maintain that status once achieved.
What kinds of activities or work products are fellows expected to contribute?
Based on the solicitation description, fellows are expected to collaborate with SMART Office and broader DOJ staff to provide outreach, data and research support, and subject matter expertise. This can include synthesizing research findings, interpreting registry and compliance data, engaging stakeholders in the field, and contributing to the development of strategies, guidance documents, and program ideas related to SORNA responsibilities and sexual offender management.
Is travel or onsite work part of the fellowship expectation?
Yes. Fellows are expected to work closely with SMART Office staff, including periodic onsite work in Washington, D.C.
How does this program connect to broader DOJ/OJP priorities?
The opportunity is positioned within OJP public safety and justice priorities, including advancing civil rights and racial equity, expanding access to justice, supporting crime victims and justice-impacted individuals, enhancing community safety, addressing evolving public safety threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities.
What is SORNA, in the context of this opportunity?
Within this solicitation, SORNA refers to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The fellowships focus on helping jurisdictions implement and sustain SORNA and strengthen related management practices and information-sharing.
What is meant by "substantial implementation" of SORNA?
The solicitation describes a goal of helping jurisdictions reach "substantial implementation" of SORNA or maintain that status. The opportunity does not define the term further in the provided information, but it is presented as a key benchmark for jurisdictions to achieve and sustain.
What are the main subject areas of the fellowships?
The opportunity highlights two fellowship areas in its title: (1) Sex Offender Registry Law Enforcement Liaison and (2) Sexual Violence Prevention. Across both, the overarching focus is improving SORNA implementation, registry management, and the use of evidence and practitioner experience to reduce sexual violence.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were broad and included:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding universities in that category)
- Individuals
Are individuals allowed to apply directly?
Yes. Individuals were listed among the eligible applicants.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-SMART-2023-171748.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 16.750.
When was the solicitation created?
The solicitation was created on June 15, 2023.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was July 31, 2023.
Does the information provided indicate whether applications are still open?
No. The information provided describes an original closing date of July 31, 2023 and notes a defined application window, but it does not state whether the opportunity was extended, reopened, or reissued.
How is the fellowship work expected to be used by the SMART Office?
The fellowships are described as a way to expand the SMART Office's capacity and reach. The work is intended to directly inform national guidance, technical assistance, and strategies used by practitioners across the country.
What kinds of partners or stakeholders might fellows engage with?
The description indicates fellows may engage with stakeholders in the field and collaborate with SMART Office and broader DOJ staff. The specific stakeholder groups are not enumerated in the provided information, but the scope suggests interaction with jurisdictions and practitioners involved in SORNA implementation and sexual offender management.
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