Access to Justice for the Juvenile Offender Population: Opportunities for Judicial and Cultural Change - Phase II | INL18CA0060 WHPCOSTARICA 07302018

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL18CA0060 WHPCOSTARICA 07302018

Access to Justice for the Juvenile Offender Population: Opportunities for Judicial and Cultural Change - Phase II is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity (Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, INL) focused on strengthening how the justice system responds to juvenile offenders, with an emphasis on restorative justice and alternatives to incarceration. The program is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the funder expects to remain actively involved during implementation rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The goal is not just procedural improvement, but a measurable shift in judicial practice and institutional culture that results in fairer outcomes for youth and stronger community safety over time.

At its core, the project is expected to increase the number of juvenile offenders who are referred to, and who successfully complete, alternative sentencing options. A central performance expectation is reduced recidivism, achieved through interventions that address the real drivers behind youth offending rather than relying primarily on punitive measures. The opportunity also explicitly frames the work as an access-to-justice effort, especially for juveniles who face additional barriers because of social, economic, cultural, or health conditions.

The grant places special priority on reaching particularly vulnerable juvenile populations, including migrants, youth with disabilities, afro-descendent and indigenous youth, and juveniles experiencing addiction. Geographically, the work is intended to concentrate on higher-need areas in Costa Rica, especially Limon, Pococi, Puntarenas, San Carlos, and the Southern Zone near the Panamanian border, while also allowing for inclusion of other vulnerable areas as they are identified. This focus signals that the project should be grounded in local realities and disparities, tailoring strategies to communities where the justice system may face capacity gaps and where youth may have fewer protective supports.

A major portion of the project scope is reintegration: helping juvenile offenders return to their communities with a realistic pathway to stability. The activities envisioned include identifying education and employment options for participating youth, providing practical tools and strategies that help them engage with formal schooling and the labor market, and expanding access to drug treatment services. In practice, this implies a coordinated approach that links justice-system decision-making (such as diversion or alternative sentencing) with social supports that make compliance possible and meaningful, especially for youth dealing with addiction or fragile family circumstances.

The opportunity also highlights support for victims of juvenile offenses. Rather than treating restorative justice as a one-size-fits-all model, the project is expected to adapt restorative justice practices to better address the specific needs of victims in juvenile cases. This can include designing victim-centered processes, improving communication and support services, and ensuring restorative approaches are applied in ways that are safe, appropriate, and responsive to the harm experienced, while still recognizing the developmental realities of juveniles.

Sustainability and institutionalization are built into the design through a strong training component. The project should equip a larger group of Poder Judicial staff to apply restorative techniques, and it should create continuity by training future staff as well. In other words, success is not only delivering services during the grant period, but also leaving behind skills, processes, and internal capacity so the judiciary can continue and expand the approach after the project ends.

Administratively, the funding opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.703 (law, justice, and legal services). The award ceiling is $650,000, and the funder anticipated making one award. The opportunity was posted July 30, 2018, with an original closing date of September 29, 2018. Eligible applicants are described broadly as "others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. Overall, the grant is aimed at practical, on-the-ground change: more effective alternative sentencing, stronger reintegration supports, better victim services through tailored restorative justice, and a judiciary workforce trained to sustain these reforms in vulnerable regions of Costa Rica.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Access to Justice for the Juvenile Offender Population: Opportunities for Judicial and Cultural Change - Phase II" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.703.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 30, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 29, 2018. (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 $650,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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