Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2026 172636

The OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), designed to help Tribal governments either get ready to use, or actively use, Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ). The central purpose of the program is to strengthen Tribal capacity to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate certain serious offenses committed by non-Indian defendants within a Tribe's jurisdictional boundaries, consistent with the authority recognized under federal law for covered crimes. In practice, this funding is aimed at helping Tribes build out the legal, procedural, staffing, and systems infrastructure needed to safely and effectively hold offenders accountable while supporting victims and maintaining due process protections.

The grant focuses on a specific list of "covered crimes" that fall within STCJ authority under this program. Those covered crimes include assault of Tribal justice personnel, child violence, dating violence, domestic violence, obstruction of justice, sexual violence, sex trafficking, stalking, and violations of protection orders. Because these crimes often involve high risk to victims and complex investigative and prosecution needs, the program is structured to support Tribes in developing the capacity to respond across the full justice-system continuum, including law enforcement response, prosecution, courts, detention and supervision where applicable, victim services coordination, and the policies and training that make the entire system function reliably.

Eligibility is limited and is specifically tailored to Tribal governance structures. Applicants must be Governments of Indian Tribes that have jurisdiction over Indian country, or Tribal governments that occupy a Village in Alaska, as well as consortia made up of such governments. The opportunity is listed as open to "Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)" and also notes "Others," but the narrative eligibility statement makes clear the intended eligible applicant pool is Tribal governments meeting the jurisdictional or Alaska Village criteria (including consortia). The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 16.025.

Key administrative details for planning are straightforward. The funding opportunity title is "OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program," and the funding opportunity number is "O-OVW-2026-172636." OVW anticipates making about 7 awards under this solicitation, with an award ceiling of up to $1,500,000 per award. The original application closing date is August 11, 2026, and the opportunity was created on June 5, 2026. Overall, the program is positioned as a targeted investment to help eligible Tribal governments implement or enhance STCJ readiness and operations so that non-Indian perpetrators of the listed covered crimes can be prosecuted in Tribal courts when the legal requirements for STCJ are met, improving community safety and strengthening accountability for violence affecting Tribal communities.

  • The Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.025.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-05.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-11. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
Apply for O OVW 2026 172636

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): OVW FY 2026 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program

1) What is the OVW FY 2026 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program?

The OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is designed to help Tribal governments either prepare to use, or actively use, Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ).

2) What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The central purpose is to strengthen Tribal capacity to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate certain serious offenses committed by non-Indian defendants within a Tribe's jurisdictional boundaries, consistent with authority recognized under federal law for covered crimes. The funding supports building the legal, procedural, staffing, and systems infrastructure needed to hold offenders accountable while supporting victims and maintaining due process protections.

3) What does STCJ funding support in practice?

In practice, this program is aimed at helping Tribes develop and improve justice-system capacity across the full continuum, including law enforcement response, prosecution, courts, detention and supervision where applicable, victim services coordination, and the policies and training needed to make the overall system work reliably and safely.

4) Which types of crimes are considered "covered crimes" under this STCJ grant program?

The covered crimes listed for this program include:

  • Assault of Tribal justice personnel
  • Child violence
  • Dating violence
  • Domestic violence
  • Obstruction of justice
  • Sexual violence
  • Sex trafficking
  • Stalking
  • Violations of protection orders

5) Who is eligible to apply for this grant?

Eligibility is limited to specific Tribal governance structures. Applicants must be Governments of Indian Tribes that have jurisdiction over Indian country, or Tribal governments that occupy a Village in Alaska, as well as consortia made up of such governments.

6) The listing mentions "Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)" and also "Others." Who is actually intended to apply?

While the opportunity lists it as open to "Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)" and notes "Others," the narrative eligibility statement indicates the intended eligible applicant pool is Tribal governments that meet the jurisdictional or Alaska Village criteria, including eligible consortia.

7) What federal agency is offering this funding opportunity?

This funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

8) What is the funding opportunity title?

The title is "OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program."

9) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is O-OVW-2026-172636.

10) What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

11) What is the activity category and Assistance Listing (CFDA) for this program?

The activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services. The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 16.025.

12) How many awards does OVW anticipate making under this solicitation?

OVW anticipates making about 7 awards under this solicitation.

13) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is up to $1,500,000 per award.

14) When is the application closing date?

The original application closing date is August 11, 2026.

15) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 5, 2026.

16) Does this grant specifically relate to crimes committed by non-Indian defendants?

Yes. The stated purpose includes strengthening Tribal capacity to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate certain serious offenses committed by non-Indian defendants within a Tribe's jurisdictional boundaries, when the legal requirements for STCJ are met.

17) What does the program emphasize in addition to accountability?

In addition to offender accountability, the program emphasizes supporting victims and maintaining due process protections as Tribes build out and implement STCJ readiness and operations.

18) What overall outcomes is this program positioned to support?

The program is positioned as a targeted investment to help eligible Tribal governments implement or enhance STCJ readiness and operations so that non-Indian perpetrators of the listed covered crimes can be prosecuted in Tribal courts when legal requirements are met, improving community safety and strengthening accountability for violence affecting Tribal communities.

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