Grant Applications

Intent to Apply: click here

Intent To Apply Deadline: 07/31/2025

Application: click here

Application Deadline: 07/31/2025

Applications must be submitted via email to: Criminaljustice.Program@tn.gov

Eligibility

Counties and Metropolitan governments who are responsible for the installation and monitoring of “alternative devices” pursuant to a court order and who choose pursuant to TCA 55-10-419 to pay a portion of these costs for indigent persons are eligible to apply.

Only one application will be accepted per county or metropolitan government if a county or metropolitan government contains multiple agencies responsible for the installation and monitoring of “alternative devices” then they are encouraged to collaborate and aggregate their data for the purpose of making a single application.

Interlock devices are not eligible for reimbursement under this solicitation.

GPS devices for pretrial release on domestic violence offenses, sexual assault and stalking are not eligible for AEMIF.

Program Purpose

The Alternative Electronic Monitoring Indigency Fund (“AEMIF”) provides financial reimbursement to local governments who provide or install devices ordered by a judge for indigent persons required to have a monitoring device. 

Alternative EMIF devices, such as transdermal, mobile breathalyzer, and GPS monitoring, reimbursed by the EMIF will be funded out of a local government and State 50/50 cost-sharing program. If a local government elects to participate in the local government cost-sharing plan, then non-Interlock monitoring devices eligible for reimbursement from the A-EMIF fund include:

•            Transdermal devices

•            Electronic monitoring devices with random alcohol or drug testing

•            GPS monitoring devices (limited to certain DUI Offenses)

If a local government elects to participate AEMIF grant program, reimbursement to vendors shall be handled by the local government. The local government may charge up to 50% of their costs for eligible alternative devices to grant funds to the extent of their appropriation.  The local government is responsible for all costs after their appropriation is expended.

Interlock devices are not eligible for reimbursement under this solicitation.

GPS devices for pretrial release on domestic violence offenses, sexual assault and stalking are no longer eligible for AEMIF.

Intent to Apply: click here

Intent To Apply Deadline: 07/31/2025

Application: click here

Application Deadline: 07/31/2025

Applications must be submitted via email to: Criminaljustice.Program@tn.gov

The purpose of the Mental Health Transport (MHT) program/ Humane Transport of Patients Grant is to provide funding to offset the costs for Sheriff’s Offices that:

1.3.1     Conduct mental health transports pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-406; or

1.3.2     Designate a secondary transport agent pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-901.

1.3.3     This grant may not be used to pay for the transportation of inmates to or from a jail or workhouse even if the inmate is being transported under §33-6-404.

This grant is for non-custodial individuals only. Any individual transported under this grant from a jail or workhouse must be on cash bond or Release on Recognizance Bond.

Eligible subrecipients are limited to:  Sheriff’s Offices in the State of Tennessee who conduct secondary transports as described under TCA § 33-6-406.

Sheriff’s may designate other entities, to include municipal law enforcement agencies or other third-party providers that meet the requirements for secondary transportation agents under TCA § 33-6-901 to provide the transportation on their behalf. Sheriff’s Offices must apply for this funding and then subcontract with other municipal law enforcement agencies or third-party providers.

Funding shall be provided under this program in the following manner:

1)    Non-Variable Amount: All qualifying local governments shall receive an amount equal to $20,000.00 for the purpose of providing humane transports under this program.*

2)    Variable Amount: All qualifying local governments shall receive an additional amount that shall be determined as follows:

Data received from qualifying applicants shall be aggregated in order to determine the total volume of secondary transports performed by the applicant pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §33-6-406 that occurred in FY24. This aggregate number of transports shall be divided against allocated state funding for transportation as a first step in determining a “transport rate”. These rates shall then be multiplied by the number of transports reported by each qualifying applicant in order to determine the variable amount which shall be added to the non-variable amount to determine the amount that each applicant shall receive.

Funding shall be made available to qualifying local government entities.  When received this funding can be used towards allowable expenditures for the period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. The funding can be used retroactively towards costs the county incurred for transports beginning July 1, 2022.

* The non-variable amount is not guaranteed for future solicitations / funding years.

Q. How is match calculated?

A: Match can be calculated two ways:

            (STOP /JAG) Federal $ / .75 x .25 = ____________   

            (VOCA) Federal $ / .80 x .20 = ___________

            (examples: $40,000 x .25 = $10,000)    or   ($40,000 / .80) x.20 = $10,000)

For match in cash, the match amount will go in the line item. For match that is in-kind, it will go in the in-kind line item. Any items purchased over $5000 will go under Capital Expense. For more information on match please see the Grants Manual Ch. 3 Section 1. Match Requirement.

Q: No one at our agency has been trained in Uniform Guidance and my agency does not have a policy for this. If I don't have this, is this going to knock out my application, or can I do some sort of online training pretty quickly?

A: While this will not prevent any application from moving forward in the process, if the agency application is funded, training on Uniform Guidance is required within the first 6 months. The Department of Justice offers a financial training course on their website. 

Q: Regarding the “Other Grant Funds Table”.  We are requesting equipment for this VOCA request.  Are you asking for grants we have received that are not related to our enhancement application?

A: Yes. This table is meant to represent all grant funds that your agency receives or anticipates that is will receive in the current fiscal year for all criminal justice or victim service projects.

Q: How do we notate salary, benefits, and taxes on the budget form? Do we separate out each item?

A: There are several ways this can be noted on the budget form. Examples are below:

            Salary estimated at $____________ approximately __________% of time dedicated to project.

            Salary and benefits estimated at $___________ approximately ________% of time dedicated to project.

            Salary estimated at $ _________ Benefits estimated at $ ___________ approximately _________% of time dedicated to project.

            EX.: Salary and benefits estimated at $10,000.00 approximately 25% of time dedicated to project.

Q: Do we need to purchase an accounting system if we do not have one?

A: OCJP Grants Manual, Chapter III, Accounting Criteria states the subrecipient is free to use any accounting system that the subrecipient has established if the  system meets the following minimum criteria [located below in the chapter].”

Q: We get a lot of questions about supplanting. Does everyone understand what that is?

A: “Supplant” means to “replace” or “take the place of.” Federal law prohibits recipients of federal funds from replacing state, local, or agency funds with federal funds. Existing funds for a project and its activities may not be displaced by federal funds and reallocated for other organizational expenses. This is unallowable.

Ex: You are awarded this volunteer coordinator position and you promote Dorothy to this position, you must backfill the position so there is an  increase in FTEs.  In the event your agency is facing a loss of funding, make that clear in your application.

Q: How do we know what our intended outputs will be if we never received VOCA funding before?

A: Intended outputs should be a projection, what you plan to serve. For example, if you know you get 500-600 clients through your door every year you can safely assume that you will serve between 400-700 clients next year. Use this information to establish a baseline of services.

Q: Is it reasonable to base numbers off of what you know and where you think your program will go? 

A: Look at what your agency did this last fiscal year, and where you are today, then project what these grant monies will allow you to do in the next year i.e. – expanding services.

Q: The Authorized Official for non-profit agencies is the Board Chair, correct?

A: For federal purposes, your authorized official is your board chair. The project director and fiscal director should be someone who is willing to take on the responsibilities of the projects implementation.  These duties are listed in the OCJP Grants Manual.

Q: We would like to use donated space as match. Is this allowable?

A: This is allowable under VOCA. You can find more information in the OCJP Grants Manual Chapter III. Financial Requirements where it states “The value of space may be used as in kind match if space is 100% owned by the agency (either through donation or it has been paid for) and used 100% for victim services.  In this case, you may use the fair market value of the space as in-kind match.  The value may not exceed the fair market value of comparable space as established by an independent appraisal of comparable space and facilities in a privately owned building in the same locality.  Agencies must obtain at least 3 comps from an independent Realtor and the use the average as the fair market value.  The basis for determining the value of personal services, materials, equipment and space must be documented."

Q: What if we submit a budget which is not accurate?

A: OCJP can only encourage agencies to complete the budget using the knowledge and resources available.  OCJP cannot say at this time if budget modifications after applications are reviewed will be accepted or will impact funding determinations.

Q: What is a State (Edison) Vendor ID?

A:  Please visit the State of Tennessee's website regarding Procurement/Supplier Information. This is required for executed contracts.

For VOCA funded projects:

Q: The SAR report is required for each organization that receives VOCA funding. The information in the report is a projection of how funding will be allocated to victim services for the year. Do we wait until June 1st to complete this form or do it prior to submission NOW, since we know the amount we are applying for?

A: SARS should be completed as part of the application process. This is a projection of how the funds will be allocated based on the project narrative.

For DV projects (VOCA funded)

Q: Since budget amounts were reduced, is the expectation that we continue to fund the same activities as the previous grant term?  Or restructure grant-funded activity to align to the reduction in funding?

A: Agencies should present programming that is victim centered and the level of services should take into account the reduction in funds and the amount of other funds the agency has available. OCJP anticipates that the majority of the reduction will come out of agency travel and supplies. The goal of targeting these areas is to minimize the service impact to victims but how an agency is impacted will vary depending upon their specific grant budget.

Q: Can we to use our shelter building as part of match for our two grants?

A: Please the OCJP Grants Manual Chapter XIV: Allowable Costs, Part 7 Space - The cost of space in privately - or publicly - owned buildings used for the benefit of the program is allowable subject to the conditions stated.

Q: Will VOCA Pay for Administrative Costs associated with the grant?

A: Please the OCJP Subrecipient Grants Manual Chapter XVI Cost Allocation regarding the definition of allowable costs. The grant cannot pay for any costs associated with preparing the application itself.

Q: We were wondering, is it okay to include salary positions in our budget for one fiscal year and not the next in response to the reduced federal allocation amount? 

A: Agencies should apply for what is needed to support the proposed project.

For Law Enforcement Victim Coordinator projects:

Q: Who qualifies as a Volunteer? How many hours are volunteers required to work?

A: The Fair Labor Standards Act defines volunteer as “an individual who performs hours of service for a public agency for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services rendered…” 29 CFR 553.101(a). “The1985 Amendments provide that employees may volunteer hours of service to their public employer or agency provided ‘such services are not the same type of services which the individual is employed to perform for such public agency.’ The phrase ‘same type of services’ means similar or identical services.” 29 CFR 553.103.

For more information please see the Grants Manual Section III Financial Requirement.

There is no minimum threshold of hours provided. Only that an agency who is granted VOCA funding utilize volunteers.

Q:  What is the Department of Revenue registration or exemption process?

A:  Please see the Department of Revenue Sales Use & Tax Registration Presentation for guidance.

Q: Is there a page limit on applications?

A: There is no page limit; However, we encourage agencies to clearly and concisely explain the problems and needs of communities they propose serving and how their project will address those needs through the described activities, inputs, etc.

Information and statistics that are global, national, or in other ways is outside the scope of your particular project is not necessary.