Access to Justice for the Juveniles in the Justice System: Opportunities for Judicial and Cultural Change - Phase III | INL22CA0031 WHPCOSRIC JUVJUSTICE 0328202

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL22CA0031 WHPCOSRIC JUVJUSTICE 0328202

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) offered this funding opportunity, titled "Access to Justice for the Juveniles in the Justice System: Opportunities for Judicial and Cultural Change - Phase III," as a discretionary grant competition to support juvenile justice reform in Costa Rica. The project is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means INL expects to be more actively involved than in a standard grant, working alongside the recipient during implementation. The overall aim is practical, systems-focused improvement: strengthening how Costa Rican justice-sector institutions use restorative justice for youth so fewer adolescents are pushed into the adult penal system and more are successfully diverted into appropriate alternatives that support rehabilitation and community reintegration.

At the center of the project is capacity-building for two key Costa Rican entities: the Poder Judicial Restorative Justice Office and the Public Defender's Office. The emphasis on "mechanisms and procedures" signals that the work is not only about training individuals, but also about improving the institutional tools, workflows, protocols, and coordination practices that make restorative justice function in real cases. The opportunity is framed around promoting effective juvenile restorative justice approaches that can be used earlier and more consistently, particularly to increase diversion from formal prosecution or incarceration and to expand alternatives to detention when youth do enter the system. By strengthening these restorative pathways, the program intends to reduce reoffending (recidivism) and increase the likelihood that young people can return to their communities in stable, productive ways.

The intended outcomes are clearly tied to youth-centered justice goals: keeping juveniles from being processed in the adult penal system, reducing reliance on incarceration, and improving reintegration results. In practice, that usually involves strengthening restorative justice processes that hold youth accountable in developmentally appropriate ways while also addressing harm to victims and communities. It also implies better screening and referral processes for diversion, clearer criteria and decision-making guidance, improved coordination between defenders and restorative justice units, and more consistent implementation so that restorative options are not used sporadically or only in limited jurisdictions. Because the title references "judicial and cultural change," the grant is also positioned as part of a broader effort to shift institutional attitudes and norms toward restorative, rehabilitative responses for adolescents, rather than defaulting to punitive approaches.

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based applicants, specifically U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations and U.S.-based educational institutions that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code. Beyond basic eligibility, INL set a substantive qualification bar: applicants should have extensive experience in juvenile restorative justice, experience working with marginalized populations, and a track record implementing similar projects in Costa Rica. That last requirement is important because it signals the program expects applicants to already understand the local context, have credible partnerships, and be able to operate effectively within Costa Rica's justice ecosystem rather than learning it from scratch.

From the source details, the opportunity number is INL22CA0031 (also listed as WHPCOSRIC JUVJUSTICE 0328202), and it falls under the funding activity category of Law, Justice, and Legal Services, with CFDA number 19.703. The opportunity was created on March 28, 2022, with an original application closing date of May 9, 2022. The award ceiling was set at $850,000. The listing indicates expected awards but does not specify the number, suggesting either one award up to the ceiling or multiple awards depending on proposal strength and INL priorities, but the published data does not confirm the final structure.

Taken together, this Phase III opportunity is a targeted investment in operationalizing juvenile restorative justice within Costa Rica's judicial system and public defense function, with measurable emphasis on diversion, non-custodial alternatives, reduced reoffending, and stronger reintegration outcomes. The design favors applicants with deep technical expertise and demonstrated on-the-ground experience in Costa Rica, indicating INL was seeking an implementer capable of producing near-term institutional improvements as well as contributing to longer-term shifts in how juvenile cases are handled.

• The 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 Juveniles in the Justice System: Opportunities for Judicial and Cultural Change - Phase III" 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 2022-03-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-05-09. (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 $850,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for INL22CA0031 WHPCOSRIC JUVJUSTICE 0328202

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