Racial Justice for All Implementation Grant

Racial Justice for All Implementation Grant is sponsored by Office of the State Public Defender (California). The Office of the State Public Defender is allocating funding to a grant program for the implementation of the Racial Justice for All Act. Funds may be used for attorney's fees and salaries, experts, investigators, paralegals, or other ancillary needs for RJA claims brought under PC 1473(f) in non-capital cases.

Racial Justice for All Implementation Grant - California Grants Portal The purpose of the Racial Justice for All Implementation grant program is to provide local assistance for implementation of the Racial Justice for All Act.

Pursuant to the 2023-2024 Budget Act (SB 102), funds may be “used for attorney’s fees and salaries, experts, investigators, paralegals, or other ancillary needs" for RJA claims brought under PC 1473(f) in non capital cases. The Racial Justice for All Implementation Grant is aimed at legal service providers who have significant experience with habeas litigation under Penal Code 1473(f) and the Racial Justice Act.

In September 2022, the Racial Justice Act was amended by AB 256 known as the “Racial Justice for All Act. ” This allowed people who were sentenced for criminal convictions or juvenile adjudications prior to January 1, 2021 to seek relief for violations of the RJA. The amendments will go into effect in phases between January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2026 as codified in PC 745(j).

The 2023-2024 Budget Act (SB 102) allocated $2,000,000 in local assistance funds to the Office of the State Public Defender to aid in the implementation of the Racial Justice for All Act. The Office of the State Public Defender is allocating the funding to a grant program for implementation of the Racial Justice for All Act.

In compliance with the Budget Act, funds may be “used for attorney’s fees and salaries, experts, investigators, paralegals, or other ancillary needs" for RJA claims brought under PC 1473(f) in non capital cases. Funding must supplement and not supplant current funding. Funding allocated will be for a 24 month service period.

A maximum of 5 awards are anticipated with the average amount being $375,000 over 24 months. Eligible entities include public defender offices, California nonprofits, and law schools. Any funded activity must be pursuant to Penal Code 1473(f) and in compliance with the language provided in SB 102.

Penal Code 1473(f) is a mechanism for applying the Racial Justice Act retroactively and states in part, “Notwithstanding any other law, a writ of habeas corpus may also be prosecuted after judgment has been entered based on evidence that a criminal conviction or sentence was sought, obtained, or imposed in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 745, if that section applies based on the date of judgment as provided in subdivision (k) of Section 745.

” Eligible applicants include public defender agencies and indigent defense systems, California nonprofits and California law schools. The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.

Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant. The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized. Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant.

Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range.

Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Estimated amount per award Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts.

Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Letter of Intent Required? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.

Requires Matched Funding? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source. Approximately $2,000,000 will be available in total.

Maximum award for a grantee is $375,000. The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.

The 2023-2024 Budget Act allocated funds to the Office of the State Public Defender for local assistance with representation of clients in non-capital cases under Penal Code 1473(f). The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee.

Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly). State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying. For questions about this grant, contact: 1-510-267-3300, OSPD.

Grant@ospd. ca.

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