“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.”
—U.S. Constitution, Amendment VI
JUMP TO:
What is the Justice for All Act?
The Justice for All Act of 2004 (JFAA) was initially enacted to protect the rights of crime victims, eliminate the substantial backlog of DNA samples in crime laboratories, and expand DNA testing capacity. As progress has been made in these areas, support was continued and expanded in 2016 when the JFAA was reauthorized (JFARA), expanding its role to support statewide planning and coordination and to support state, tribal, and local efforts to protect the rights guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Who is the JFA Team?
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) has partnered with the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA), the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), and RTI International (RTI), each of whom has a specialized area of expertise, and all of whom bring a wealth of experience in providing TTA and programmatic assessments in collaborative environments to a full range of jurisdictions and criminal justice systems.
What Rights are Covered under the Sixth Amendment?
The Sixth Amendment states: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.”
Key rights outlined include:
TTA (TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE)
What is the difference between in-depth and on-demand TTA?
On-demand TTA projects last 4 months or less. Examples include:
In-depth TTA projects last up to 12 months and culminate in the preparation and publication of a report detailing the project and its outcomes. Examples include:
Please note: the JFA grant team will work with you after receiving your application to determine whether in-depth or on-demand TTA is most appropriate. You do not need to apply for one or the other.
JUSTICE FOR ALL AND RIGHT TO COUNSEL GRANTS
What is the Justice for All Grant?
The Justice for All Grant is broad and covers all 6th Amendment issues, including the right to a speedy and public trial, right to an impartial and representative jury, right to confront and cross-examine any witnesses in court, and right to obtain witnesses and evidence. Some examples of possible projects under the Justice for All Grant include:
What is the Right to Counsel Grant?
The Right to Counsel Grant is specific and focuses solely on a defendant’s right to counsel by addressing systemic and operational barriers to meaningful, effective, and zealous representation. Some examples of possible projects under the Right to Counsel Grant include:
How do I know which grant me/my organization’s issue falls under?
The Justice for All and Right to Counsel Grants are concerned with the rights guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. While the Justice for All Grant provides support for a variety of Sixth Amendment rights, specific assistance to support and protect the right to counsel is offered under the Right to Counsel Grant.
Many issues relating to the Sixth Amendment are intertwined, concerning both the right to counsel and an additional right, such as, right to a speedy trial. If you are/your organization is interested in TTA to support an issue concerning right to council with another Sixth Amendment right, please select the grant application based on the right that you would like assistance to focus on.
If your you would like to address Sixth Amendment issues specifically related to video and remote court proceedings, please click here for more information.
Please Note: If you are unclear about which grant your work may fall under, reach out to Monica Milton, Public Defense Counsel, mmilton@nacdl.org, 202-465-7616.
When did these grants begin and how long will they be active?
The Justice for All: Strengthening the Sixth grant was awarded 10/01/19 and runs until 9/30/22. The supplemental Right to Counsel grant was awarded 9/20/20 and runs until 9/30/23. Prior to 2019, other grant partners worked to carry out the Justice for All: Strengthening the Sixth Grant. Their work is recorded on this website as well.
We are currently accepting applications for the Justice for All: Strengthening the Sixth Grant and the Right to Counsel grant. We will update the application page to reflect when all grant work has concluded.
How do I know if organizations or practitioners in my jurisdiction have received TTA support from either of these grants before?
Prior to 2019, other grant partners worked to carry out the Justice for All: Strengthening the Sixth Grant. This work has been recorded on our site map of all active and completed TTA sites.
If my organization or others in my jurisdiction have received support from BJA or the Department of Justice, are we still eligible for funding?
Yes. The fact that you’ve received prior assistance is a factor we’d consider in the application process, but it does not disqualify you from receiving funding.
Is there any public educational programming associated with this grant?
Yes, in addition to TTA, we host webinars surrounding Sixth Amendment topics. Please fill out the information under “stay informed” at the bottom of the home page to be notified of upcoming events.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Who can apply for TTA support?
This project supports a broad array of stakeholders including court administrators, defenders, judges, prosecutors, corrections, law enforcement, victims’ services, and community organizations across the United States. Both state and local criminal justice organizations and agencies are eligible.
Individuals may apply, though preference is given to diverse stakeholder groups, particularly those including individuals from different facets of the criminal justice system (ex: prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, and community representatives)
Urban, suburban, and rural communities are encouraged to apply, including those working with tribal governments such as tribal courts.
Why do you prefer for groups of stakeholders to apply? What qualifies as a stakeholder group?
The criminal justice system is made up of multiple actors who carry out its essential functions. As a result, attempts to effectuate change within a system will require buy-in from all those stakeholders. This grant is aimed at supporting groups of stakeholders who have built consensus around a particular issue or issues. While there is no exact science to collaborating with outside stakeholders, it is important that the individuals who can assist in strengthening Sixth Amendment protections in your jurisdiction are included in framing the issues and offering solutions.
If me/my organization is applying with a group of stakeholders, do we all have to submit an application?
No, only one spokesperson per stakeholder group must apply.
Can me/my organization apply multiple times for funding to support different TTA projects?
There is one application per TTA request and generally, applicants should limit their application to one broad theme. The TTA services may take different forms to address systems, assessments, and training needs, but the grant partners do not have the capacity to cover multiple requests for one applicant.
How can me/my organization apply?
You/your organization may apply directly on our website.
Please note: Reach out to Monica Milton (mmilton@nacdl.org, 202-465-7616) with any project-specific questions.
What do I/does my organization need to know for the application?
How are decisions made for who receives TTA and when will we hear back?
The JFA Grant partners conduct an initial review of the application to determine:
Following initial review, the application will be sent to BJA for final approval. The process can take up to six weeks from the time an application is submitted to learn if the request for TTA services is approved.
PROJECT LOGISTICS
How will my organization benefit from TTA support?
TTA support may be used to support a multitude of diverse projects, depending on the demonstrated need. Members of the JFA grant team are committed to working with all applicants to identify Sixth Amendment issues at stake and develop concrete solutions to remedy them. Our team has the capacity to provide qualitative and quantitative data collection, comprehensive education programs relying on subject matter experts, trainings for key stakeholders, pilot project implementation, program evaluations, etc.
Some of our current projects include addressing a lack of representation in jury selection, educating defenders, prosecutors, and judges on working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and establishing a restorative justice program.
Please note: If you are not sure how TTA may work for you, please reach out to Monica Milton (mmilton@nacdl.org, 202-465-7616).
Does my organization bear any of the costs associated with TTA?
No, you will not be expected to pay for any of the costs associated to TTA services. However, please note, you will not be compensated for the time you and your organization spend collaborating with JFA grant members on TTA.
What will be required from my organization upon receiving funding?
Grant recipients are expected to maintain communication with JFA partners to ensure that all needs are being met. JFA partners will take the lead in administering TTA, but grantees may be asked to establish connections with local community groups and provide additional information throughout the duration of the project. Specific expectations are catered to each TTA project.
What is the timeline for receiving TTA after being approved?
TTA services can last for up to 4 months for on-demand, and a year for in-depth. After applying and receiving approval for TTA support, JFA grant partners will be in contact with grant applicants to begin the project.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Monica Milton, Public Defense Counsel, mmilton@nacdl.org, 202-465-7616.