Under this opportunity, the Judicial Council is seeking proposals to fund collaborative justice treatment courts including diversion courts and treatment-mandated felony courts. With SCIP funding, courts may implement a new court program or enhance an existing one. Courts may expand their program eligibility criteria to include participants with firearm violations and other previously excluded charges among their proposed target population for services. While the USDOJ Adult Drug Court program prohibits participation by “violent offenders” (see 34 U.S.C. § 10612), that prohibition does not apply to Byrne SCIP. Because state and federal law include many prohibiting categories for owning or possessing firearms, some program participants will be subject to documentation of required relinquishment processes in Criminal Protective Orders or other firearm and ammunition prohibitions. Courts should propose to work with local law enforcement to plan and implement processes including, for example, a corresponding local court form documenting firearms relinquishment for those participating in diversion. All applicants must submit a sustainability plan as part of their final report. This plan should outline how the court intends to maintain its work and continue operations once the grant funding ends.
