Prerelease and Post Incarceration Services (PAPIS) Grant Program

Prerelease and Post Incarceration Services (PAPIS) Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Last Updated: January 22, 2026

Summary

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is accepting applications for the Prerelease and Post Incarceration Services (PAPIS) Grant Program. This initiative aims to support programs providing essential services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community. The grant period is 12 months, starting from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Eligible organizations must demonstrate compliance with various requirements, ensuring effective service delivery and addressing individual needs to reduce recidivism.

Overview

Introduction The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is accepting applications for the Prerelease and Post Incarceration Services (PAPIS) Grant Program. DCJS administers general funds designated to support Prerelease and Post Incarceration Services (PAPIS) programs to provide direct services to incarcerated individuals nearing release into the community, or previously incarcerated individuals living in the community. Grant Period The grant period is for 12 months, SFY2026, July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Grant period extensions will not be considered. Funding Source Funding for this grant program is made available from general state funds. Authority/Funding, Purpose, and Priority Areas The specific purpose of the PAPIS Grant Program is to facilitate case management, reentry planning, transitional housing, treatment, employment readiness, and employment placement for individuals returning to the community from a local or regional jail. Ideally, services start while an individual is incarcerated in a local or regional jail and continue after release. In addition to providing resources for basic needs, programs should incorporate research-informed practices that target individual criminogenic risk factors, needs, and strengths associated with both recidivism and successful reentry. Disbursement of Funds Disbursement of funds will occur on a cost-reimbursement basis for actual funds expended through a “claim” process. Actual expenditures must be reported quarterly and invoiced pursuant to approved line-item budget categories in the approved grant application. Subgrantees will only be reimbursed for costs that have been incurred within the grant period, and which are reported on the detail of expenditures (financial report). Grant funds may only be expended and/or obligated during the grant period. A final claim for all obligations must be submitted within 45 days after the end of the grant period. Claims and financial reports must be submitted through the DCJS On- line Grant Management System (OGMS). Grantees that need advances to maintain program operations should contact their grant monitor for approval.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicant Eligibility RequirementsThis funding opportunity is open to the current nine PAPIS programs to apply for funds under this grant. These programs are: Colonial Community CorrectionsNorthern Neck Regional JailNorthwestern Regional Adult Detention CenterOARArlingtonOAR-FairfaxOAR-Jefferson Area Reentry Transition Services OARRichmondSTEP-UP, Inc.Virginia CARES Inc.To be eligible for funding under this grant program, organizations: Must not be excluded or debarred from doing business with the Commonwealth of Virginia.Must be in good standing with all state agencies with which they have an existing grant or contractual relationship. Must hold current professional and state licenses and certifications as needed for individual grant-funded projects.Grant Project RequirementsBy applying for these grant funds, the applicant asserts that they will comply withthe requirements of the PAPIS Grant Program. Amount AvailableApplicants may request the same amount for SFY2026 as awarded in SFY2025. DCJS has the discretion to make awards for greater or lesser amounts than requested and to negotiate the scope of work and budget with applicants prior to making an award.MatchRecipients of these funds are not required to provide matching funds under this funding opportunity; however, additional funds to support programs must be documented in the Funds From Other Sources section in the DCJS Online Grants Management System (OGMS).Restrictions and LimitationsState funds must be used to supplement existing federal and local funds for program activities and must not supplant (replace) those funds that have been appropriated for the same purpose.Additionally, requests for “new” staff positions must be justified, must not supplant state, federal or local funds, and must result in significant additional service delivery.Bonuses and raises may be allowable if they are approved as part of a locality’s compensation plan or approved by the Board of Directors of a non-profit organization.

Ineligibility

Non-allowable expensesPAPIS grant recipients may not use these grant funds to pay for:Any portion of salary for the time not dedicated to approved, grant funded activities. Capital construction, renovation, remodeling, or land acquisition. The purchase or lease of any vehicles.Firearms, ammunition, or related equipment.Lobbying or political contributions.Honoraria.Personal entertainment, personal calls, or alcohol.Indirect costs.Equipment unless it is a necessary part of, and incidental to, an approved project.Duplicate services in geographical areas where services are already established by a PAPIS-funded program.Professional grant writing and report writing services.Executive and administrative salaries and benefits that exceed 20% of the total grant award.Current DCJS grant recipients will not be considered for funding if, as of the application due date, any of the required claims, financial reports (detail of expenditure reports in OGMS) or progress reports (status reports in OGMS) for the current grant are more than 30 days overdue. DCJS may waive this provision for good cause, which may be submitted via a contract amendment reporting extension in OGMS.