Opportunity Information: Apply for BJS 2019 15744
The Survey of Public Defenders (SPD) grant opportunity is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) initiative, under the U.S. Department of Justice, focused on testing and then fielding a national data collection effort aimed directly at public defenders themselves. Unlike earlier BJS efforts that captured information at the organization or system level, this project is designed to gather data from the attorneys who actually provide indigent defense services, including representation of both adults and juveniles charged with criminal offenses. The broader goal is to deepen the national picture of how indigent defense functions in practice, and to document the nature of public defenders' work in a way that can support better understanding, analysis, and policymaking.
This solicitation builds on two major prior BJS data efforts: the Census of Public Defender Offices (CPDO) and the National Survey of Indigent Defense Systems (NSIDS). Those projects helped establish baseline information about indigent defense structures and operations, but they were largely agency-level snapshots. The SPD shifts the unit of analysis to the individual practitioner by surveying public defenders, which can capture details that agencies may not fully report or may not track consistently. That includes attorney-level experiences, workloads, case characteristics, practice conditions, and how representation is delivered across different jurisdictions and populations.
The project is also explicitly connected to a previously funded development effort. The survey design work was originally conducted under the Survey of Public Defenders A Design Study (SPDDS), later renamed the Design of the Survey of Publicly Appointed Defense Attorneys (DSPADA). The SPD solicitation reflects that earlier planning and instrument-development work, but it narrows the focus for this first implementation to public defenders only, rather than all publicly appointed defense attorneys. Applicants are encouraged to consult the final design study summary included as an appendix to the solicitation, since it contains recommendations and tested concepts intended to guide implementation decisions for sampling, questionnaire content, administration strategies, and overall feasibility.
One notable detail in the solicitation is the role of incentives. The earlier design study recommended using incentives as part of the survey approach, which is common in survey research when response rates and representativeness are major concerns. Even so, BJS states that it will not move forward with a test of incentives under this solicitation, meaning the awarded project should not plan to experimentally evaluate incentives in the way the design recommendations contemplated. This has practical implications for the fielding strategy, because the project will need to rely on other methods to encourage participation and minimize nonresponse.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity and will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, which typically means BJS expects substantial involvement in the project during development, testing, and implementation phases. The opportunity number is BJS 2019 15744, listed under CFDA 16.734 (Information and Statistics). BJS anticipated making a single award, with an expected award ceiling of $350,000. The opportunity was created March 29, 2019, and the original closing date was May 28, 2019. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full solicitation text, which is where applicants would confirm whether their organization type and qualifications align with BJS requirements.
Overall, the SPD grant is essentially about taking the next step in national indigent defense statistics: moving from office-level and system-level descriptions to an attorney-level survey of public defenders. The end product BJS is aiming for is a tested and fielded survey program capable of generating reliable, comparable data about the day-to-day work of public defenders across the United States, improving the evidence base around indigent defense practice for adults and juveniles in criminal courts.Apply for BJS 2019 15744
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Survey of Public Defenders (SPD)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.734.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 29, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 28, 2019. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Survey of Public Defenders (SPD) Grant Opportunity: FAQs
What is the Survey of Public Defenders (SPD) grant opportunity?
The Survey of Public Defenders (SPD) is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) initiative under the U.S. Department of Justice to test and then field a national data collection effort aimed directly at public defenders. The project is designed to collect information from the attorneys who provide indigent defense services, rather than only from offices or systems.
What is the main purpose of the SPD project?
The main purpose is to deepen the national understanding of how indigent defense functions in practice by documenting the day-to-day work of public defenders. The intent is to support better understanding, analysis, and policymaking with reliable, comparable attorney-level data.
Who is the focus of the survey data collection?
The survey focuses on public defenders themselves (individual practitioners). It is specifically intended to gather data from the attorneys who deliver indigent defense services, including representation of both adults and juveniles charged with criminal offenses.
How is SPD different from earlier BJS indigent defense data efforts?
Earlier BJS efforts largely captured information at the organization or system level. SPD shifts the unit of analysis to the individual attorney by surveying public defenders, which is expected to capture details that offices and systems may not report fully or track consistently.
Which prior BJS projects does SPD build on?
This solicitation builds on two major prior BJS data efforts: the Census of Public Defender Offices (CPDO) and the National Survey of Indigent Defense Systems (NSIDS). Those projects established baseline information about indigent defense structures and operations but were primarily agency-level snapshots.
What kinds of information is SPD intended to capture at the attorney level?
Based on the description, the SPD is intended to capture attorney-level experiences and practice realities, including workloads, case characteristics, practice conditions, and how representation is delivered across different jurisdictions and populations.
Does the SPD include both adult and juvenile indigent defense representation?
Yes. The data collection is described as covering representation of both adults and juveniles charged with criminal offenses.
How is the SPD connected to the earlier design study work?
The SPD is explicitly connected to a previously funded development effort: the Survey of Public Defenders A Design Study (SPDDS), later renamed the Design of the Survey of Publicly Appointed Defense Attorneys (DSPADA). That earlier work involved survey design and instrument development, and this solicitation reflects those planning and testing efforts.
Is this solicitation surveying all publicly appointed defense attorneys?
No. While the earlier design study was broadened conceptually to publicly appointed defense attorneys, this first implementation is narrowed to public defenders only.
Are applicants expected to use the design study recommendations?
Applicants are encouraged to consult the final design study summary included as an appendix to the solicitation. The summary is described as containing recommendations and tested concepts intended to guide implementation decisions such as sampling, questionnaire content, administration strategies, and overall feasibility.
Will this project test incentives to improve survey response rates?
No. Although the earlier design study recommended incentives (a common survey research approach when response rates and representativeness are concerns), BJS states it will not move forward with a test of incentives under this solicitation. As a result, the awarded project should not plan to experimentally evaluate incentives as part of this effort.
What does the decision not to test incentives imply for the survey approach?
It implies the project will need to rely on methods other than experimentally testing incentives to encourage participation and reduce nonresponse, since incentive testing is explicitly not moving forward under this solicitation.
What type of funding instrument is used for this award?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity expected to be awarded as a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement suggest about BJS involvement?
A cooperative agreement typically means BJS expects substantial involvement during development, testing, and implementation phases of the project, rather than a more hands-off relationship.
How many awards did BJS anticipate making?
BJS anticipated making a single award.
What is the expected award ceiling for the SPD opportunity?
The expected award ceiling is $350,000.
What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?
The opportunity number is BJS 2019 15744.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 16.734 (Information and Statistics).
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on March 29, 2019, and the original closing date was May 28, 2019.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full solicitation text. Applicants would need to consult the solicitation to confirm whether their organization type and qualifications meet BJS requirements.
What is the broader outcome BJS is aiming for with SPD?
BJS is aiming for a tested and fielded survey program capable of generating reliable, comparable national data about the work of public defenders across the United States, strengthening the evidence base about indigent defense practice for adults and juveniles in criminal courts.
Why does SPD emphasize attorney-level data instead of office-level data?
The solicitation frames attorney-level data as a way to capture details that agencies may not fully report or may not track consistently. By surveying practitioners directly, SPD can document the nature of public defenders' work more closely to how indigent defense is delivered in practice.
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