Assistance Listing 16.820
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence
Department of Justice · Office of Justice Programs
Assistance Listing 16.820, “Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence,” is a federal program administered by Department of Justice. It provides grant assistance. GrantsJunction currently tracks 0 open, 0 forecasted and 12 closed opportunities under this listing.
Program objective
Program goal(s) name: Assist states and units of local government with postconviction DNA testing in cases of violent felony offenses where actual innocence might be demonstrated. Program goal(s) description: Conduct review of cases involving violent felony offenses (as defined by state law) where actual innocence might be demonstrated through the use of DNA testing and improve practices involving preservation of biological evidence and/or modernization of record retention in adjudicated cases. Program objective(s) name: Improve and modernize processes to locate, store and retain biological samples for DNA testing in postconviction cases. Program objective(s) description: Identify potential postconviction DNA testing cases; Review appropriate postconviction cases to identify those in which DNA testing could prove the actual innocence of a person convicted of a violent felony offense as defined by state law; Locate biological evidence associated with such postconviction cases; Perform DNA analysis of appropriate biological evidence and report and review the DNA test results; Locate, record, store, and retain biological evidence in adjudicated cases in accordance with best practices; Modernize evidence retention practices for biological evidence in accordance with best practices; Modernize and digitize the storage of existing files and records in adjudicated cases.
As published in the SAM.gov Assistance Listing.
Current opportunities under 16.820
No open or forecasted opportunities are currently posted under this listing. Programs often post notices on an annual cycle — see recently closed opportunities below for timing.
Eligible applicants (program level)
- Other
Program-level eligibility from SAM.gov. Each funding notice sets its own requirements.
Reported obligations by fiscal year
Historical data · not a predictionRange and average of financial assistance (from the listing): FY23 BJA plans to award 15 grants, at an estimated maximum dollar amount for each award of $1,000,000. See the current fiscal year’s solicitation guidelines posted on the Office of Justice Programs website at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm.
Source: SAM.gov Assistance Listing 16.820. Hatched bars are agency estimates. These totals do not indicate approval rates.Recently closed under 16.820
| Opportunity | Status | Award range | Closes | ALN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BJA FY25 Postconviction Testing of DNA EvidenceBureau of Justice Assistance | Closed | Up to $1M | Dec 10, 2025 | 16.820 |
BJA FY24 Postconviction Testing of DNA EvidenceBureau of Justice Assistance | Closed | Up to $1M | Apr 29, 2024 | 16.820 |
BJA FY2023 Invited to Apply – Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Supplements)Bureau of Justice Assistance | Closed | Up to $246K | Oct 10, 2023 | 16.820 |
BJA FY 23 Invited to Apply - Courts, Communities and Strategic PartnershipsBureau of Justice Assistance | Closed | Up to $1.1M | Jul 25, 2023 | 16.031, 16.040, 16.045, 16.596, 16.738, 16.746, 16.820, 16.838 |
BJA FY 23 Postconviction Testing of DNA EvidenceBureau of Justice Assistance | Closed | Up to $1M | Apr 4, 2023 | 16.820 |
BJA FY 22 Postconviction Testing of DNA EvidenceBureau of Justice Assistance | Closed | Up to $500K | Jun 22, 2022 | 16.820 |
BJA FY 21 Postconviction Testing of DNA EvidenceBureau of Justice Assistance | Closed | Up to $500K | Jul 12, 2021 | 16.820 |
BJA FY 20 Postconviction Testing of DNA EvidenceBureau of Justice Assistance | Closed | Up to $500K | Jun 15, 2020 | 16.820 |
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence, FY 2019National Institute of Justice | Closed | Up to $5.4M | May 6, 2019 | 16.820 |
NIJ FY18 Postconviction Testing of DNA EvidenceNational Institute of Justice | Closed | Up to $3.3M | Apr 26, 2018 | 16.820 |
Frequently asked questions
What is ALN 16.820?
16.820 is the Assistance Listing Number for “Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence.” Assistance Listing Numbers (formerly CFDA numbers) identify federal assistance programs; individual grant opportunities reference the listing they are funded under.
Who can apply under ALN 16.820?
The SAM.gov listing names these applicant types: Other. Each funding notice under the program sets its own eligibility, so check the specific opportunity.