JCOIN Methods

Data identifying the allocation of federal categorical funding targeting the opioid crisis in criminal justice-involved populations were collected from publicly available government databases and records (e.g., NIH RePORTER, SAMHSA grant awards archive). A search protocol was developed for each database and was used to guide data collection. All search protocols included a common set of key terms (e.g., opioid use disorder; criminal justice) and identified a unique process for searching grant awards for each database. The study was limited to federal funding that was allocated in fiscal years 2019 and 2020. For example, funding allocated in 2018 that continued into 2019 was not included in the study. Funding allocated in fiscal year 2019 which continued into 2021 (or beyond) was included in the study.

A total of 22 federal agencies and offices were searched. Our search identified ten agencies that provided relevant funding, including HRSA, NIDA, NIGMS, SAMHSA, CDC, BJA, OVC, OJJDP, ONDCP, and COPS. To verify that our list of funding was complete, we distributed the data to each of the ten agencies, as well as to several agencies in which relevant funding was not identified. Three agencies provided additional data that was not identified in our search of publicly accessible databases.

For each federal grant provided to states and localities that focused on the intersection of opioid use disorder (OUD) and criminal justice, we collected the following information: funding agency, year granted, funding amount, grant number and title, the institution receiving the grant, and the city, county or state that received the grant. Please note, on the map we are only able to show grantees by cities and states. If the grant was allocated to a county, it is displayed on the map in the middle of the state. However, the details shown under each pin provides the county name. Some grants are provided to multiple states. This is most common for grants providing technical assistance across several states. In these cases, the pin depicts the location of the organization receiving the grant but denotes whether it is a multistate grant under the pin details.

Based on the title and description of each federal grant at the intersection of OUD and criminal justice, we determine the following 9 categories: workforce training/expansion; research/implementation/treatment; planning; JCOIN; drug court; diversion/law enforcement; COSSAP demonstration project; COAP/COSSAP; and child services. Each grant received one category designation. One limitation of this approach is that some grants might provide funding to address two areas (e.g., planning and child services), and this approach does not capture that.

What is not included? Although some states use their Medicaid programs to address OUD among justice-involved populations, this map does not include Medicaid funding. SAPT block grant funding and SOR (State Opioid Response) funding are also not included on the map since all states receive funding according to a set formula and because it is not possible to determine what proportion (if any) of these funds targeted justice-involved populations.