Program Overview

The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program (JRJ) provides funding for federal student loan repayment for local, state, and federal public defenders and local and state prosecutors who agree to remain employed as public defenders and prosecutors for at least three years. This federal program from the U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance is administered in Michigan by the Department of Treasury, Student Financial Services Bureau. State agencies administering the JRJ must give priority to those eligible beneficiaries who have the "least ability to repay their loans."

Renewal Funding for 2011-2012 Award Year

Due to reduced funding for the 2012 fiscal year, no new applications are being accepted for the John R. Justice Loan Repayment Program.  Awards will be only offered to current eligible participants.  Current participants will be contacted and required to provide an Annual Employment Verification, provide current NSLDS Loan History, and a continuing Service Agreement by February 22, 2012 in order to be considered.  Loan repayment awards for 2011-2012 will be determined once all required documents have been received.

Note: Recipients of renewed funding must sign a new Service Agreement to receive benefits under each new fiscal year in order to recertify their continued agreement to the original terms, but the newly signed Service Agreement does not commit the individual to a new 3-year term of service.

Renewal Applicant Forms

Annual Employment Verification Form Renewal Service Agreement Current copy of the applicant’s National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Student Access Financial Aid Review (available at www.nslds.ed.gov) Status Report- Only required if information has changed from previous award year.

Eligibility

• Must be continually licensed to practice law in Michigan and a member in good standing with the Michigan Bar Association.
• Full time employee of a state or unit of local government (including tribal government), who prosecutes criminal or juvenile delinquency cases at the state or unit of local government level;
  -OR-
  Public defenders who are either full time employees of federal, state or unit of local government (including tribal government), or full time employees of a nonprofit organization operating under a contract with a state or unit of local government, who provide legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases. (Federal defenders must be in a defender organization providing legal representation to indigents pursuant to Subsection (g) of section 3006A of Title 18, United States Code.);
  -OR-
  An attorney providing supervision, education, or training of other persons providing qualified prosecutor or public defender representation.
• Not a prosecutor employed by the federal government.
• Not an attorney who is in a private practice, even if providing public defense services under contract to the state or court appointed.
• Not in default on repayment of any federal student loans.
• Meets any other program requirements.

Award Selection and Disbursement
Selection

• Awards will be granted to those that demonstrate the least ability to repay their student loans based on a predetermined need formula.
• Equitable geographic distribution will be based on Michigan's four district court regions.
• A premium amount of two percent for each previous year of verified qualified service, up to a maximum of 20 percent, will be added to an applicant's calculated preliminary award amount.
• Applicants who have a calculated need of less than $1,000 will not be considered.
• There will not be an appeal process for award amounts.

Disbursement

Preliminary award amounts will be determined by a least ability to repay formula. If funding is insufficient to award all qualified applicants the calculated preliminary award amount, funds will be pro rated.

Awards will be paid on an annual basis directly to the institution holding the loan to be repaid. Repayment amount will not exceed the total qualifying loan balance and will be applied to the principal amount. The Michigan Department of Treasury, Student Financial Services Bureau reserves the right to determine the loan(s) to which the award will be applied.

Program Limits

Repayment benefits cannot exceed $10,000 in any calendar year or an aggregate total of $60,000 per attorney.

Contact Information

Contact the Michigan Department of Treasury, Student Financial Services Bureau toll free at 1-888-447-2687 or e-mail sfs@michigan.gov.

Related Links

• Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan
• State Appellate Defender Office
• Bureau of Justice Assistance

*Funding for this program is subject to annual appropriation by the federal government.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2010-RJ-BX-0010 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Smart Office, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice.