John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program*
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, Bureau of
State and Authority Finance. State agencies administering the JRJ must
give priority to those eligible beneficiaries who have the "least ability
to repay their loans."
Renewal Funding for 2012-2013 Award Year
The federal funding for John R. Justice was continued for Year 3 at
a greatly reduced level. The Michigan allocation for the third year
is $73,893, down from $173,211 (Year 2) and $265,439 (Year 1). The grant
requires equal distribution of assistance between prosecutors and public
defenders.
Assistance will be available for currently participating prosecutors
and defenders only.
Current participants will be contacted and required to provide an Annual
Employment Verification, current NSLDS Loan History, and a continuing
Service Agreement by March 1, 2013, in order to be considered. Loan
repayment awards for 2012-2013 will be determined once all required
documents have been received.
Renewal Applicant Forms
To reapply, attorneys must submit the following required supporting
documentation no later than March 1, 2013.
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.
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, Bureau of State and Authority Finance 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, Bureau of State and Authority
Finance toll free at 1-800-642-5626 extension 37121, fax 517-335-2160, or e-mail
sfs@michigan.gov.
Related Links
* 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.
