Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to Award $50 Million in Grants Through R3 Program (Chicago, IL) – The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority announced Tuesday it will make $50 million available in new grant funding to support community reinvestment efforts in areas disproportionately impacted by systemic racism, disinvestment and the criminal legal system.
The funding represents the fourth round of grants issued through the state’s Restore, Reinvest and Renew, or R3, Program, which is financed by cannabis tax revenue. Of the total, $35 million will support community reentry services, economic development and civil legal aid, while $15 million will be directed toward youth development and violence prevention initiatives.
The R3 Program was established under the Cannabis Regulation and Trust Act, which legalized adult-use cannabis in Illinois and dedicated 25% of state cannabis tax revenue to reinvesting in communities most affected by poverty, violence and incarceration.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said the program has become a central component of Illinois’ cannabis legalization framework.
“Now, as we begin our fourth round of grant opportunities, the R3 Program has made enormous strides in empowering organizations to make their communities stronger and safer,” Stratton said in a statement.
The grants are funded through the fiscal year 2026 state budget approved by Gov. JB Pritzker and the General Assembly, which included $180 million for ICJIA operations and programs. Of that total, $50 million was earmarked specifically for new R3 grant opportunities lasting up to 36 months.
ICJIA Executive Director Delrice Adams said the program is designed to address the long-term effects of disinvestment in marginalized communities.
“Our R3 program goal is to replace cycles of disinvestment with cycles of renewal,” Adams said. “These grant opportunities reinforce our mission to support innovative, community-led solutions that address the root causes of violence and poverty.”
According to ICJIA, youth development and violence prevention grants must use a strengths-based framework that emphasizes mentorship, life-skills training and civic engagement. Violence prevention funding will support street outreach workers focused on de-escalating conflicts and providing trauma-informed care to reduce retaliation.
Reentry grants will fund services for individuals and families impacted by the criminal legal system, ranging from diversion programs to post-release support. Eligible services include housing assistance, workforce development, behavioral health care and legal aid, all aimed at improving long-term outcomes for justice-involved individuals.
The R3 Program prioritizes addressing harms linked to the war on drugs, which state officials say disproportionately affected communities of color. Grant applicants must demonstrate the use of evidence-based, promising or innovative practices to address systemic disparities.
ICJIA’s application review process places a strong emphasis on equity, including awarding additional points to applicants whose leadership and staff reflect the communities they serve and who incorporate lived experience into program design. Eligibility for R3 funding is determined every four years using Census data and indicators such as gun violence, child poverty, unemployment and prison admissions and releases.
More than 900 areas statewide are currently eligible for R3 funding, including regions identified by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as disproportionately impacted.
To support newer organizations, ICJIA also offers assistance through its Institute to Innovate program, which provides training in grant administration, financial compliance and data management.
Since the program launched in 2021, ICJIA has awarded more than $330 million in R3 grants to community organizations across Illinois.
Applications for the current funding round are available at r3.illinois.gov and must be submitted by March 6, 2026.
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to Award $50 Million in Grants Through R3 Program
