Certain prosecutors and federal public defenders in the USVI now have the opportunity to apply for a grant to assist them in repaying loans taken out for law school.
The Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission (LEPC) has announced that it is accepting applications for the John R. Justice Grant Program, an Obama-era law that provides loan repayment assistance for certain prosecutors and public defenders who agree to remain on the job for the next three years.
This year, LEPC received $51,840 in grant funds for the program, and is thus contemplating disbursing 10 grants in the sum of approximately $5,000 each. However, “awards may increase depending on the number of respondents,” the LEPC statement reads.
The call for applications goes out this year to full-time federal public defenders and full-time prosecutors, with full-time defined as “not less than 75 percent of a 40-hour work week.” The grants will be awarded to those determined to have the least ability to repay their student loans, LEPC says.
The formal application process includes income verification, school loan verification, and a John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program Service Agreement, as well as the submission of ancillary documents such as education loan documentation and proof of employment. The LEPC said it will collaborate with the Department of Labor to adjust for any increases in the cost of living as needed.
Applications must be submitted electronically to the LEPC by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at [email protected]. Incomplete applications or those missing required signatures and documents will not be considered.
For more information or to obtain an application, interested individuals can contact Ms. Carmen Potter, Executive Assistant to the Director, at (340) 774-6400 or via email at [email protected].
