John R Justice Loan Repayment Program

The John R. Justice Loan Repayment Program is the repayment program given the state of Minnesota which provides the Federal Family student loan Repayment programs and also helps the public prosecutor to evaluate repayment amount of the existing Loan

Updated by Annany Sah on 31st January 2020

The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program provides for the payment of eligible educational loans for both the Federal Family Education Loan Program and Federal Direct Loans for state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who agree to remain employed as public defenders and prosecutors for at least three years. The annual awards to qualified defenders and prosecutors may be up to $4,000 dependent on funding, up to an aggregate total of $60,000, to repay their student loan debt. If the employment commitment is not fulfilled, any amount received must be repaid.

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What is John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program

To encourage qualified individuals to enter into employment and remain employed as prosecutors and public defenders, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation have partnered to jointly administer the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program. 

The JRJ is a federal program that provides for the repayment of eligible educational loans on behalf of certain state and federal prosecutors and public defenders. 

Currently the program provides funding for educational loan repayment to approximately 20 public prosecutors and public defenders in Minnesota each year. To the extent possible, awards are distributed to applicants with the least ability to repay their student loans within each of the ten judicial districts statewide and the appellate office for public defenders and within each of the ten judicial districts statewide for public criminal prosecutors.

Its is always recommended to be well aware of all your student loan repayment options so that you can take control of your repayment phase.

Eligibility Criteria

The following is the eligibility criteria of the repayment program:

  • Employee of the state of Minnesota or unit of local government who prosecutes criminal or juvenile delinquency cases at the state or unit of local government level, including supervision, education, or training of other persons prosecuting such cases. Prosecutors who are employees of the federal government are not eligible

  • Employee of the state of Minnesota or unit of local government who provides legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases including supervision, education, or training of other persons providing such representation

  • Employee of a nonprofit organization operating under a contract with Minnesota or unit of local government who devotes substantially all of the employee's full-time employment to providing legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile cases including supervision, education, or training of other persons providing such representation

  • Lawyer employed in Minnesota as a full-time federal defender attorney in a defender organization.

  • Have an outstanding balance on an eligible educational loan.

  • Not be in default on repayment of any student loans.

  • Have worked full-time for at least three years as a public defender or a public criminal prosecutor.


The Selection Process

Currently, the program selects approximately 16 public prosecutors and 16 public defenders in Minnesota each year for awards. To the extent possible, awards are distributed to applicants with the least ability to repay their student loans within each of the ten judicial districts statewide and the appellate office for public defenders and within each of the ten judicial districts statewide for public criminal prosecutors.


Distribution of Funds

JRJ awards will first be made to all eligible New York State residents. Remaining awards will then be distributed to qualifying, eligible non-residents. A minimum of one award for a prosecutor and one award for a public defender will be reserved for each New York State county within which recipients are employed. Unused awards will be distributed proportionately among those counties containing the greatest percentages of the state’s population.

JRJ awards will be granted to eligible attorneys evidencing the greatest financial need. This will be determined by evaluating household income to the applicant’s student loan debt.


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How much money can you get

The annual loan repayment award varies each year based on the amount of federal funds awarded to the State of Minnesota by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Based on the federal funds available for Federal Fiscal Year 2019, selected recipients are expected to receive an annual loan repayment award of approximately $1,900. Provided federal funding remains available, selected recipients who continue to meet the obligations of the three-year service commitment are eligible to renew their award for up to two additional years. Selected recipients who fail to meet the obligations of the three year service agreement will be required to repay to the Department of Justice the total amount of repayments received.


Conclusion

The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program is a repayment program which also provides its services to the Federal Family Education Loan Program and Federal Direct Loans for state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who agree to remain employed as public defenders and prosecutors for at least three years.

The John R. Justice student Loan Repayment helps the public prosecutors to evaluate repayment amount of the existing Loan.

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