National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ or the Institute) is the research, evaluation, and technology agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and is dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science. The m of crime and justice issues through science. The mission of the Institute is to foster and disseminate knowledge and tools derived from objective and rigorous scientific research to inform efforts that promote safety and advance justice. The Institute's pursuit of its mission is guided by the following principles: Relevant: Research can make a difference in individual lives, in the safety of communities, and in creating a more effective and fair justice system. Responsive: The Institute's research agenda should respond to the needs of victims, communities, criminal and juvenile justice professionals, and people who are arrested, charged, and convicted of criminal offenses. Rigorous: The Institute should encourage and support innovative and rigorous research methods that can provide answers to basic research questions as well as practical, applied solutions to crime and justice challenges. Collaborative: Partnerships with other agencies and organizations, public and private, are essential to the Institute's success. Fair and Open: Government-funded research should adhere to processes of fair and open competition guided by rigorous peer review. Ethical: Principles of scientific integrity are essential to the validity and relevance of the knowledge generated by the Institute. NIJ-supported researchers must demonstrate research independence and integrity, including appropriate human subject protection safeguards. We accomplish our mission through the "Listen, Learn, Inform" model — we listen to the needs of the field; learn ways to meet those needs by funding research, development, and evaluation projects; and then inform the field of what we learned. listen Listen — Improving our ability to understand and respond to crime and justice challenges begins with listening to the people closest to the issue — such as community members, crime survivors, criminal justice practitioners, people who have experienced incarceration, and business leaders. Input about crime control and prevention successes, failures, and needs gathered directly from these stakeholders help guide our research investments and standards development. The research objectives for each of the Institute’s portfolios are also determined by: Existing research – both that funded by NIJ and research conducted independently or through support by other government agencies and philanthropy. The successes and challenges of programs undertaken by other federal agencies, including other Office of Justice Programs program offices. Priorities put forth by the administration and Congress. Learn more: Identifying the Needs of Public Safety Agencies. Forensic Science Technology Working Group: Operational Requirements. learn Learn — We invest in research across scientific disciplines to provide evidence-based knowledge that strengthens the justice system. Researchers, students, and justice professionals may apply for research and technology development and evaluation funding through NIJ funding opportunities, fellowships, and prize challenges. To support our strategic and overarching research goals, the Institute develops strategic research plans or research agendas on topics within crime and justice that span seven broad research areas: Crime prevention and control. Youth justice. Victimization — experiences, supports, and services. Forensic and investigative sciences. Justice systems operations — effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness. Equipment performance standards and testing. Technology. We also build research capacity by increasing the pool of researchers engaged in safety and justice research, building researcher and practitioner partnerships, and fostering the development and expansion of practitioners engaged in research. We use two main mechanisms to implement research: funding external research and conducting intramural research. Throughout our research investment processes, we follow widely accepted scientific practices and procedures to help ensure the validity and integrity of NIJ-sponsored research. Learn more: Lists of current and past funded projects. Forthcoming, Current, and Expired Funding Opportunities. The Institute's Research and Development Process. Research Validity and Integrity. inform Inform — The Institute’s scientific investments inform the national conversation on issues of criminal and juvenile justice and public safety. Evidence-based knowledge can lead to more effective justice policies and practices, new technologies, and improved scientific methods. Our research includes a focus on identifying the best approaches for successful field implementation. We are committed to providing the justice community with the knowledge and tools necessary to promote safety and advance justice. The results of research projects are evaluated by external peer reviewers and the Institute’s own science staff. After the Institute has evaluated the results of the funded research, it is disseminated through multiple channels as part of our mission to (1) give policymakers and practitioners the best available evidence to make decisions and (2) build knowledge that advances both science and practice. In addition, awardees and NIJ scientists are encouraged and expected to publish the results of NIJ’s research investments in peer-reviewed journals. Data resulting from NIJ-sponsored research is typically submitted to the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD). Making data available allows researchers to test each other's conclusions and explore new research questions. NIJ-funded program evaluations may be reviewed, rated, and posted to CrimeSolutions — an NIJ-sponsored program that uses rigorous research methodologies to assess what works, what doesn’t, and what’s promising. NIJ also strives to ensure professionals take advantage of the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Learn more: Publications. Datasets resulting from NIJ-funded research. Program and Practice Ratings on CrimeSolutions. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Research and Development Process NIJ’s research and development process helps ensure that projects are relevant to the field and produce valid, actionable results. ...view more