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How NIJ Is Organized

The National Institute of Justice is organized to:

• Emphasize outcome and cost-benefit evaluations of criminal justice programs and technologies.
• Keep the social and physical sciences together under one research agency to maximize collaborations, cost-effectiveness and benefits to the field.
• Elevate the forensic sciences, as recommended in the National Research Council's report Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward (pdf, 350 pages). 
• Group the core organizational functions under autonomous offices that report directly to a Deputy Director.
• Leverage new and existing research partnerships to expand the reach of criminal justice research.
  

NIJ has six operating offices:

• The Office of Research and Evaluation develops, conducts, directs and supervises research and evaluation activities across a wide variety of issues. Learn more about the Office of Research and Evaluation. 
• The Office of Science and Technology manages technology research and development, development of technical standards, testing, and technology assistance to state and local law enforcement and corrections agencies. Learn more about the Office of Science and Technology.
• The Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences improves the quality and practice of forensic science through innovative solutions that support research and development, testing and evaluation, technology, information exchange and the development of training resources for the criminal justice community. Learn more about the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences.
• The Office of Research Partnerships initiates, manages and coordinates criminal justice partnerships with agencies and organizations within and outside the U.S. Department of Justice. Learn more about the Office of Research Partnerships from an article in the March 2012 JRSA Forum (pdf, 12 pages), newsletter of the Justice Research and Statistics Association.
• The Office of Operations manages NIJ’s budget, planning and administrative activities.
• The Office of Communications disseminates information by integrating publishing, conferencing, marketing and outreach activities. Learn how NIJ moves knowledge from research to practice.