Courts
The National Institute of Justice sponsors criminal court research and court-based program evaluation to identify tools, programs and policies that satisfy criminal justice goals including: public safety, cost-efficiency and fair and equitable treatment of victims and defendants.
Courts Research Portfolio
NIJ's criminal courts research informs these goals through several approaches:
Court Operations and Case Management — methods for criminal justice administration applicable to diversion, pretrial and other stages of the criminal case processing.
Reducing Pretrial Domestic Violence
Benefits of Implementing a Pretrial Safety Program
Implementing a Pretrial Safety Program to Reduce Domestic Violence
Specialized or Problem-Solving Courts — court-based interventions for offenders and communities that address substance abuse, mental health and other criminogenic needs.
Adjudication and Sentencing — criminal court procedures for judges, prosecutors, defense counsel and juries from arraignment through trial and sentencing.
Evaluating and Presenting Evidence in Court
CSI Effect (NIJ Journal article)
Digital Evidence in the Courtroom: A Guide for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
Indigent Defense
Indigent Defense Symposium: Looking Back, Looking Forward, 2000-2010
Technology — contraband detection technologies for courtroom security and forensic and other scientific technologies that support criminal case processing through information sharing, evidence testing and management and other investigative and trial functions. See related topics under forensics including types of forensic evidence and types of investigations.
