Current Funding Opportunities

NIJ is seeking applications for funding to support applied research and development projects that will: (1) increase knowledge and understanding necessary to guide forensic science policy and practice or (2) result in the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods that have the potential for forensic application.

NIJ is seeking proposals for funding basic scientific research in the physical, life, and cognitive sciences that is designed to increase the knowledge underlying forensic science disciplines intended for use in the criminal justice system.

NIJ seeks proposals to host the Small, Rural, Tribal, and Border (SRTB) Regional Center within the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) System. Small, rural, tribal and border agencies represent a particularly underserved community with unique needs. In this solicitation, NIJ seeks innovative solutions to offer a more sustainable, efficient, and effective way to provide them access to relevant technology-related information and resources as well as to identify their unique, unmet technology needs. NIJ is particularly interested in exploring potential solutions that engage academic institutions in innovative ways with agencies in this underserved community to apply research to addressing their technology-related needs. NIJ is also interested in the degree to which it is leveraging related work with small, rural, tribal and border criminal justice agencies and the degree to which the applicant is already engaged with those agencies. The SRTB is currently hosted by the Center for Rural Development, Inc., with funding provided through a cooperative agreement (2009-IJ-CX-K019) awarded by NIJ. The total period of an award, including one that receives a project period extension, ordinarily will not exceed 3 years.

NIJ seeks proposals for research and evaluation related to violence against women in the areas of teen dating violence, sexual violence, and intimate partner violence. Research proposed may be focused at the Federal, State, local, tribal, juvenile justice policy and/or practice level.

 

NIJ seeks proposals for research related to teen dating violence (also known as adolescent relationship abuse). In particular, NIJ seeks proposals that support postdoctoral fellows to analyze existing data or collect new data on teen dating violence in understudied populations. Research proposed may be focused at the Federal, State, local, tribal, juvenile justice policy and practice levels.

NIJ seeks proposals to evaluate the effectiveness of State, tribal, and local programs designed to respond to crimes committed against Native American women living in tribal communities. Proposed program evaluations must be supported by local tribes and their support documented in the application for funding.

NIJ seeks proposals for research and development leading to the introduction into practice of needed technologies to enhance the ability of criminal justice agencies to use social media as "Web 3.0" continues to develop and mature.

NIJ seeks proposals for applied technology research and development projects leading to the introduction into practice of improved technologies for use by law enforcement, courts, and corrections agencies. NIJ is particularly interested in (1) the application of expert systems technologies to enhance the performance of non-expert practitioners and (2) improved devices to locate and track offenders that are under supervision in the community. NIJ will also entertain proposals for applied technology research and development to meet other demonstrated, high-priority needs of law enforcement, courts, and corrections agencies.

NIJ seeks proposals to conduct evaluations of the impact of alternative lighting, markings, and painting schemes for law enforcement vehicles on the incidence of traffic accidents involving law enforcement vehicles. NIJ is also interested in determining how these schemes may otherwise affect law enforcement operations.

NIJ seeks proposals to help inform development of NIJ's technology research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) investments. Many different considerations shape the goals and objectives of NIJ's technology RDT&E programs. The most important are the technology needs of the criminal justice practitioner. This solicitation seeks applications to assist NIJ in identifying and assessing the highest priority technology needs of law enforcement, courts, and corrections agencies and potential solutions to those needs.

NIJ seeks proposals to conduct research on differences in safety equipment modalities; that is, policies and practices among correctional agencies regarding what safety equipment staff may use, when and how it may be used, and how those modalities affect officers' physical safety. For the purpose of this solicitation, safety equipment is defined as equipment used by correctional officers to protect them from assaults and to reduce injuries.

NIJ seeks proposals to establish a Criminal Justice Technology Research, Test, and Evaluation (RT&E) Center within the NIJ-funded NLECTC System. This Center will conduct focused RT&E activities to inform NIJ's non-forensic technology research and development (R&D) efforts. It will also conduct RT&E activities to support NIJ's efforts to inform practitioners, policymakers, and researchers ('the field') regarding technologies or technology-related issues for purposes of improving criminal justice policy and practice.

NIJ seeks proposals for research that will explore the impact of the current state of social media technology on police practices and outcomes. Although social media technology is now ubiquitous in our society and particularly within law enforcement agencies, it is unclear how this technology is being used by departments, both officially and unofficially, and how this use has translated into public safety outcomes.

NIJ seeks proposals for research on the impact that probation/parole officer home visits have on offender outcomes, specifically what practices agencies are using, what offender outcomes can be attributed to these practices, and what dosage is needed to achieve these outcomes.

NIJ seeks proposals for social and behavioral science research on, and evaluations related to, justice systems topics relevant to State, local, tribal, or Federal criminal and juvenile justice policy and practice. Application titles should clearly indicate the justice systems focus area selected. Most justice systems topics, including but not limited to general policing, corrections (institutional, community, and offender reentry), and courts (prosecution, defense including indigent, adjudication, and sentencing) that are relevant to policymakers and practitioners are eligible for consideration.

NIJ seeks proposals to conduct research on policing to promote officer safety and wellness, understand the impact of police technology on crime control and disorder, promote police integrity, and explore the costs and benefits of the consolidation of police agencies at the State, local, and tribal levels. Effective practices in these areas are of critical importance to improving law enforcement operations and ensuring trust and confidence in the police in communities throughout the country.

NIJ seeks proposals for research on firearms and violence such as, but not limited to, the effects of criminal justice interventions on reducing gun violence, improving data systems for studying gun violence, illicit gun markets, and the effects of firearm policies and legislation on public safety.

 

NIJ seeks proposals to conduct research that enhances knowledge of the process of desistance from crime. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for bold, innovative approaches to enhancing understanding of the processes underlying desistance from crime.

NIJ seeks proposals for social science research on forensic science. Some of the forensic disciplines, particularly in the area of DNA, have experienced numerous advances over the last decade. NIJ is interested in stimulating research to examine the impact of these forensic advances on the criminal justice system and changes in policies to adapt to the greater use of forensic evidence. NIJ has identified several areas of interest for this solicitation, including issues related to sexual assault medical forensic examinations, familial DNA searching, and research on the rate of wrongful convictions. Research proposed under this solicitation should have direct implications for policy and/or practice in the criminal justice system, and these implications should be clearly stated in the application.