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Strengthen science. Advance justice.

Learn more about NIJ's mission
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Apply to be a Research Assistant with NIJ

The NIJ Research Assistantship Program (RAP) offers highly qualified doctoral students the opportunity to bring their expertise to NIJ to work across offices and program areas to obtain a practical and applied research experience. We welcome students from all academic disciplines to apply and connect their research to the criminal justice field. 

Apply by December 23, 2020.
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LEADS Class of 2020

NIJ’s Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) program is designed to increase the research capabilities of law enforcement officers and agencies. We’ve selected this year’s scholarship recipients—14 individuals dedicated to advancing policing through science.

Meet the scholarship recipients.
Find funding opportunities

Find funding opportunities

NIJ awards research, development, testing, evaluation, and capacity enhancement grants.
Read the latest

Read the latest

Review a list of publications and articles from both NIJ and the researchers we fund.
Register for events

Register for events

Check out a list of our upcoming events. If you don't see anything of interest, we also offer a number of recorded, on-demand event and training opportunities.
Browse all topics

Browse all topics

Find articles and other information on a wide variety of criminal justice topics.
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The First Step Act

The First Step Act of 2018 aims to reform the federal prison system and reduce recidivism. NIJ is working to assess and develop an existing prisoner risk and needs assessment system, and develop recommendations regarding effective evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and activities.

Learn about NIJ’s role under the First Step Act.
Promising

Preventing Military Partner Violence

Strength at Home Couples is a cognitive-behavioral, trauma-informed group intervention that is designed to prevent relationship conflict and intimate partner violence (IPV) among military couples. The program is rated Promising. There were statistically significant reductions in physical and psychological IPV for the treatment group.

Learn more about this promising practice.