Core Support for the Committee on Law and Justice

The National Research Council (NRC), through the Committee on Law and Justice (CLAJ), proposes to draw upon expertise from relevant disciplines in the scientific and practitioner communities to provide assistance to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in increasing scientific understanding of crime and justice issues. The project will support the activities of the CLAJ within the next twelve months. The project comprises operational support for CLAJ, research meetings, and a workshop/seminar. The operational support will allow CLAJ to conduct a series of business meetings throughout the year. NIJ and other federal staff participate in the public portions of these meetings. During the 12 month award CLAJ will also hold two research meetings, which will allow the committee to monitor existing projects, identify and examine emerging criminal justice issues, and explore research needs related to criminal justice. During the meetings committee members will discuss topics of emerging public interest and of interest to NIJ and the Committee. CLAJ will also hold one workshop, expert meeting or seminar on a topic to be chosen by the committee in consultation with NIJ. During these convenings for formal and informal discussions among experts, the committee members, the NIJ director and other agency staff can offer ideas, perspectives, and possible research strategies. A summary will be produced detailing recommended areas of work and appropriate vehicles (seminars to explore emerging topics, workshops to capture the current work in the field, or consensus studies to resolve policy or scientific controversies) for conducting that work. Through its regular activities the committee will develop a framework for identifying new areas of criminal justice research; assist in resolving scientific controversies; extend the research agenda in established areas; promote theory development; and assist with planning for new research areas and large projects. The committee will accomplish these tasks through presentations and discussion at its regular committee meetings and by conducting workshops or seminars or expert meetings on topics of interest to NIJ. Examples of topics to be explored by CLAJ over the next 12 months include community corrections/re-entry issues for offenders; race, ethnicity, and criminal justice; corruption, white collar and economic crime; the role prosecutorial discretion and incarceration rates; proactive policing; and dissemination of innovation in criminal justice. nca/ncf