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Criminal Justice Testing and Evaluation Consortium

Award Information

Award #
2018-75-CX-K003
Funding Category
Competitive Discretionary
Congressional District
Status
Open
Funding First Awarded
2018
Total funding (to date)
$20,400,000

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2018, $3,500,000)

The applicant proposes to form a consortium to act as an honest broker for the nation’s criminal justice practitioners to provide objective and rigorous test and evaluation of critical technologies for law enforcement, correction, and courts.

The Consortium will provide four key assets in collaboration with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), including the evaluation of emerging tools that are identified through a proven process of technology scouting and assessment; laboratory and field test, evaluation, and demonstration to determine effectiveness and impact using a diverse array of expertise and capabilities in the Consortium; establishment or update of performance-based standards for key technologies; and operation of a Compliance Testing Program (CTP) for ballistic- and stab-resistant body armor and other technologies as needed. The Consortium will leverage its existing infrastructure to communicate results of its work using written reports, scientific and trade journals, a dedicated website, webinars, podcasts, social media, conferences, technology workshops, and other outreach mechanisms.

The Consortium will be led by RTI International, which will serve as the hub for operational oversight and technical capacity for the program. RTI scientists have experience in every aspect of technology and social science relevant to the criminal justice community. The Consortium includes the acquisition of the personnel who currently operate NIJ’s CTP, which has managed the CTP successfully for NIJ for decades; the Police Executive Research Forum, a national leader in the development of rigorous policy and protocols for the use of criminal justice use; three universities, including Virginia Tech University, North Carolina State University, and Denver University, which bring expertise across a diverse set of science and engineering disciplines; nonprofit organizations to perform key tasks in collaboration with the Consortium, including the Safety Equipment Institute, Wireless Research Center, and the International Association of the Chiefs of Police. Together, the Consortium partners will work with NIJ to implement technology advancements that continuously improve public safety.

"Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law," and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14).

CA/NCF

Date Created: September 5, 2018