Criminal Justice Requirements and Resources Consortium

It is anticipated that with this funding at least seven (7) expert panel meetings will take place under this request, focused on identifying criminal justice communities’ highest priority needs, along with potential solutions to those needs. All of the in-person meetings for these activities will be held in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area (per the original solicitation).

In addition, RAND will continue to oversee many aspects of the Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) program. This program supports the professional development and research capacity of mid-career, sworn law enforcement officers dedicated to advancing the police profession through science.

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). NCA/NCF

RAND serves as the central hub for the Consortium’s needs assessment and practitioner support for evidence-based policy-making functions. RAND develops and oversees expert panel workshops to identify and prioritize the needs of criminal justice stakeholders, including logistical support, expert identification, facilitation, reimbursement, analysis of results, and report generation. It is anticipated that with this requested funding at least seven (7) expert panel workshops will take place in FY 2021, focused on identifying criminal justice communities’ highest priority needs, along with potential solutions to those needs. All of the in-person meetings for these activities will be held in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. In addition, RAND will continue to oversee many aspects of the Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) program. This program supports the professional development and research capacity of mid-career, sworn law enforcement officers dedicated to advancing the police profession through science. 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). NCA/NCF

The applicant proposes to assemble a consortium with the RAND Corporation as the lead but also made up of organizations with knowledge, research efforts, and capabilities across law enforcements, courts, and corrections communities specifically the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the RTI International (RTI) and the University of Denver (DU). The consortium’s efforts to identify and prioritize criminal justice needs and possible solutions will use brainstorming and Delphi method based prioritization, established and utilized over the years since it was first developed in the 1960s. The methods utilized seek to both gain the advantages of group (various panels of experts) based decision-making while simultaneously recognizing and addressing its limitations. The results of these activities will not only inform NIJ’s role as the national focal point for research on criminal justice but will also provide information intended to contribute to enhancing innovation in the criminal justice communities. The RAND consortium will also oversee the academic support, research assistance, travel and logistical support, and implementation training for evidence-based policing models for LEADS Scholars and policing agencies seeking to advance evidence-based policing practices. "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

The nation’s criminal justice agencies face operational and effectiveness challenges that can be addressed through innovation in technology, policy and practice.  Effective innovation requires identifying problems or opportunities to do so, and focusing of resources – internally or from outside sources like the research or private sector communities – on meeting the identified needs.  This continuing effort will contribute to doing so both by supporting NIJ and others in needs identification and prioritization, but by supporting the NIJ LEADS Scholars programs to strengthen law enforcement research capacity on their own.  The subjects involved in the work will include members of expert panels for needs identification, and the LEADS participants and their work.  The number of subjects will vary depending on NIJ’s requirements and the topics of research activity.  The Consortium proposal to address the requirements of the solicitation include partnerships among the participating consortium members (RAND, PERF, RTI and University of Denver) and partnerships with others through participation in the panels and events involved in the work.  The effort to identify and prioritize needs will use structured brainstorming and Delphi method based prioritization, developed and utilized in earlier work for NIJ and others.  The methods utilized seek to both gain the advantages of group based decisionmaking while simultaneously recognizing and addressing its limitations.  Products from the needs identification component of the work will present the prioritized needs from the study, and data will be made available as relevant for other research activities.  The main product from support to the LEADS programs will be the program and professional development of the scholars themselves, but published products could be developed in collaboration with LEADS Scholars or agency participants as well. NCA/NCF