Expired Funding Opportunities

The goal of NIJ's FY 2015 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program is to assist eligible States and units of local government to process, record, screen, and analyze forensic DNA and/or DNA database samples, and to increase the capacity of public forensic DNA and DNA database laboratories to process more DNA samples, thereby helping to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis.

NIJ seeks proposals for funding to assist in defraying the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing in cases of violent felony offenses (as defined by State law) in which actual innocence might be demonstrated. Funds may be used to identify and review such postconviction cases and to locate and analyze associated biological evidence.

NIJ is seeking proposals for criminal justice research and evaluation that includes a researcher-practitioner partnership component. Through researcher-practitioner partnerships, criminal justice practitioners can gain new skills in assessing programs and measuring outcomes. Likewise, criminal justice researchers can better understand the goals and purposes criminal justice practitioners seek to achieve.

The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (the "Coverdell program") awards grants to States and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services and/or to eliminate backlogs in the analysis of forensic evidence, including controlled substances, firearms examination, forensic pathology, latent prints, questioned documents, toxicology, and trace evidence.

NIJ is seeking proposals to evaluate the effectiveness of State, tribal, and local programs or initiatives designed to respond to crimes committed against Native American women living in tribal communities. NIJ welcomes research that will support tribal-nation building and cultural goals and values. Studies specifically designed to acquire information and knowledge that will enable tribes to make informed decisions about policies, programs, and community action that address violence against and victimization of American Indian and Alaska Native women are preferred.​

NIJ is seeking proposals for multiple criminal justice research projects involving researcher-practitioner partnerships as well as capturing detailed descriptions of these collaborations. While other NIJ solicitations often encourage researcher-practitioner partnerships, this solicitation directly focuses on supporting criminal justice research and evaluation activities that include a researcher-practitioner partnership component. Within the context of the proposed research or evaluation project, the partnerships can be new or ongoing.

NIJ seeks applications from States and units of local government for funding under the Solving Cold Cases With DNA program to identify, review, and investigate Uniform Crime Report (UCR) Part 1 Violent Crime “cold cases” that have the potential to be solved using DNA analysis, and to locate and analyze the biological evidence associated with these cases.

​NIJ is seeking proposals for funds to help defray the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing in cases of violent felony offenses where actual innocence might be demonstrated. Specifically, funding may be used to review postconviction cases of violent felony offenses (as defined by State law), and to locate and analyze biological evidence samples associated with these cases. Where a strong justification is provided, a small percentage of federal award funds (not to exceed 15 percent) may be allowed for permissible case identification activities.

NIJ is seeking applications for research and technology development leading to the introduction into practice of new, innovative means to: (1) speed forensic processing of large capacity digital media, and (2) reduce digital evidence storage requirements.​

NIJ is seeking proposals for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (the Coverdell program), which awards grants to States and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. State Administering Agencies (SAAs) may apply for both "base" (formula) and competitive funds.

NIJ seeks proposals for funds to help defray the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing in cases of violent felony offenses where actual innocence might be demonstrated. Specifically, funding may be used to review postconviction cases of violent felony offenses (as defined by State law), and to locate and analyze biological evidence samples associated with these cases. Where a strong justification is provided, a small percentage of Federal award funds (not to exceed 15 percent) may be used for permissible case identification activities.