U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

Perspectives on Research and Evidence-Based Policing

Every year, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) supports 30 midcareer, research-minded law enforcement professionals to take part in professional development and travel opportunities, network, and contribute to the policing and research communities through the Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars program. The LEADS scholars are both practitioners and researchers. They work in the field while simultaneously striving to evaluate and improve the...

Advances in Investigative Techniques: Drug Monitoring Programs

March 2020

Lieutenant Piotrowski, New Jersey State Police, discusses drug monitoring programs. With this program, his agency collects multiple drug-related data sets to ultimately have an impact on mitigating the impact of drugs in his community. Topics include the benefits of implementing a drug monitoring program, some of the outcomes of the program, and how federal funding can help an agency start such a program.

Lieutenant Piotrowski participated in an NIJ Day panel at the 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference and Expo.

NIJ's Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science Scholars Program for Civilians

Apply now!

NIJ is accepting applications for civilian scholars under the LEADS program. Applications are due May 1, 2023.

First see read about eligibility and expectations and then learn how to apply.

For civilian government professionals working with law enforcement, the Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars program offers a unique opportunity to partner with other LEADS Scholars in an effort to...

NIJ LEADS Program Increases Research Capabilities of Law Enforcement Officers

October 2019

This video, produced for IACPTV, provides an overview of the NIJ Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) program. NIJ LEADS Scholars from Dayton and Newark police departments provide an overview of the LEADS program as they describe their projects and experiences working in the program.

Hear from LEADS scholars Major Wendy Stiver, Dayton Police Department, and Captain Ivonne Roman, Newark Police Department.

NIJ’s Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science Scholars Program for Academics

Apply now!

NIJ is accepting applications for academic scholars under the LEADS program. Applications are due May 1, 2023.

First see read about eligibility and expectations and then learn how to apply.

The Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Academics program offers a unique opportunity for early-career academics to engage with other NIJ LEADS Scholars, all of whom are mid-career police officers, civilians...

Wrongful Convictions: The Latest Scientific Research & Implications for Law Enforcement

March 2013

What does science tell us about case factors that can lead to a wrongful conviction? Dr. Jon Gould of American University will discuss the findings of the first large-scale empirical study that has identified ten statistically significant factors that distinguish a wrongful conviction from a "near miss." (A "near miss" is a case in which an innocent defendant was acquitted or had charges dismissed before trial). Following Dr. Gould's presentation, Mr. John R.

The NIJ/IACP Partnership

January 2016

This video, featuring NIJ Director Nancy Rodriguez and Hassan Aden of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), describes the partnership between NIJ and IACP and how the two organizations are linking what we know about what works in policing to the field.

NIJ’s Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Program

March 2016

This video, featuring NIJ Director Nancy Rodriguez, Hassan Aden of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and two scholars from the 2014 Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) program, describes the LEADS program, how NIJ and IACP are building the next generation of law enforcement leadership, and how the program has benefited the scholars.