U.S. flag

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

Child abuse

Redefining Trauma-Informed Assessments for Teen Dating Violence: An Introduction to the VIP Study

February 2022

Mandates for risk assessment protocols to be trauma-informed are now common across juvenile justice and school settings. However, there is little direction on how to best translate this mandate into evidence-based screening and assessment tools. This presentation will describe the theoretical model underpinning the Vulnerability, Impairment, and Promotive factors (VIP) Study, which seeks to offer an alternative to existing risk assessment approaches in vulnerable adolescents.

Review the YouTube Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy

Increasing Rigorous Evaluation of Interventions to Reduce Gender-based Violence Victimization

March 2022

The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) and its re-authorizations mandated several research efforts that stimulated a dramatic enhancement to violence against women research supported by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). This legislation has supported federal, state, local, and private partners in implementing policies and programs and conducting research directly related to gender-based violence. However, questions remain about the effectiveness of those mandates. This brown bag will discuss the gaps and challenges to evaluating gender-based violence interventions.

Review the YouTube Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy

Economic Justice for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

October 2022
Financial abuse is a common strategy used by those who abuse to gain power and control. The first panelist will discuss how intimate partner violence intersects with economic justice. In the second panelist's presentation, intimate partner violence shelter approaches and housing policies will be addressed. The final panelist will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on economic security and survivors’ experiences of economic hardship.

Review the YouTube Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy

Defining and Studying Elder Abuse Polyvictimization

January 2023
Series
Justice Today Podcast

NIJ Social Science Analyst Yunsoo Park shares her knowledge about elder abuse, a widespread issue in the U.S. and around the world, particularly polyvictimization — the experience of a range of different types of abuse and maltreatment. As much as 11% of community-residing older adults experienced some form of abuse or mistreatment in the past year. Yunsoo discusses risk factors, difficulties in defining and studying elder abuse polyvictimization, and strategies for intervention and prevention. Stacy Lee Reynolds, a Communications Assistant with NIJ, hosts.

Shedding Light on Assault

November 2022
Series
Justice Today Podcast
Senior Science Writer Maya Pilkington is joined by “the Paintball Lady” – Dr. Katherine Scafide. Dr. Scafide shares how her research on detecting bruises and skills as a forensic nurse help pediatric and adult assault and domestic violence victims by providing clear documentation. 

NIJ FY22 Research on Monitoring Child Maltreatment in Youth Serving Organizations

Closing Date
Grants.gov Deadline
Application JustGrants Deadline
With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for funding from accredited research universities for a feasibility study on the establishment of a federal system to count and track cases of sexual abuse and other forms of maltreatment in youth serving organizations, which may include but is not limited to substantiated cases.