Deviance

Contraband in correctional facilities includes illegal items, such as drugs and weapons, or items prohibited in the area being monitored, such as cell phones. Prison staff needs to be able to detect and confiscate contraband quickly to prevent drug abuse, violence and the commission of further crimes.

Drugs and weapons pose a particular risk in prison environments, where there is a high potential for violence...

Law enforcement investigations close cases and can prevent new crimes from occurring. Training in research-based investigative procedures and access to tools and resources can help law enforcement officers carry out successful investigations.

NIJ research enhances the forensic aspects of investigations and supports the creation and maintenance of investigative resources, such as manuals, databases and training courses.

NIJ has funded research in several areas relevant to...

Domestic violence cases involving spouses and other intimate partners often entail complex processes that require careful consideration by the criminal justice system. In the 1990s, many jurisdictions began to create specialized domestic violence courts for judges to ensure follow-through on cases, aid domestic violence victims, and hold those who commit the crimes accountable, with the assistance of justice and social service agencies.

By specializing in domestic...

Drug courts are specialized court docket programs that target criminal defendants, juveniles who have been convicted of a drug offense, and parents with pending child welfare cases who have alcohol and other drug dependency problems.

On this page, find links to articles, awards, events, publications, and multimedia related to drug courts.

Law enforcement officers face many different dangerous and stressful situations in the line of duty. Some, such as gun violence, are obvious; others dangers (e.g., fatigue) are hidden, but common, and can greatly hinder officer performance. Officer performance is also affected by training and other factors.

NIJ supports work to study and improve officer performance and safety on several fronts. For decades, NIJ has been on...

Because of the varied nature of crime, police operations must be diverse and flexible. Police must be able to react to situations that range from a threat of explosives to a fleeing suspect. During these operations, officers need tools and training to be as effective and as safe as possible.

NIJ supports research and development on new technologies that will aid police operations, whether by...

Sex-related offenses are any crimes that have a sexual component. They may involve actual or threatened physical harm (e.g., sexual assault) or mental or emotional harm to a victim (e.g., child pornography).

NIJ supports projects that strive to understand and reduce the occurrence and impact of sex-related offenses. This includes describing the scope of these crimes, such as how and when they occur and their...

In a violent crime, a victim is harmed by or threatened with violence. Violent crimes include rape and sexual assault, robbery, assault and murder.

NIJ supports research that strives to understand and reduce the occurrence and impact of violent crimes. This includes describing the scope of these crimes, such as how and when they occur and their consequences. NIJ also supports evaluations of existing programs...

The NIJ Journal, published several times a year, features articles to help criminal justice policymakers and practitioners stay informed about new developments. The NIJ Journal presents research-based information that can help inform policy decisions and improve understanding of the criminal justice system.

Each issue of the NIJ Journal will now focus on a single theme, allowing the articles to dive into one specific topic from...