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Justice system reform

NIJ FY 2022 Invited to Apply - Research on the Impact of Public Policy on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Justice System

Closing Date
Grants.gov Deadline
Application JustGrants Deadline

NIJ seeks applications for funding of investigator-initiated proposals for evidence-based nonpartisan analyses of existing evidence to examine how observed racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system might be reduced through public policy. NIJ is interested in receiving proposals for research in either the criminal or juvenile justice context, or both. 

Just Wrong: The Aftermath of Wrongful Convictions

The strength of our criminal justice system depends on its ability to convict the guilty and clear the innocent. But we know that innocent people are sometimes wrongfully convicted and the guilty remain free to victimize others. The consequences of a wrongful conviction are far-reaching for the wrongfully convicted and the survivors and victims of the original crimes. 

The documentary Just Wrong: The Aftermath of...

NIJ Research and Evaluation on the Administration of Justice, Fiscal Year 2021

Closing Date
With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for rigorous research and evaluation projects examining the impact of pretrial strategies on the administration of justice and public safety. Specifically, NIJ seeks applications for projects examining the impact on the administration of justice and public safety of pretrial detention healthcare, data-driven interventions, prosecutorial discretion, decriminalization of certain offences, and bail reform.

Sentinel Events Initiative: A Compiled Bibliography

The National Institute of Justice has compiled a bibliography of journal articles, news stories, and other resources relevant to the Sentinel Events Initiative. The bibliography includes close to 1,000 citations, most with abstracts and links to the complete publications.[1]

NIJ has compiled these citations with the goal of creating a centralized platform for publications related to the Sentinel Events Initiative. The bibliography will be...

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.

Try Again, Fail Again, Fail Better: Lessons from Community Courts

April 2011

Change doesn't come easy, particularly within an institution as large and complex as the criminal justice system. Greg Berman, Director of the Center for Court Innovation, offered lessons from several efforts to make reform stick in criminal justice settings. In particular, he focused on the development of community courts — experimental court projects that are attempting to reduce both crime and incarceration in dozens of cities across the U.S. and around the world.