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Research

Situational Approaches to Making Communities and Correction Institutions Safer

June 2010

NIJ Conference panelists will present the results of three studies that applied situational crime prevention (SCP) principles: (1) an evaluation of the Safe City initiative in Chula Vista, Calif., designed to combine the expertise and resources of local law enforcement, retailers and the community to increase the safety of designated retail areas; (2) a randomized controlled trial (in partnership with the Washington Metro Transit Police) that assessed the effectiveness of SCP to reduce car crime in Metro's parking facilities; and (3) an evaluation of the impact of SCP

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Situational Approaches to Making Communities and Correction Institutions Safer
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1 of 4: Situational Approaches to Making Communities and Correction Institutions Safer, Winnie Reed, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 4: Situational Approaches to Making Communities and Correction Institutions Safer, Nancy La Vigne, Director, Justice Policy Institute, Urban Institute , 3 of 4: Situational Approaches to Making Communities and Correction Institutions Safer, Gary Wedge, Captain, Administrative Services Division, Chula Vista Police Department, Calif. , 4 of 4: Situational Approaches to Making Communities and Correction Institutions Safer, Tara H. Wildes, Chief, Jails Division, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Fla.

Special Technical Committees: How They Are Changing NIJ's Standards Development Process

June 2010

NIJ has established a new standards development process based on Special Technical Committees whose members include practitioners, scientists, researchers, subject matter experts, staff of test laboratories and major criminal justice stakeholder organizations, and representatives knowledgeable in standards development and conformity assessment. The members collaborate to develop the standard and ensure that practitioner needs are addressed.

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Special Technical Committees: How They Are Changing NIJ's Standards Development Process
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1 of 6: Special Technical Committees: How They Are Changing NIJ's Standards Development Process, Debra Stoe, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 6: Special Technical Committees: How They Are Changing NIJ's Standards Development Process, Gordon Gillerman, National Institute of Standards and Technology , 3 of 6: Special Technical Committees: How They Are Changing NIJ's Standards Development Process, Philip Mattson, Program Manager, U.S. Department of Homeland Security , 4 of 6: Special Technical Committees: How They Are Changing NIJ's Standards Development Process, William Haskell, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 5 of 6: Special Technical Committees: How They Are Changing NIJ's Standards Development Process, Robert Vondrasek, Vice President, National Fire Protection Association , 6 of 6: Special Technical Committees: How They Are Changing NIJ's Standards Development Process, David McBath, InterAgency Board Chair, New York State Police

An Examination of Justice Reinvestment and Its Impact on Two States

June 2010

Funded in part by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Pew Center on the States, the justice reinvestment project is a data-driven strategy aimed at policymakers to "reduce spending on corrections, increase public safety and improve conditions in the neighborhoods to which most people released from prison return." Representatives from two states where the justice reinvestment strategy is currently being implemented will discuss how it is being used to reduce the rate of incarceration and how states can reinvest in local communities.

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An Examination of Justice Reinvestment and Its Impact on Two States
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1 of 5: An Examination of Justice Reinvestment and Its Impact on Two States, Marie Garcia, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 5: An Examination of Justice Reinvestment and Its Impact on Two States, Jake Horowitz, Project Manager, Public Safety Performance Project, Pew Center on the States , 3 of 5: An Examination of Justice Reinvestment and Its Impact on Two States, John Lazet, Chief of Staff, The Office of Senator Alan Cropsey, Lansing, Mich. , 4 of 5: An Examination of Justice Reinvestment and Its Impact on Two States, Anne Rice, Associate Attorney General, New Hampshire Office of Attorney General , 5 of 5: An Examination of Justice Reinvestment and Its Impact on Two States, Marshall Clement, Project Director, Justice Center, The Council of State Governments

Sexual Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA

June 2010

Panelists will summarize the progress and results of sexual violence research since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. The panel will also examine how research has contributed to policy, assess current knowledge gaps and discuss research needs.

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Sexual Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA
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1 of 5: Sexual Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA, Karen J. Bachar, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 5: Sexual Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA, Rebecca Campbell, Professor of Community Psychology and Program Evaluation, Michigan State University , 3 of 5: Sexual Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA, Bonnie S. Fisher, Professor, Division of Criminal Justice and Research Fellow, Center for Criminal Justice Research, University of Cincinnati , 4 of 5: Sexual Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA, Rebecca Campbell, Professor of Community Psychology and Program Evaluation, Michigan State University , 5 of 5: Sexual Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA, Delilah Rumburg, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape

Prosecuting Cases of Elder Abuse

June 2010

This panel will feature NIJ-funded research that has direct, practical implications for the prosecution of elder abuse cases. Panelists will present findings from a study of prosecutors in three states that examined the factors that influenced their decisions to prosecute elder financial abuse cases. The panel will also provide the results from an evaluation of five innovative court-based models that target perpetrators of elder abuse.

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Prosecuting Cases of Elder Abuse
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1 of 4: Prosecuting Cases of Elder Abuse, Andy Mao, Senior Counsel for Health Care Fraud and Elder Justice, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice , 2 of 4: Prosecuting Cases of Elder Abuse, Shelly Jackson, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville , 3 of 4: Prosecuting Cases of Elder Abuse, Lori Stiegel, Senior Attorney, Commission on Law and Aging, American Bar Association , 4 of 4: Prosecuting Cases of Elder Abuse, Page Ulrey, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, King County Prosecutor's Office, Seattle, Wash.

Forensic Aspects of Elder Abuse

June 2010

This NIJ Conference Panel will feature the latest research on forensic aspects of elder abuse detection and prosecution. Panelists will discuss results from a recently completed study that examined the characteristics of pressure sores on elders who received quality care, emphasizing how this research informs the field about the warning signs of potential neglect. Panelists will also present findings from a study on how well elderly individuals with mild or moderate dementia remember emotional events.

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Forensic Aspects of Elder Abuse
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1 of 4: Forensic Aspects of Elder Abuse, Carrie Mulford, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 4: Forensic Aspects of Elder Abuse, Aileen Wiglesworth, Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine , 3 of 4: Forensic Aspects of Elder Abuse, Solomon Liao, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine and Director of Geriatric Education, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine , 4 of 4: Forensic Aspects of Elder Abuse, Susan Chasson, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Coordinator, Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Salt Lake City; Family Nurse Practitioner, Merrill Gappmayer Family Medicine Clinic, Provo, Utah

Is It Old Age, Abuse or Homicide? Using Forensic Markers and Technology to Detect Elder Abuse and Neglect

June 2009

Panelists will present results from NIJ-funded studies on bruising and CT scanning and discuss the important role of forensic information and technology in effectively investigating violent crimes against the elderly.

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Is It Old Age, Abuse or Homicide? Using Forensic Markers and Technology to Detect Elder Abuse and Neglect
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1 of 5: Is It Old Age, Abuse or Homicide? Using Forensic Markers and Technology to Detect Elder Abuse and Neglect, Carrie Mulford, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 5: Is It Old Age, Abuse or Homicide? Using Forensic Markers and Technology to Detect Elder Abuse and Neglect, Aileen Wiglesworth, Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, University of California, Irvine , 3 of 5: Is It Old Age, Abuse or Homicide? Using Forensic Markers and Technology to Detect Elder Abuse and Neglect, Barry Daly, Professor of Radiology and Vice Chair for Research, Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine , 4 of 5: Is It Old Age, Abuse or Homicide? Using Forensic Markers and Technology to Detect Elder Abuse and Neglect, Cherie Hill, Detective, Anaheim Police Department , 5 of 5: Is It Old Age, Abuse or Homicide? Using Forensic Markers and Technology to Detect Elder Abuse and Neglect, Question and Answer Session

Terrorism Studies: Finding and Applying the Best Research

June 2009

In the post-Sept. 11 era, criminal justice and homeland security professionals have been bombarded with a flood of studies on terrorism. Some of the best researchers in the field provide a practical session on evaluating terrorism studies. What should the inquisitive professional look for when presented with different methods? How can professionals publish what they see and engage experts in the field?

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Terrorism Studies: Finding and Applying the Best Research
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1 of 4: Terrorism Studies: Finding and Applying the Best Research, John T. Picarelli, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 4: Terrorism Studies: Finding and Applying the Best Research, Michael Kenney, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Fellow, International Center for the Study of Terrorism, Pennsylvania State University , 3 of 4: Terrorism Studies: Finding and Applying the Best Research, Laura Dugan, Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland, College Park , 4 of 4: Terrorism Studies: Finding and Applying the Best Research, Richard Troy, Department of Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Dublin, Ireland

Director's Message: Valuing and Communicating Science That Advances Justice

...if the results of research are never effectively communicated to criminal justice practitioners, the relevance and utility of that research is severely diminished.

Howard Spivak, May 2017

The value of criminal justice research is inextricably tied to the extent to which it informs and improves policy and practice. If a research project fails to address the field’s priority questions, or if the results of research are...

What Works in Probation and Parole

June 2009

How can we prevent reoffending and reduce costs? Research points to a number of solutions. At the Tuesday plenary, Judge Steven Alm from Hawaii will describe his successes with hard-core drug offenders. “Swift and sure” is his motto. West Virginia Cabinet Secretary James W. Spears will discuss the issues from his state's perspective, and Adam Gelb, Director of the Pew Charitable Trust's Public Safety Performance Project, will lend a national overview.

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What Works in Probation and Parole
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1 of 7: What Works in Probation and Parole, Kristina Rose, Acting Director, and Thomas Feucht, Executive Senior Science Advisor, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 7: What Works in Probation and Parole, Adam Gelb, Director, Public Safety Performance Project, Pew Center on the States , 3 of 7: What Works in Probation and Parole, James W. Spears, Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety , 4 of 7: What Works in Probation and Parole, Honorable Steven S. Alm, Judge, First Circuit Court, Honolulu, Hawaii , 5 of 7: What Works in Probation and Parole, Tom Williams, Associate Director, Court Services and Offender Supervision, Washington, D.C. , 6 of 7: What Works in Probation and Parole, Pamela Lattimore, Principal Scientist, RTI International , 7 of 7: What Works in Probation and Parole, Question and Answer Session

Custody Evaluation in Domestic Violence Cases

June 2009

Panelists will examine practices, beliefs and recommendations of professional and custody evaluators in domestic violence cases. Panelists will discuss current NIJ studies that use both qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the impact of personal attitudes and beliefs on custody evaluation.

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Custody Evaluation in Domestic Violence Cases
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1 of 3: Custody Evaluation in Domestic Violence Cases, Daniel G. Saunders, Professor, School of Social Work, University of Michigan , 2 of 3: Custody Evaluation in Domestic Violence Cases, The Honorable Dale R. Koch, Senior Judge, State of Oregon , 3 of 3: Custody Evaluation in Domestic Violence Cases, Chris S. O'Sullivan, Research Consultant, New York Legal Assistance Group

Director's Message: Advancing the Police Profession Through Science

Recent events across the country have made calls for criminal justice reform commonplace, and law enforcement in particular has been called upon to increase standards of performance and advance the field as a profession. At the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), we are committed to supporting law enforcement in their efforts to advance policing, and we strongly believe that science can play a pivotal role...

What Is Research and Evaluation Evidence and How Can We Use It?

June 2010

This NIJ Conference Panel will explore the development and use of evidence-based policies, programs and technologies to improve effectiveness and efficiencies related to government. Through casual observation, practices and programs may appear to be effective, but under closer scrutiny the results may look much different.

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What Is Research and Evaluation Evidence and How Can We Use It?
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Phelan Wyrick, Senior Social Science Analyst, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice , Stephanie Shipman, Assistant Director, Center for Evaluation Methods and Issues, Applied Research and Methods, U.S. Government Accountability Office , Ed McGarrell, Director and Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University , Phelan Wyrick — Part II

Director's Message: Building Our Next Generation of Researchers

Two students working on a paper
Thinkstock, royalty-free (see reuse policy).

As colleges and universities across the country begin a new academic year, I want to discuss one of my high-priority goals — supporting the research activities of new and emerging scholars. These creative thinkers from a variety of disciplines are proposing innovative ideas to study and solve criminal justice problems. I am proud to offer my support in the form of fellowships and research assistantships...

Director's Message: Elevating Practitioners — From Advisers to Participants to Drivers

I started my tenure at NIJ with a commitment to getting out into the field to ensure NIJ stays connected. And I restate that commitment here.

From my very first day as the Director of the National Institute of Justice, I have made elevating the role of the practitioner a priority in everything we do. Our research must be connected to and serve the needs...

What Works in Offender Supervision

June 2009

This NIJ Conference Panel highlights findings from NIJ projects that evaluated strategies to enhance the supervision of offenders in the community. Researchers discuss the effectiveness of fair, swift and certain sanctions for high-risk probationers in the Hawaii HOPE program. Panelists also provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of electronic monitoring — including the use of GPS tracking — for medium- and high-risk offenders on supervision and upon completion of their supervision sentence.

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What Works in Offender Supervision
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1 of 4: Marlene Beckman, Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. , 2 of 4: Bill Bales, Associate Professor, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University , 3 of 4: The Honorable Steven S. Alm, Judge, First Circuit Court, Honolulu, Hawaii , 4 of 4: Angela Hawken, Assistant Professor of Economics and Policy Analysis, School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif.

Domestic Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA

June 2010

Since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, a majority of the more than 250 research and evaluation studies funded by NIJ examined domestic violence issues. This research has been collected in the Compendium of Research on Violence Against Women, which includes an abstract of each grant and the results of completed studies.

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Domestic Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA
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1 of 4: Domestic Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA , Bernard Auchter, National Institute of Justice , 2 of 4: Domestic Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA , Claire M. Renzetti, Endowed Chair, Center for Research on Violence Against Women and Professor of Sociology, University of Kentucky , 3 of 4: Domestic Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA , Connie Beck, Associate Professor, Psychology, Policy and Law Program, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson (mp3, 170 MB) , 4 of 4: Domestic Violence Research 15 Years After VAWA , Barbara Hart, Director of Law and Policy, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland

Director's Message: Safety, Health and Wellness Strategic Plan

Planning NIJ’s Future Research Investments

Frequent readers of the Director’s Corner are well aware of my commitment to strengthening NIJ’s scientific endeavors while also strengthening the science that supports the criminal justice system. By advancing multidisciplinary research, connecting researchers and practitioners, and encouraging diversity in our investments, NIJ will be better able to inform our nation’s police officers, judges, lawyers, corrections officers, and policymakers of...