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

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars program offers a unique opportunity for mid-career, sworn law enforcement officers to enhance their professional development and research capacity alongside other NIJ LEADS Scholars—including policing civilians, academics, and fellow officers—who are committed to advancing policing through science.

The LEADS program supports and develops research capacity among the next generation of American law enforcement leaders. The program aspires to help Scholars engage in research and champion evidence-based practices within their agencies and throughout the policing profession. Scholars receive training and technical assistance to conduct high-quality research and use research findings to shape policy and practice. The program seeks to combine research with direct field experience, strengthening research and ensuring that findings are practical and impactful in advancing the profession.

NIJ established the program in 2014 in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to provide three-year scholarships for research-minded law enforcement officers. The program now also provides scholarships for civilians and early-career academics, both working in or with law enforcement agencies. Currently, the IACP and the National Policing Institute (NPI) support the LEADS program’s implementation and development.

The program has grown to over 130 sworn officers, civilians, and academics nationwide. Current and alumni Scholars represent a closely engaged network of individuals committed to using evidence and data to inform law enforcement policy and practice.

NIJ LEADS Scholars are champions and leaders of evidence-based policing. Frequently presenting and publishing their findings, LEADS Scholars have tested the effectiveness of a wide variety of policy and practice innovations, including violence reduction strategies in Delaware, drones as first responders in Maryland, automated license plate readers in California, patrol vehicle lighting schemes in Connecticut, and agency recruitment and retention programs in South Carolina. Scholars have conducted LEADS-supported research on body-worn cameras, GPS monitoring, and risk assessment tools. LEADS scholars have also studied ways to infuse evidence into everyday decision-making, including how to integrate high-quality research and evidence-based practices into police academy curricula.

Eligibility and Expectations

LEADS Scholars (Officers) must be mid-career, sworn law enforcement officers working full-time in a United States law enforcement agency. Candidates must have a proven track record of advancing the police profession through science —whether by partnering with researchers, conducting independent research, or integrating research-driven practices into policy and operations. The ideal candidate holds a position that can impact policy and practice in their agency.

Despite corrections agencies playing an important role in the justice system, the nature of LEADS means that it is not well matched to serve the interests of correctional officers. If a member of a Sheriff’s Department is in a predominately law enforcement role versus managing or supervising individuals under justice supervision, they may be eligible for LEADS. Corrections or Sheriff’s Department employees who are in primarily custodial roles, including custodial personnel supervisors, are not. 

The LEADS program acknowledges that participants are working full-time for a law enforcement or government agency. The program is designed to be flexible, accommodating officers’ availability and agency demands. There are, however, two meetings LEADS Scholars are expected to attend that may require travel: the annual IACP Conference, including a pre-conference LEADS meeting and discussion (4-5 days), and the NIJ Summer Session in Washington, DC (2-3 days).

In focus - Tribal Law Enforcement

Over the years, the LEADS program has built broad national representation, spanning agencies of all sizes —from small rural departments to the largest metropolitan police agencies. Tribal law enforcement officers who meet the application criteria for LEADS Scholars are encouraged to apply. Federal law enforcement officers active in tribal jurisdictions (e.g., Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Services) are also eligible.

Program Activities

The LEADS program requires a three-year commitment that provides law enforcement officers with opportunities to participate in a variety of activities, including:

• Programming at the IACP Annual Conference, beyond the expected participation in the pre-conference meeting and orientation day discussed above, including:
• Attendance at the IACP Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and the IACP Police Research Advancement Section (PRAS) meetings.
• Collaborative brainstorming events between LEADS Scholars, NIJ science staff, IACP, and NPI.
• Opportunities to present and/or lead panels on research and findings at academic and law enforcement conferences and publish in in academic and practitioner-focused magazines and journals.
• Participation in professional development activities hosted by the IACP and NPI.
• Integration into an online community of practice, moderated by NPI, that connects current and alumni Scholars, and serves as a forum for participant information sharing related to policing research.
• Participation in peer review of research applications submitted to NIJ.
• Research project training and technical assistance (e.g., improving data collection and analysis, integrating existing research into policies and practices, designing research projects) from the LEADS online community of practice and supporting organizations (IACP and NPI). 

NIJ covers all U.S. domestic travel, accommodation, and per diem costs for Scholars’ event participation associated with the LEADS program.

LEADS Scholars are encouraged to pursue projects that directly respond to their agency’s priority needs. While this program does not include direct funding to support original research, LEADS Scholars will receive notification of funding resources and programs, including from entities such as the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).

Application Process

When the application period is open, interested applicants must submit the following materials to [email protected]. In the email subject line please put LEADS OFFICER APPLICATION. 

• Current CV
• Letter of support from your supervisor or agency executive on agency letterhead (acknowledging the three-year commitment)
• Personal essay. Applicants should address the following questions in a 4-page (maximum) double-spaced document, using a standard 12-point font, with no less than 1-inch margins:
  1. Why do you want to participate in this program?
  2. How have you advanced the use of data and research at your agency? To the extent possible, briefly describe a specific effort, your role in it, and how the results of that effort were put into practice.
  3. If you become a LEADS Scholar, what unique experiences or capabilities do you bring that could benefit the other members of the LEADS Scholar network of participants and alumni?
  4. How could participation in the LEADS program assist in your efforts to strengthen research and evaluation in your agency or policing more broadly over the next three to five years?  What are your short-, mid-, and long-term plans for doing so?

Direct all questions to [email protected].