Forthcoming Funding Opportunities

Building and Enhancing Criminal Justice Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships

NIJ is interested in funding multiple research projects involving criminal justice researcher-practitioner partnerships, as well as capturing, in detail, relevant accounts of these collaborations. This solicitation specifically aims to support research and evaluation activities that include a researcher-practitioner partnership component. Within the context of the proposed research or evaluation project, these partnerships can be new or ongoing. Results from these projects should lead to better criminal justice policy, practice, and research, specifically as it relates to the participating practitioner partner.

Data Resources Program 2012: Funding for Analysis of Existing Data

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) have entered into a partnership with this Data Resources Program (DRP) solicitation to request applications for original research using existing data available from the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) and other public sources.

Desistance from Crime Over the Life Course

NIJ seeks proposals to conduct research that enhances our knowledge of the process of desistance. NIJ encourages applicants to submit proposals for bold, innovative approaches to enhancing our understanding of the processes underlying desistance from crime.

DNA Backlog Reduction Program, FY 2012

The goal of NIJ's FY 2012 DNA Backlog Reduction Program is to assist eligible States and units of local government to process, record, screen, and analyze forensic DNA and/or DNA database samples, and to increase the capacity of public forensic DNA and DNA database laboratories to process more DNA samples, thereby helping to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis.

Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program

NIJ seeks proposals for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program which awards grants to States and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel.

Postconviction DNA Testing Assistance Program

NIJ seeks proposals from States wishing to receive funding to help defray the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing in cases that involve violent felony offenses (as defined by State law) in which actual innocence might be demonstrated.

Replication Research on Sexual Violence Case Attrition

NIJ is interested in funding one research grant to replicate the study “Police Decision Making in Sexual Assault Cases: An Analysis of Crimes Reported to the Los Angeles Police Department, 2006-2008” (NIJ Grant # 2009-WG-BX-0009) in six sites. Sites should cover urban, suburban, and rural areas. Proposals should, to the extent possible, replicate the mixed methods design and analytic approach as found in the final technical report and data documentation files of the aforementioned study.

Research and Evaluation on Children Exposed to Violence

NIJ is seeking multidisciplinary research and evaluation proposals related to childhood exposure to violence. In particular, NIJ seeks applications that address resilience, poly-victimization, internet harassment/electronic aggression, or justice system responses to children identified as exposed to violence. For the purposes of this solicitation, “Children Exposed to Violence (CEV)” encompasses a broad area that includes children as both direct victims and as bystanders or observers of various forms of violence in the home, school, or community, including (but not limited to) peer victimization/bullying/harassment, child maltreatment, domestic violence, and community violence.

Research on Illegal Prescription Drug Market Interventions

Up to $2 million may become available for multiple research grants on illegal prescription drug markets to examine the utility of policies, practices, and resources available to law enforcement for major crime deterrence, prosecution, and other market intervention measures. This solicitation has two objectives: policy analysis of criminal diversion of prescription medication laws; and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) optimization for law enforcement. Are Federal and State criminal diversion of prescription medication laws that establish definitions and punishments intended to target “rogue pain clinics,” illegal Internet pharmacies, drug theft, illicit prescribing by physicians, and doctor shopping effective? And, of what utility are PDMP information to law enforcement, including prosecutors and task forces, and how States can optimize the quality and flow of this sensitive information?

Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons

NIJ seeks applications for research and evaluation studies on trafficking in persons (TIP) that can help Federal, State, local, or tribal criminal justice agencies meet the challenge of TIP in their jurisdictions. NIJ is interested in studies that address: the under-reporting of trafficking cases at the Federal, state and local levels of criminal justice; and the knowledge gaps related to trafficking in persons in the United States. NIJ is also interested in evaluation studies of counter-trafficking programs and tools.

Research on Domestic Radicalization

NIJ seeks proposals for research on the phenomenon of domestic radicalization to violence. The focus of this solicitation is on all forms of domestic radicalization that lead to violent extremism. Specific focus areas under this solicitation include: empirical evaluation of theories of domestic radicalization; examination of radicalization processes for individuals; comparative analysis of violent extremists, organized criminals, gangs, hate groups and/or cults; and influence of community and other policing strategies on domestic radicalization to violence.

Research on the Link Between Victimization and Offending

NIJ is interested in funding research that will enhance our knowledge and understanding of the relationship between victimization and offending, with an emphasis on criminal incidents or events. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that have bold, innovative approaches linking criminal offending and victimization. The results of this research should add to the understanding of the victim/offender overlap and offer ways to improve criminal justice and prevention policies and practices.

Social Science Research on Indigent Defense

While there has been some examination of the crisis in indigent defense services, social science research examining the fundamental issues of access to quality legal representation have been lacking. Based on a long history of research and collaborative projects with OJP agencies, NIJ has determined that rigorous research can play an integral role in indigent defense service policy and practice development. In short, it is important to: understand the barriers that indigent criminal defendants face in securing legal representation and resources; identify and assess a means to address these barriers; and disseminate research-based recommendations that are easily accessible to practitioners and other stakeholders across the nation. As such, NIJ plans to solicit studies that focus following areas: waiver of counsel and other barriers to access to counsel or the importance of other defense team members in indigent defense cases. Applications addressing other areas of research related to indigent defense also may be considered.

Solving Cold Cases with DNA

NIJ will provide funding for states and units of local government to identify, review, and investigate violent crime cold cases that have the potential to be solved using DNA analysis, and to locate and analyze biological evidence associated with these cases. Experience has shown that cold case programs can solve a substantial number of violent crime cold cases, including homicides and sexual assaults. Advances in DNA technologies have substantially increased the successful DNA analysis of aged, degraded, limited, or otherwise compromised biological evidence. As a result, crime scene samples once thought to be unsuitable for testing may now yield DNA profiles. Additionally, samples that previously generated inconclusive DNA results may now be successfully analyzed using newer methods.

Testing Geospatial Police Strategies and Exploring Their Relationship to Criminological Theories

NIJ is seeking applications for research related to links among criminological theories and geospatial police strategies. In particular, NIJ is seeking proposals that test current geospatial police strategies implemented at the micro-place and micro-time levels.

Using DNA Technology to Identify the Missing

NIJ seeks to provide funding to : (1) assist eligible entities in performing DNA analysis on unidentified human remains and/or reference samples to support the efforts of States and units of local government to identify missing persons; (2) enter the resulting DNA profiles into the FBI’s National DNA Index System using the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) version 7.0; and (3) enter any relevant case information related to unidentified remains into NamUs, as deemed appropriate by the submitting agency(if a case is not entered a justification will be required).