DOJ Awards $47.4 Million for Research Supporting Public Safety Practices

WASHINGTON — Last month, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs announced it has made 83 awards to institutions, agencies and organizations for research and evaluation projects that identify data-driven programs for reducing crime and promoting justice.

The awards span research topic priorities such as prisoner reentry, terrorism prevention, human trafficking and police officer safety and wellness.

These awards represent substantial Justice Department investments in science and research that foster proven criminal justice practices designed to ensure the safety of families, neighborhoods and communities”, said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The results will greatly expand the body of knowledge that policymakers and practitioners require to promote safety and respond to crime.”

The awards are part of OJP’s National Institute of Justice’s strategic plan to advance technology, strengthen scientific research and translate knowledge to practice. They represent NIJ’s broader effort to include more diversity of disciplines, such as physical, forensic and social sciences, to link areas of research that have not previously been connected.

The research addresses critical challenges such as prisoner reentry, emphasizing innovative strategies to reintegrate offenders into communities and reduce recidivism. The five funded projects in this area focus on juveniles and adults with a moderate to high risk of reoffending and also serve juvenile residential facilities and community corrections.

In support of NIJ’s commitment to building a knowledge base focused on the safety, health and wellness of individuals in criminal justice occupations and those who are under the supervision of the criminal justice system, five awards support research on the effects of shift work, overtime and trauma on public safety officers and improving approaches for officer interaction with the mentally ill.

The research projects include mixed-method approaches from behavioral science, neuroscience and the social science communities and encourage collaboration among law enforcement agencies to gain a fuller understanding of the context within which their officers operate.

Four of these awards through the Tribal-Researcher Capacity Building Program specifically address criminal justice issues in Indian country and Alaska Native villages by promoting engagement between researchers and tribal nations on research and evaluation projects.

Today’s announcement also includes two Graduate Research Fellowship programs that support doctoral students engaged in research that advances NIJ’s mission. The Graduate Research Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and the Graduate Research Fellowship in the Social and Behavioral Sciences provide support for 12 months to researchers on crime, violence and other criminal justice-related topics at accredited universities.

Learn more about NIJ programs.

About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems.