Forthcoming Solicitations

Most of NIJ's solicitations are released January through May (pending appropriations from Congress).

To be fair and open in the competition, we do not discuss them until they are published. But we do publish a list of forthcoming topics of interest.

Get an an e-mail alert when a solicitation is released.

When the solicitation is released, it will contain the name and contact information for the person who is managing the solicitation.

Below you will find titles and descriptions of the solicitations NIJ intends to release in fiscal year 2010. Select "View all titles" below each Office or select the Office title to jump right to the full descriptions.

Office of Research and Evaluation

Program Name Data Resources Program 2010: Funding for the Analysis of Existing Data
Web Link http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/funding/data-resources-program/welcome.htm
Program Description
The Data Resources Program was primarily established to ensure the preservation and availability of research and evaluation data collected through NIJ-funded projects. The primary purpose of the program is to support transparency and new research through the reproduction, replication and extension on existing data. Through the DRP, NIJ supports the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) where all data from NIJ sponsored research is stored making data available online, which includes full documentation on the project. To date, there are more than 850 studies archived at NACJD. Funding for this research under the DRP is available on a yearly basis for which there can be up to six awards.

For FY 2010, NIJ is particularly interested in sentencing and other federal criminal case analysis.

Together with the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program, NIJ's Data Resources Program supports the NACJD, which houses all data from NIJ-sponsored research, and makes available online for downloading machine-readable copies (in SPSS, SAS, State or ASCII), together with data dictionaries and study abstracts. Geographic data also available in ESRI and Map Info formats. The archive is maintained by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan and are housed at the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data.

Program Name Evaluation of the Bureau of Justice Assistance Second Chance Act Adult Demonstration Projects
Program Description
NIJ seeks applications for a comprehensive outcome and impact evaluation of the selected adult demonstration projects funded under the Second Chance Act of 2007. The Second Chance Act of 2007 was signed into law on April 9, 2008, with the goal of increasing reentry programming for offenders returning to their families and respective communities. This solicitation seeks to award a cooperative agreement in order to measure the processes, outcomes, costs, and impacts of the programs that received funding under the Second Chance Act and to assess the effectiveness of the Second Chance Act in reducing recidivism among released prisoners.

Program Name Evaluation of Programs to Reduce Gang Membership, Crime, and Violence
Program Description
NIJ's portfolio of gang research seeks to understand the interconnectedness of gang membership, firearms violence, drug sales and criminal behavior and how best to control and prevent gang-related crime. Communities that have reduced gang-related crime have done so by following certain principles and applying them to their unique problems, needs and circumstances. NIJ has sponsored evaluations of several anti-violence and anti-gang programs, ranging from Chicago CeaseFire to Project Safe Neighborhoods. These programs were modeled after, and informed by, the strengths and weaknesses of previous efforts such as Boston CeaseFire and its offshoots (Project Exile and the Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative). NIJ will issue a solicitation for further research about gangs.

Program Name NIJ's Visiting Fellowship Program
Program Description
NIJ's Visiting Fellowship program supports research and development on high priority topics that enhance the capabilities of criminal justice systems to combat crime, violence and substance abuse. The overarching goal of the Visiting Fellowship program is to enhance NIJ's efforts to facilitate the development or enhancement of new and innovative programs. A secondary goal is to foster the professional development of researchers by providing them an opportunity to work closely with career and political federal staff, contractors, grantees and a myriad of public and private organizations in Washington, D.C. The Visiting Fellowship program offers criminal justice researchers an opportunity to work full time on research addressing criminal justice issues relevant to NIJ and public policy. Through the program, fellows will investigate new approaches for resolving operational problems and become involved in NIJ's criminal justice research programs.

Program Name Research and Evaluation on Children Exposed to Family Violence
Web Link N/A
Program Description
NIJ requests applicants to submit multidisciplinary research and evaluation proposals addressing interventions, justice system responses, and child development, coping, and resilience related to childhood exposure to family violence; and the impact of domestic violence on child custody decisions. Children Exposed to Family Violence encompasses a broad area that includes both children as victims of various forms of violence and as bystanders or observers of various forms of violence in the home. This solicitation is limited to violence that occurs in the home and excludes violence within the school, community, or popular culture, such as television, movies, music and video games.

Program Name Research and Evaluation on Human Trafficking
Web Link http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/human-trafficking/welcome.htm
Program Description
NIJ will seek funding applications for research and evaluation projects to address the knowledge gaps related to trafficking in persons in the United States. NIJ is particularly interested in evaluations of programs that operate demand reduction interventions for sex trafficking and commercial sex acts. NIJ is also interested in research that describes and estimates the unlawful commercial sex economy in the country. All applications should be for research with direct, immediate and obvious implications for policy and practice in the United States.

Program Name Research and Evaluation on Sexual Violence, Stalking and Teen Dating Violence
Web Links http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/rape-sexual-violence/welcome.htm; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/stalking/welcome.htm
Program Description
NIJ will fund research projects to increase women's safety and improve the justice system and related responses to sexual violence, stalking and teen dating violence. Desired research topics include the criminal justice system's response to sexual violence and stalking; the extent of the problem of teen dating violence and characteristics of abusive teen relationships; and the evaluation of teen dating violence programs, policies and legislation. Applications addressing other areas of research on violence against women, such as intimate partner violence, will be accepted.

Program Name Research and Evaluation on the Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Elderly Individuals and Residents of Residential Care Facilities
Web Link http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/elder-abuse/welcome.htm
Program Description
NIJ will issue a solicitation for research and evaluation in the areas of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals over the age of 60, including individuals who reside either in the community or in residential care facilities. The term "abuse" includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, abandonment and isolation, neglect, and financial or fiduciary abuse. The term "residential care facility" includes nursing homes; assisted living facilities; adult family care homes; adult care facilities for people with developmental, cognitive, or physical disabilities; and other residential facilities that provide services to older persons who have disabilities, or have long-term chronic care needs.

Program Name Research on Eyewitness Identification Policies and Procedures
Web Link http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/law-enforcement/eyewitness-identification/welcome.htm
Program Description
NIJ will seek proposals to conduct research on eyewitness identification practices and to improve law enforcement policies and operations at the state and local levels. Eyewitness evidence plays a critical role in the criminal investigation process. However, its use in identifying criminals or exonerating the innocent is far from perfect. Eyewitness procedures may result in errors, such as the identification of the wrong person or the failure to identify the perpetrator. As state and local law enforcement agencies adopt policies and procedures governing eyewitness identification methods, important questions have emerged regarding their effectiveness in reducing error rates.

Program Name Research on Foreclosures and Crime
Program Description
NIJ expects to fund research proposals to understand the many possible relationships between the dramatic shift in the patterns of foreclosure and the resulting impact on crime. NIJ is interested in research that examines specific stages of a three-stage continuum (mortgage fraud, domestic violence and neighborhood decline) or examines the multiple possible relationships within the three-stage continuum of mortgage fraud, intimate partner violence and neighborhood deterioration from vacated houses.

Program Name Research on Policing
Web Link http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/law-enforcement/welcome.htm
Program Description
NIJ will seek proposals to conduct research on policing and to improve law enforcement policies and operations at the state and local levels. Effective law enforcement and crime prevention are of critical importance to ensuring the safety of communities throughout the country. Given the limited resources of most police departments and other local agencies and groups, it is especially important to determine the effectiveness of police department policies and public safety interventions.

Program Name Research on Sentencing and Community-Based Alternatives to Incarceration
Program Description
NIJ will seek applications for funding to research sentencing and community corrections policies and practices that promote effective and cost-efficient, community-based alternatives to jail and prison without jeopardizing public safety. Priority research questions include what policies and practices promote effective and cost-efficient alternatives to incarceration for alcohol and other drug-involved offenders, including those with mental health (i.e., comorbid) issues, and what technological applications and protocols for assessment or monitoring support effective and cost-efficient alternatives to incarceration? The target population must include adult offenders in federal, state or local jurisdictions who are convicted on criminal charges and may be sentenced to jail or prison.

Program Name Social Science Research in Forensic Science
Program Description
Forensic science, particularly in the area of DNA, has experienced numerous advances over the past decade. Improvements in science and technology have increased capabilities to use DNA in terms of the amount of evidence needed to obtain DNA, the speed of DNA processing and the range of crimes DNA can help solve. NIJ will fund research that examines the impact of these forensic advances on the criminal justice system. This solicitation will also examine the impact of changes in policies to adapt to the more widespread use of DNA.

Program Name W.E.B. Du Bois Fellowship 2010
Program Description
The DuBois Fellowship complements NIJ's other fellowship programs and provides talented researchers with an opportunity early in their professional careers to elevate independently generated research and ideas to the level of national discussion. DuBois fellows will contribute to NIJ's national criminal justice research program by studying topics of mutual interest to the fellow and NIJ. Researchers from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. Due to the nature of this fellowship, NIJ strongly encourages applicants with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Fellowship grants are typically 12 months in duration. Fellows may propose to serve a period of the fellowship in residence at NIJ.

Office of Science and Technology

Program Name Criminal Justice Electronic Crime Technology Center of Excellence
Web Links http://www.justnet.org Exit Notice; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/technology/electronic-crime/welcome.htm
Program Description
NIJ will issue a solicitation for the operation of the Electronic Crime Technology Center of Excellence, a component of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center System. The center conducts testing, evaluation, technology assistance programs and other services with regard to tools and technologies intended for use by law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies to combat electronic crime.

Program Name Criminal Justice Training Through The Use of Virtual Environments
Program Description
NIJ will provide funding to research, develop and demonstrate operations research models and methods that enable law enforcement and corrections agencies to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of their operations and to improve the judicial process. Proposed models and methods must identify and account for legal, cultural and social factors that may affect the adoption and use of new technologies, practices and procedures by criminal justice agencies. For example, a contractual agreement between organized labor and management may limit scheduling options for shift changes.

Program Name Developing and Evaluating Location-based Information Systems for Offender Supervision
Web Links http://www.justnet.org Exit Notice; www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/corrections/technologies/welcome.htm
Program Description
NIJ will fund research, development and evaluation leading to the adoption of new location-based management systems to improve the effective management of offenders under supervision in the community.

Program Name Electronic Crime and Digital Evidence Recovery
Program Description
NIJ will seek applications to fund research and development of improved technologies for the investigation of electronic crime and recovery of digital evidence.

Program Name Information and Geospatial Technologies Center of Excellence
Web Links http://www.justnet.org Exit Notice; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/technology/assistance.htm
Program Description
NIJ will issue a solicitation for the operation of a Criminal Justice Information and Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence. The center, which will be a component of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center System, will conduct testing, evaluation, technology assistance programs, and other services related to criminal justice information and geospatial and technologies.

Program Name Information Technologies: Improved Delivery of Information to the Officer at the Scene
Program Description
NIJ will seek applications to fund research and development of improved technologies to provide information to the practitioner at the scene.

Program Name NIJ's Visiting Fellowship Program
Program Description
NIJ's Visiting Fellowship program supports research and development on high priority topics that enhance the capabilities of criminal justice systems to combat crime, violence and substance abuse. The overarching goal of the Visiting Fellowship program is to enhance NIJ's efforts to facilitate the development or enhancement of new and innovative programs. A secondary goal is to foster the professional development of researchers by providing them an opportunity to work closely with career and political federal staff, contractors, grantees and a myriad of public and private organizations in Washington, D.C. The Visiting Fellowship program offers criminal justice researchers an opportunity to work full time on research addressing criminal justice issues relevant to NIJ and public policy. Through the program, fellows will investigate new approaches for resolving operational problems and become involved in NIJ's criminal justice research programs.

Program Name National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center System: National Center
Web Link http://www.justnet.org Exit Notice; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/technology/assistance.htm
Program Description
NIJ will issue a solicitation for the operation of the National Center of the NLECTC System, which serves as the system's information clearinghouse and administers NIJ's Compliance Testing Program. The National Center provides a variety of support to NIJ's science and technology activities.

Program Name Sensor and Surveillance Technologies for Criminal Justice Applications
Program Description
NIJ will fund research, development, testing and evaluation initiatives that address the sensor and surveillance technology needs of state and local law enforcement and other collaborating agencies. Additionally, NIJ will support — for uses with the law enforcement environment — application of new technologies not developed specifically for law enforcement and corrections application.

Program Name Sensor, Surveillance, and Biometric Technologies Center of Excellence
Web Links http://www.justnet.org Exit Notice; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/technology/assistance.htm
Program Description
NIJ will issue a solicitation for the operation of a Criminal Justice Sensors and Biometrics Technology Center of Excellence. The center, which will be a component of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center System, will conduct testing, evaluation, technology assistance programs and other services related to sensors and biometrics technologies applied to criminal justice application.

Program Name Weapons and Protective Systems Technology Center of Excellence
Web Links http://www.justnet.org Exit Notice; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/technology/assistance.htm
Program Description
NIJ will issue a solicitation for the operation of the Criminal Justice Weapons and Protective Systems Technology Center of Excellence, a component of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center System. The center conducts testing, evaluation, technology assistance programs and other services with regard to weapons and protective tools and technologies intended for use by law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies. Its focus will be less lethal technologies, pursuit management, personal protective equipment and explosives technologies.

Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences

Program Name FY 2010 Convicted Offender and/or Arrestee DNA Backlog Reduction Program
Web Link http://www.dna.gov/funding/convicted
Program Description
This program is designed to accelerate the analysis of convicted offender and arrestee DNA samples collected by states. The goal is to provide timely data for the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) for all 13 CODIS core STR loci. NIJ will issue a solicitation for applications from laboratories that want to reduce their backlog through in-house analysis or by sending samples to accredited fee-for-service laboratories for analysis. Eligible applicants are state or local government laboratories that have the statutory authority to collect and process DNA profiles from convicted offenders and arrestees.

Program Name FY 2010 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program
Web Link http://www.dna.gov/funding/backlog-reduction
Program Description
This program helps eligible states and local governments reduce forensic DNA sample turnaround time, increase the throughput of public DNA laboratories and reduce DNA forensic casework backlogs. These improvements are critical to preventing future DNA backlogs and helping the criminal justice system use the full potential of DNA technology.

NIJ will provide funding for states and local governments to increase the capacity of their existing crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis to analyze DNA samples more efficiently and cost effectively. Eligible applicants may also request funds to handle, screen and analyze backlogged forensic DNA casework samples.

Program Name Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement Program
Web Link http://www.dna.gov/funding/laboratory-efficiency
Program Description
Enhanced DNA laboratory capacity is critical for public crime laboratories to meet the increasing demand from the criminal justice community for DNA testing services. More law enforcement officers are realizing the importance of collecting, preserving and submitting forensic evidence from crime scenes (both violent and nonviolent). The result has been sharp increases in submissions of DNA evidence to the public crime laboratories. NIJ will issue a solicitation that seeks proposals from states and local governments for projects to improve the efficiency and capacity of public forensic DNA laboratories through the development and adoption of an improved laboratory process.

Program Name Forensic Science Training Development and Delivery Program
Web Link http://www.dna.gov/training
Program Description
The forensic science community has a critical need for trained forensic scientists in public crime laboratories. Additionally, there is a need to inform other criminal justice practitioners and policy makers on developments in forensic science. NIJ will provide funding for training providers and other relevant entities to develop and deliver knowledge-based forensic science curricula at the state and local levels. The objective is to train forensic scientists and to inform other criminal justice practitioners and policy makers. NIJ encourages applicants to propose enhancements or modifications to existing training programs for computer-based or Web-based delivery. Dissemination of the product and sustainability of the effort is a priority.

Program Name Forensic Technology Center of Excellence
Web Link http://www.justnet.org Exit Notice
Program Description
NIJ will issue a solicitation for the operation of the Forensics Technology Center of Excellence. This Center conducts testing, evaluation, technology assistance programs and other services related to forensic tools and technologies intended for use by law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies.

Program Name Fundamental Research to Improve Understanding of the Accuracy, Reliability, and Measurement Validity of Forensic Science Disciplines
Web Link http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/forensics/welcome.htm
Program Description
This NIJ solicitation extends prior NIJ work to improve the understanding of the accuracy, reliability and measurement validity of forensic science disciplines. NIJ is interested in research that focuses on expanding the scientific basis of forensic methods, as well as the development of quantifiable measures of the reliability and accuracy of forensic analyses. In the past, NIJ has encouraged applicants to propose new approaches to these problems, including quantization of methods that are currently qualitative in nature.

NIJ is also interested in developing an understanding of human factors that may affect forensic analyses. Similar to professionals in other fields, forensic scientists may be subject to human observer bias, whether it is related to contextual bias, perceptual errors or other factors.

Program Name NIJ's Visiting Fellowship Program
Program Description
NIJ's Visiting Fellowship program supports research and development on high priority topics that enhance the capabilities of criminal justice systems to combat crime, violence and substance abuse. The overarching goal of the Visiting Fellowship program is to enhance NIJ's efforts to facilitate the development or enhancement of new and innovative programs. A secondary goal is to foster the professional development of researchers by providing them an opportunity to work closely with career and political federal staff, contractors, grantees and a myriad of public and private organizations in Washington, D.C. The Visiting Fellowship program offers criminal justice researchers an opportunity to work full time on research addressing criminal justice issues relevant to NIJ and public policy. Through the program, fellows will investigate new approaches for resolving operational problems and become involved in NIJ's criminal justice research programs.

Program Name Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program
Web Link http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/forensics/nfsia
Program Description
This program awards grants to states and units of local government to 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, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. States may apply for both "base" (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds only.

Program Name Postconviction DNA Testing Assistance Program
Web Link http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/forensics/dna/postconviction/symposium/welcome.htm
Program Description
NIJ will provide funding to states to help defray the costs of post-conviction DNA testing. Specifically, funding may be used to review postconviction cases of forcible rape, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, and to locate and analyze biological evidence samples associated with these cases.

All DNA analyses conducted using funding from this program must be performed by a government-owned or fee-for-service laboratory that is accredited and currently undergoes external audits not less than once every two years. The audits must demonstrate compliance with the applicable DNA Quality Assurance Standards established by the director of the FBI.

Each DNA analysis conducted under this program must be maintained pursuant to any applicable federal privacy requirements.

Program Name Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Training Development and Delivery Program
Web Link http://www.sane-sart.com/index.php?topic=topicConferences Exit Notice
Program Description
SANE programs offer multidisciplinary, victim-centered, critical health care to victims of sexual assault. SANE services help preserve the victim's dignity, enhance medical evidence collection for better prosecution and promote community involvement with crime victims and their families. In a recent study, researchers found a statistically significant increase in cases accepted for prosecution, cases in which the suspect plead guilty and several other measures of case progression in the criminal justice system. NIJ will issue a solicitation for proposals to develop curricula and deliver training for SANE programs.

Program Name Using DNA Technology to Identify the Missing
Web Links http://www.namus.gov, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/journals/256/missing-persons.html
Program Description
The goal of the Using DNA Technology to Identify the Missing solicitation is twofold: (1) to 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 and (2) to enter the resulting DNA profiles into the FBI's National DNA Index System using the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) version 6.0.