Supporting research and evaluation and disseminating those findings is central to OJP's mission. Most of our major programs have built-in evaluations to help us determine what works and ways we can build on our successes. Our diverse research programs have helped in the development of critical law enforcement equipment, such as bullet-resistant vests, provided insight into arrestee drug abuse patterns in major U.S. cities, and produced a wealth of statistical information to enhance our understanding of crime victimization, trends in law enforcement, and prisoner populations. OJP also sponsors research on juvenile justice issues, including research on the causes and correlates of delinquency and compilation of statistics on juvenile crime and courts.

Funding Opportunities

• Limited discretionary funding for research and evaluation activities is available through the National Institute of Justice. NIJ offers two types of solicitations for its research and evaluation programs: open solicitations and directed solicitations. Twice a year NIJ reviews research proposals for investigator-initiated projects. To be placed on the mailing list to receive solicitations when they are available, call the DOJ Response Center at 1-800/421-6770. Information on funding for research programs is also available by calling NIJ at 202/307-2942.
• OJJDP provides funding for evaluation of an array of juvenile justice initiatives and demonstration programs, statistical activities related to juvenile crime and courts, and research into issues surrounding delinquency prevention, intervention, and treatment. For more information, call the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse

at 1-800/638-8736.

• Another potential funding source for innovative program ideas is BJA's Open Solicitation. While not directly a research program, the open solicitation provides funding for promising programs in topics that have not been fully explored in the past. In the solicitation, BJA identifies priority areas, as well as an opportunity for applicants to propose projects in areas they choose. Projects that show promising results may provide guidance for future OJP funding and evaluation programs. For an application for the Open Solicitation, contact the Department of Justice Response Center at 1-800/421-6770.

Additional Information

A critical part of OJP's research mission is to share information on programs, strategies, and products that we've tested and found to be effective---or in some cases, ineffective--in reducing crime and improving the justice process. OJP's reports and technical assistance can help local agencies make sound choices in allocating limited resources. Among the information sources supported by OJP and its bureaus are the following:

• Through its National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center in Rockville, Maryland, NIJ supports JUSTNET, a "one-stop" on-line resource for law enforcement and corrections technology information. JUSTNET users have access to interactive bulletin boards on a variety of topics, a comprehensive database of law enforcement products and technologies, and NLECTC publications. The Web Address is www.nlectc.org.
• NLECTC also provides telephone assistance to callers in obtaining detailed equipment standards, test reports, user guides, and bulletins on topics such as body armor, patrol vehicles, handcuffs, pepper spray, and DNA profiling. Professional staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. The toll-free telephone number is 1-800/248-2742.
• Partnerships Against Violence Network (PAVNET) Online is a searchable "virtual library" of information about promising programs, funding sources, and technical information sources related to violence-prevention and youth-at-risk, supported by a partnership of seven different federal agencies, including the Justice Department. The Web address is www.pavnet.org.

For More Information

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) supports the information dissemination efforts of all of OJP's bureaus and program offices, as well as the Office of National Drug Control Policy. NCJRS maintains a comprehensive database of criminal justice-related publications, reports and abstracts. NCJRS can be reached by telephone at 1-800/851-3420 or on the World Wide Web at www.ncjrs.org.

For more information, call OJP's Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 202/307-0703 or the Department of Justice Response Center at 1-800/421-6770.

Back to Table of Contents