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Advancing Justice Through Science

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Tips for Studying Rare Violent Incidents

Rare violent events, such as mass shootings or acts of terror, are challenging to study. A new NIJ Journal article offers insights and guidance for gathering better data on these incidents so we can identify patterns and trends and ultimately develop functional tools for law enforcement.

Register for NIJ’s National Research Conference

Registration is now open to attend our 2024 National Research Conference, which will take place September 16-18 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and those interested in promoting safety, equity, and justice for all are encouraged to join. Let’s join together to discuss the latest research evidence and how it can be implemented into practice. 

Fact-Based Findings on Medical and Coroner Investigation Systems’ Needs

For the past five years the Medicolegal Death Investigation Working Group has been on a fact-finding mission: pulling together data, identifying gaps and weaknesses in medical examiner and coroner systems, and creating a network of medicolegal people to identify and address problems.

Term of the Month — User-Generated Recordings

User-generated recordings from smartphones, or body-worn and surveillance cameras help investigations by providing firsthand accounts of events. Often key evidence in investigations and legal proceedings, they help corroborate facts and reconstruct timelines. However, because they can be modified, a forensic examiner must establish the validity of these recordings.

Criminal Justice Data Archives

The National Archive of Criminal Justice Data archives data on crime and justice and contains data from over 2,700 curated studies or statistical data series. The website is home to several large-scale datasets, including the National Crime Victimization Survey, FBI's Uniform Crime Reports and National Incident-Based Reporting System, and the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods.

List of Compliant Ballistic Resistant Body Armor
Cali9/iStock (see reuse policy).

List of Compliant Ballistic Resistant Body Armor

NIJ certifies torso-worn ballistic resistant body armor for law enforcement that complies with the requirements our Compliance Testing Program. If you’re in the law enforcement profession, review a newly updated list of all compliant armor, searching by manufacturing company, gender, threat levels, and other factors.

Listen, Learn, Inform - About NIJ

Find funding opportunities

Find funding opportunities

NIJ awards research, development, testing, and evaluation grants.
Read the latest

Read the latest

Review a list of publications and articles from both NIJ and the researchers we fund.
Register for events

Register for events

Check out a list of our upcoming events. If you don't see anything of interest, we also offer a number of recorded, on-demand event and training opportunities.
Browse all topics

Browse all topics

Find articles and other information on a wide variety of criminal justice topics.

CrimeSolutions Program and Practice Ratings

PSYCHOPATHY.COMP (Portugal)

This is an individual compassion-focused, therapy-based intervention adapted from traditional compassionate-focused therapy to reduce psychopathic traits in youth in a correctional setting in Portugal.

Police Body-Worn Cameras (Boston, Massachusetts)

This involves police officers wearing cameras on their uniforms to improve the civility of their interactions with citizens.

Imprisonment for Individuals Who Committed a Drunk Driving Offense (New South Wales, Australia)

This involves prison time for individuals who have committed drunk-driving offenses to reduce their risk of recidivism upon their release.

Person holding a pen at an event.
Motorion/iStock (see reuse policy).

The First Step Act

The First Step Act of 2018 aims to reform the federal prison system and reduce recidivism. NIJ is working to assess and develop an existing risk and needs assessment system for incarcerated individuals, and develop recommendations regarding effective evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and activities.