National Institute of Justice

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Mission

The National Institute of Justice — the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice — is dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science. NIJ provides objective and independent knowledge and tools to reduce crime and promote justice, particularly at the state and local levels.

NIJ's pursuit of this mission is guided by the following principles:

-Research can make a difference in individual lives, in the safety of communities and in creating a more effective and fair justice system

-Government-funded research must adhere to processes of fair and open competition guided by rigorous peer review

-NIJ's research agenda must respond to the real world needs of victims, communities and criminal justice professionals

NIJ must encourage and support innovative and rigorous research methods that can provide answers to basic research questions as well as practical, applied solutions to crime.

Partnerships with other agencies and organizations, public and private, are essential to NIJ's success.

Strategic Goals

The National Institute of Justice is committed to being a transformative force in the criminal justice field by meeting five strategic challenges:

-Fostering science-based criminal justice practice — supporting rigorous scientific research to ensure the safety of families, neighborhoods and communities. Learn how NIJ tests and evaluates programs, practices and equipment

-Translating knowledge to practice — disseminating rigorous scientific research to criminal justice professionals to advance what works best in preventing and reducing crime. Learn about how NIJ moves research from knowledge to practice.

-Advancing technology - building a more effective, fair and efficient criminal justice system through technology. Learn about NIJ's research, development, testing and evaluation process.

-Working across disciplines - connecting the physical, forensic and social sciences to reduce crime and promote justice.

-Adopting a global perspective - understanding crime in its social context within the United States and globally. Visit NIJ's International Center.