Strengthening the National Institute of Justice (2010) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 11-24
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From page 11... ...
NIJ derives its principal authorities from the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended (see 42 USC § 3721-3723) , and Title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
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From page 12... ...
As the primary source of federal funding in criminal justice research, NIJ has become a central element in the nation's efforts to control crime and improve justice. The committee agrees that a robust and effective NIJ is a critical element in the federal research structure.
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We focused our efforts on understanding what research agendas NIJ has put forth to better understand crime and crime prevention and to develop the necessary tools and technologies; what programs NIJ has developed to cultivate the national criminal justice research infrastructure; and what activities it has undertaken to translate research knowledge to policy and practice. We also examined how NIJ currently functions to set agendas, make awards, monitor awardees, disseminate research, build knowledge, and grow the field of criminal justice research, and how these functions can be improved.
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We strongly argue that NIJ should be first and foremost a research agency, and that assistance activities designed to help individual agencies without generalized benefit to the field are best managed elsewhere. AgENCY ROLE NIJ's mission is to advance scientific research, development, and evaluation to enhance the administration of justice and public safety.1 The agency aims to provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges that crime and justice professionals face, particularly at the state and local levels.
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AgENCY ORgANIzATION NIJ is one of a number of bureaus and offices overseen by OJP, which include the following: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Community Capacity Development Office, Office of Juvenile Justice Figure 1-1 and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex R01756 Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (see Figure 1-1)
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OST manages science and technology research and development, the creation of technical standards, equipment testing, forensic capacity building, and technology assistance to state and local law enforcement and corrections agencies. It also has three divisions: Investigative and Forensic Sciences, Information and Sensor Technologies, and Operational Technologies.
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• he President's DNA Initiative, which ensures that forensic DNA T analysis reaches its full potential to solve crimes, protect the inno cent, and identify missing persons. • he National Law Enforcement Corrections Technology Center T system, which supports the transfer and adoption of technology into practice, assists in developing and disseminating technology guidelines and standards, and provides technology assistance and information to law enforcement and corrections agencies, courts, and crime laboratories.
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Between 1977 and 2006, the research on crime and justice issues has grown more sophisticated yet remains quite limited. There are some very strong empirical studies on policing and on criminal behavior.
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• omputer technology, including large criminal justice database sys C tems, in-car technologies, and computerized fingerprint databases have revolutionized the identification and investigative capacities of law enforcement and security agencies in the United States and abroad. • ther technologies, such as less lethal weapons, biometrics, video O and other surveillance technologies, and digital communications, may be emerging into practice without sufficient research and de velopment to ensure that they work as needed and are safe.
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We were also briefed by leading researchers to gain a better understanding of the current context and nature of social science research in the criminal justice area and of technology development for law enforcement and related purposes. We were also briefed by commissioners, district attorneys, and judges as well as representatives of criminal justice professional associations to gain an appreciation of the effect of NIJ's research and programs on the criminal justice community.
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Because the extant literature and available programmatic information did not provide the committee with a complete understanding of NIJ's current management mechanisms, of the criminal justice community's use of
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The interviews provided perspectives on major changes that occurred throughout NIJ history, its mission, and its impact on the criminal justice community, as well as consideration of its potential in the future. In attending meetings and conducting interviews, the staff was bound by privacy certificate and institutional research board guidelines to protect personal information.
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Chapter 5 examines to what extent NIJ has enhanced research use through its efforts to build research capacities, use research to guide policy and practice, and disseminate research findings to the research and practitioner communities and to what extent these activities have dominated NIJ's research mission. In Chapters 3-5, as NIJ's programs and processes are described, the committee critiques NIJ's practices for monitoring and assessing its own efforts.
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From page 24... ...
Appendix E provides a summary of relevant recommendations from previous NRC reports. This is provided to offer NIJ and others ripe areas of needed research on criminal justice issues that have been previously vetted by experts in the field.
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