Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2020 17297
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), part of the U.S. Department of Justice, offered the Research and Evaluation on Policing, Fiscal Year 2020 grant (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2020 17297) to support rigorous, investigator-initiated research focused on real-world policing challenges in the United States. The central emphasis of the opportunity is on randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies, meaning applicants are expected to propose evaluations that use random assignment in order to credibly test whether a policing strategy, program, practice, or intervention actually causes measurable improvements in outcomes. NIJ frames the purpose as building objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and practical tools that can help agencies and communities address policing challenges, with particular relevance for state, local, and tribal contexts. The solicitation also aligns itself with Department of Justice priorities to reduce crime and to protect and support law enforcement.
A key requirement is that proposed projects must directly connect to NIJ's Policing Strategic Research Plan, 2017-2022. Applicants are not only expected to design a strong study; they must explicitly name the strategic priority and the relevant objective or objectives from that plan that their proposal addresses, and they must place that information on the title page of the program narrative. In practice, this means NIJ is looking for studies that are not isolated research ideas but are clearly positioned within a broader federal research agenda for policing, with outcomes that can inform policy and operational decisions.
The award is structured as a discretionary grant under CFDA 16.560, within the funding activity categories of Law, Justice and Legal Services and Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is listed as $3,000,000, and NIJ anticipated making about 4 awards under this solicitation. The opportunity was created on January 23, 2020, with an original application deadline of April 13, 2020.
Eligibility is broad and designed to allow both research institutions and practitioner partners to apply. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as allowed under the additional eligibility guidance referenced in the solicitation. This wide eligibility scope reflects the program's intent to support evaluations that can be embedded in operational policing environments and carried out by researchers with the capacity to implement high-quality RCT designs, often in partnership with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders.
Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as a targeted research investment in high-credibility policing evaluation, prioritizing studies that can produce clear, defensible evidence about what works, under what conditions, and with what trade-offs. By insisting on alignment with the 2017-2022 Policing Strategic Research Plan and by emphasizing randomized controlled trials, NIJ signals that it is seeking studies that move beyond descriptive analysis toward causal conclusions that agencies can use when deciding whether to adopt, scale, modify, or discontinue specific policing approaches.Apply for NIJ 2020 17297
- The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research and Evaluation on Policing, Fiscal Year 2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 23, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 13, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Research and Evaluation on Policing, Fiscal Year 2020 and is offered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Who is offering this grant?
The funder is the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ 2020 17297.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The purpose is to support rigorous, investigator-initiated research focused on real-world policing challenges in the United States. NIJ describes the goal as building objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and practical tools that can help agencies and communities address policing challenges, particularly in state, local, and tribal contexts.
What types of studies does NIJ prioritize in this solicitation?
The central emphasis is on randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies. Applicants are expected to propose evaluations that use random assignment to credibly test whether a policing strategy, program, practice, or intervention causes measurable improvements in outcomes.
Does the solicitation require a randomized controlled trial (RCT)?
The solicitation places a central emphasis on RCTs and indicates applicants are expected to propose evaluations using random assignment. In other words, proposals should be designed around an RCT approach to meet the opportunity's core expectation.
What does NIJ mean by "investigator-initiated" research?
It means the research topics and study designs are proposed by applicants (investigators), rather than being pre-defined as a single required project by NIJ, while still needing to align with NIJ's strategic research agenda for policing.
What kinds of policing activities can be evaluated under this grant?
The opportunity is focused on evaluating a policing strategy, program, practice, or intervention and determining, through random assignment, whether it produces measurable outcome improvements in real-world policing settings.
What is a key alignment requirement for proposals?
Proposed projects must directly connect to NIJ's Policing Strategic Research Plan, 2017-2022.
How must applicants demonstrate alignment with the Policing Strategic Research Plan, 2017-2022?
Applicants must explicitly name the strategic priority and the relevant objective or objectives from the plan that the proposal addresses, and must place that information on the title page of the program narrative.
Why is NIJ requiring alignment with the 2017-2022 strategic research plan?
NIJ is signaling that it wants studies that are not isolated research ideas, but are clearly positioned within a broader federal policing research agenda, producing results that can inform policy and operational decisions.
What kinds of outcomes is NIJ trying to support through this research?
NIJ is seeking evidence that clarifies what works, under what conditions, and with what trade-offs, so agencies can make decisions about whether to adopt, scale, modify, or discontinue policing approaches.
How does the solicitation relate to Department of Justice priorities?
The solicitation aligns with DOJ priorities to reduce crime and to protect and support law enforcement.
What is the assistance type and award structure?
The award is a discretionary grant.
What is the CFDA number for this grant?
The program is listed under CFDA 16.560.
What funding activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity categories include Law, Justice and Legal Services and Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $3,000,000.
How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?
NIJ anticipated making approximately 4 awards under this solicitation.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on January 23, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was April 13, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as specified)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Other entities as allowed under the additional eligibility guidance referenced in the solicitation
Can a university apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Can government agencies apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments and special district governments.
Can tribal governments apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible.
Can nonprofits apply if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as specified in the solicitation.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are included among eligible applicants.
Does this program encourage partnerships between researchers and policing practitioners?
The eligibility scope and the stated intent suggest the program supports evaluations that can be embedded in operational policing environments, often carried out by researchers with the capacity to implement high-quality RCT designs, frequently in partnership with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders.
What makes this opportunity different from descriptive or observational policing research?
NIJ is prioritizing designs that support causal conclusions, especially RCTs, rather than work that only describes patterns or associations. The goal is clear, defensible evidence about whether an intervention causes changes in outcomes.
What geographic scope is the program focused on?
The program is focused on policing challenges in the United States, with particular relevance for state, local, and tribal contexts.
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