Advancing Science: News from the NIJ Director

Peak solicitation season is swiftly approaching, and we’ve already announced a couple of new calls for proposals: Research on Law Enforcement Responses to Opioid Overdoses and establishing a Domestic Radicalization and Violent Extremism Research Center of Excellence. We plan to release the majority of our solicitations in Q1 of 2024 – much earlier than in recent years. But you don’t have to wait until they hit the street to start developing proposals, lining up partnerships, and hammering out data-sharing agreements. Check out our anticipated FY24 funding categories and subscribe to be notified as soon as they’re released. OPEN SOLICITATIONS

I’m excited to announce that NIJ has updated its standards for body armor, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, and released the new Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats. These are the first updates to our body armor standards since 2008 and include improved test methods for armor designed for women, more rigorous testing for soft armor panels, and revised testing of hard-armor plates. It’s important to note that these updates will transition over time, so officers should keep wearing their current NIJ-certified armor under the previous standard. Certifications under the new standards will begin in late 2024 and continue through early 2025. We’ll be maintaining the current list of compliant products already certified under the previous standard through the end of 2027. BODY ARMOR UPDATES

Earlier this month, I visited the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to announce two forensic research grants awarded to the university’s Forensic Anthropology Center, totaling over $580K. These projects will be critical for advancing forensic research dedicated to missing persons and solving cold cases to bring justice to victims and their families. This announcement is part of NIJ’s greater $17.9M investment in supporting forensic research and development through competitive grant funding. EVENT RECAP

This year, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright ruling that solidified a person’s right to legal counsel. This case was pivotal in addressing systematic inequity in justice, but what does the legal representation landscape look like today? We collaborated with the DOJ’s Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) to sponsor a study examining the state of public defense across the nation in our new “Gideon at 60” report. I also penned an op-ed with ATJ Director Rachel Rossi that offers a little more perspective on this study. We have more work to do to address gaps in access and quality to justice. ACCESS REPORT

We just released a fascinating new Justice Today podcast episode, “A Data-Informed Response to Emerging Drugs,” where experts discuss the science behind studying emerging drug trends, including the cross-disciplinary efforts it takes to address the challenging opioid crisis. This episode was recorded at our 2023 National Research Conference, with NIJ’s Dr. Frances Scott leading a conversation with experts Ciena Bayard from the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and Haley Greene from the Virginia Department of Health. TUNE IN

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