OARS funding Criminal Justice

he State Department Bureau of Near East Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) seeks single-country or regional project proposals for its Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) program in the North Africa/Maghreb region; proposals focusing on Tunisia are particularly encouraged. Proposals designed to support Libya cannot be considered at this time. The TSCTP is the U.S. Government's primary vehicle to support the long-term capacities of countries in West and North Africa to address the threat from violent extremist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Da'esh). TSCTP aims to take a comprehensive approach to counterterrorism by undertaking development, civil society and community-related activities to reduce radicalization and recruitment into violent extremism and as related to foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). This solicitation is focused on TSCTP's countering violent extremism efforts. NEA/AC will consider proposals that promote the below countering violent extremism (CVE) objectives in the Maghreb: 1. Building community resilience and providing positive alternatives to communities, particularly youth, vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment by violent extremists to become FTFs and/or local fighters; 2. Strengthening partner government and civil society will and capacity to counter violent extremism including the radicalization and recruitment of FTF at local, sub-regional, and regional levels; 3. Countering violent extremist messaging and narratives, especially messaging targeting FTFs.

he State Department Bureau of Near East Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) seeks single-country or regional project proposals for its Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) program in the North Africa/Maghreb region; proposals focusing on Tunisia are particularly encouraged. Proposals designed to support Libya cannot be considered at this time. The TSCTP is the U.S. Government's primary vehicle to support the long-term capacities of countries in West and North Africa to address the threat from violent extremist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Da'esh). TSCTP aims to take a comprehensive approach to counterterrorism by undertaking development, civil society and community-related activities to reduce radicalization and recruitment into violent extremism and as related to foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). This solicitation is focused on TSCTP's countering violent extremism efforts. NEA/AC will consider proposals that promote the below countering violent extremism (CVE) objectives in the Maghreb: 1. Building community resilience and providing positive alternatives to communities, particularly youth, vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment by violent extremists to become FTFs and/or local fighters; 2. Strengthening partner government and civil society will and capacity to counter violent extremism including the radicalization and recruitment of FTF at local, sub-regional, and regional levels; 3. Countering violent extremist messaging and narratives, especially messaging targeting FTFs.

NIJ is seeking investigator-initiated proposals to conduct research that examines criminal justice tools, protocols, and policies concerning drug trafficking, markets and use, and the effects of drug legalization and decriminalization on law enforcement, applicable to State, tribal and local jurisdictions. Proposals must address one of two criminal justice activities: drug intelligence and community surveillance, or criminal investigation and prosecution. In addition, NIJ has identified three drug research priorities: Marijuana and cannabis products; Heroin and other opioids (including diverted prescription drugs); and Novel psychoactive substances (also known as synthetic drugs).

NIJ is seeking investigator-initiated proposals to conduct research that examines criminal justice tools, protocols, and policies concerning drug trafficking, markets and use, and the effects of drug legalization and decriminalization on law enforcement, applicable to State, tribal and local jurisdictions. Proposals must address one of two criminal justice activities: drug intelligence and community surveillance, or criminal investigation and prosecution. In addition, NIJ has identified three drug research priorities: Marijuana and cannabis products; Heroin and other opioids (including diverted prescription drugs); and Novel psychoactive substances (also known as synthetic drugs).

The purpose of this FY 2016 Smart Suite Training & Technical Assistance Program competitive grant announcement is to select one provider to deliver a wide range of training and technical assistance (TTA) services to researchers and practitioners in BJA's Smart Suite programs. These services will focus on the researcher-practitioner partnerships and be implemented in coordination with BJA and other Smart Suite TTA partners. Services will include, but are not limited to, training sessions; partnering with an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts (researchers and practitioners); developing original web content; developing products to promote continuous learning within the Smart Suite community; collaborating with other Smart Suite TTA partners; and providing remote guidance on problem analysis, solution development, data analysis, evaluation methodology, and producing "real-time" products and resources for strategic decision-making. The services provided should enhance the quality and outcomes of all of the Smart Suite programs.

The purpose of this FY 2016 Smart Suite Training & Technical Assistance Program competitive grant announcement is to select one provider to deliver a wide range of training and technical assistance (TTA) services to researchers and practitioners in BJA's Smart Suite programs. These services will focus on the researcher-practitioner partnerships and be implemented in coordination with BJA and other Smart Suite TTA partners. Services will include, but are not limited to, training sessions; partnering with an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts (researchers and practitioners); developing original web content; developing products to promote continuous learning within the Smart Suite community; collaborating with other Smart Suite TTA partners; and providing remote guidance on problem analysis, solution development, data analysis, evaluation methodology, and producing "real-time" products and resources for strategic decision-making. The services provided should enhance the quality and outcomes of all of the Smart Suite programs.

BJA, in a public/private partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts, launched the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) in 2010 as a multistaged process in which a jurisdiction reduces unnecessary incarceration, increases the cost-effectiveness of its criminal justice system and reinvests savings into high-performing public safety strategies.  JRI jurisdictions reinvest these cost savings into high-performing initiatives that make communities safer. In addition to reducing prison populations, justice reinvestment encourages states to embrace a culture of greater collaboration, data-driven decisionmaking, and increased use of evidence-based practices. While the full impact of justice reinvestment reforms is not yet known, the policies enacted in JRI states hold great promise to reduce prison populations, achieve substantial cost savings, and avert future growth.  However, many of the states found similar factors driving populations and costs for example, parole and probation revocation rates; sentencing policies and practices that favored incarceration of low-risk offenders over alternatives and that resulted in long lengths of stay; insufficient or inefficient community supervision, services, and support; and parole system processing delays and denials. The policy responses to these issues also overlapped, sharing themes of evidence-based practices and data-driven decisionmaking, including risk and needs assessments; accountability measures such as performance and outcome measure reporting; earned credits to encourage compliance with conditions of community supervision; sentencing changes; swift, certain and fair responses to technical probation and parole violations, mandatory post-incarceration supervision requirements; problem-solving courts; streamlined parole processes and expanded parole eligibility; and re-entry programs to reduce recidivism.

BJA, in a public/private partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts, launched the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) in 2010 as a multistaged process in which a jurisdiction reduces unnecessary incarceration, increases the cost-effectiveness of its criminal justice system and reinvests savings into high-performing public safety strategies.  JRI jurisdictions reinvest these cost savings into high-performing initiatives that make communities safer. In addition to reducing prison populations, justice reinvestment encourages states to embrace a culture of greater collaboration, data-driven decisionmaking, and increased use of evidence-based practices. While the full impact of justice reinvestment reforms is not yet known, the policies enacted in JRI states hold great promise to reduce prison populations, achieve substantial cost savings, and avert future growth.  However, many of the states found similar factors driving populations and costs for example, parole and probation revocation rates; sentencing policies and practices that favored incarceration of low-risk offenders over alternatives and that resulted in long lengths of stay; insufficient or inefficient community supervision, services, and support; and parole system processing delays and denials. The policy responses to these issues also overlapped, sharing themes of evidence-based practices and data-driven decisionmaking, including risk and needs assessments; accountability measures such as performance and outcome measure reporting; earned credits to encourage compliance with conditions of community supervision; sentencing changes; swift, certain and fair responses to technical probation and parole violations, mandatory post-incarceration supervision requirements; problem-solving courts; streamlined parole processes and expanded parole eligibility; and re-entry programs to reduce recidivism.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) seeks innovative research proposals to empirically assess pressing issues in institutional corrections. Interested applicants should submit proposals that address any of the three categories below. NIJ anticipates that up to $8 million may become available for awards under this solicitation. 1. Advancing science: Responding to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Report, “The Growth of Incarceration in the United States: Exploring Causes and Consequences.” 2. Understanding the use of restrictive housing. a. An examination of the use of restrictive housing in state and/or federal prisons. b. Assessing the use of restrictive housing in jails. c. Understanding the impact of restrictive housing on the mental health of inmates and staff in prison and how working in restrictive housing varies from working in the general population. d. A review of step down programs available in restrictive housing environments in U.S. prisons and jails. 3. An examination of correctional officer safety and wellness: The impact of fatal and non-fatal work-related injuries on the corrections institution.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) seeks innovative research proposals to empirically assess pressing issues in institutional corrections. Interested applicants should submit proposals that address any of the three categories below. NIJ anticipates that up to $8 million may become available for awards under this solicitation. 1. Advancing science: Responding to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Report, “The Growth of Incarceration in the United States: Exploring Causes and Consequences.” 2. Understanding the use of restrictive housing. a. An examination of the use of restrictive housing in state and/or federal prisons. b. Assessing the use of restrictive housing in jails. c. Understanding the impact of restrictive housing on the mental health of inmates and staff in prison and how working in restrictive housing varies from working in the general population. d. A review of step down programs available in restrictive housing environments in U.S. prisons and jails. 3. An examination of correctional officer safety and wellness: The impact of fatal and non-fatal work-related injuries on the corrections institution.

NIJ seeks proposals to conduct research on policing to improve policing practices and public safety at the State, local, and tribal levels. In 2015, a task force was created by President Barack Obama to examine the current state of policing in the United States. In response to a number of high profile events across the nation involving the police, the panel provided recommendations on promising policing practices that police could adopt as effective crime fighting strategies that would also strengthen trust and confidence in the police among community residents that they serve. The panel identified a number of reforms or Âœpillars that were viewed as vital to improving current police practices. In response to the recommendations and action items proposed by the task force, NIJ is interested in research in the following topical areas: 1. Research and Evaluation of Strategies to Build and Strengthen Police-Community Relationships 2. Research and Evaluation of Police Training 3. Research and Evaluation on Officer Wellness and Safety 4. Research and Evaluation on Police Technology 5. Research on Crime Scene Investigations: Triaging Evidence

NIJ seeks proposals to conduct research on policing to improve policing practices and public safety at the State, local, and tribal levels. In 2015, a task force was created by President Barack Obama to examine the current state of policing in the United States. In response to a number of high profile events across the nation involving the police, the panel provided recommendations on promising policing practices that police could adopt as effective crime fighting strategies that would also strengthen trust and confidence in the police among community residents that they serve. The panel identified a number of reforms or Âœpillars that were viewed as vital to improving current police practices. In response to the recommendations and action items proposed by the task force, NIJ is interested in research in the following topical areas: 1. Research and Evaluation of Strategies to Build and Strengthen Police-Community Relationships 2. Research and Evaluation of Police Training 3. Research and Evaluation on Officer Wellness and Safety 4. Research and Evaluation on Police Technology 5. Research on Crime Scene Investigations: Triaging Evidence

DRL seeks to mitigate tensions between communities and address drivers of marginalization that exacerbate religious tensions and may contribute to conditions that could lead to violent extremism in Tanzania.

DRL seeks to mitigate tensions between communities and address drivers of marginalization that exacerbate religious tensions and may contribute to conditions that could lead to violent extremism in Tanzania.

OJJDP invites proposals to broker, coordinate, and provide relevant training and technical assistance to organizations representing all faith traditions and to community-based institutions that are engaged with or seeking to engage with the three youth violence prevention initiatives: Â"Defending Childhood, National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, and Community-Based Violence Prevention Program- OJJDP is funding in 39 sites nationwide.

OJJDP invites proposals to broker, coordinate, and provide relevant training and technical assistance to organizations representing all faith traditions and to community-based institutions that are engaged with or seeking to engage with the three youth violence prevention initiatives: Â"Defending Childhood, National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, and Community-Based Violence Prevention Program- OJJDP is funding in 39 sites nationwide.

The program is targeted to receive application from organizations to develop and implement new and innovative strategies that better enable local criminal justice systems to prevent and respond to emerging and chronic crime problems that affect many communities in the United States. Proposals will be aimed at addressing a gap in the current base of knowledge about responding to and or preventing crime and be developed or implemented in a way that allows other communities or organizations to learn from and potentially replicate the approach. Applications must be either innovative and or strategic in nature.

The program is targeted to receive application from organizations to develop and implement new and innovative strategies that better enable local criminal justice systems to prevent and respond to emerging and chronic crime problems that affect many communities in the United States. Proposals will be aimed at addressing a gap in the current base of knowledge about responding to and or preventing crime and be developed or implemented in a way that allows other communities or organizations to learn from and potentially replicate the approach. Applications must be either innovative and or strategic in nature.

NIJ is seeking research and evaluation related to bias crime perpetration and victimization. For this solicitation, NIJ is interested in a broad range of research that will address gaps in our ability to identify, assess, and understand the behavior of bias crime offenders or experiences of bias crime victims.

NIJ, in collaboration with other Federal agencies, is interested in funding a cooperative agreement to conduct a rigorous, multi-year demonstration project to prevent abuse, neglect, and/or financial exploitation among community-residing elderly individuals identified to be at risk. Ultimately, the demonstration project will include development and implementation of the intervention, and, pending funding, a rigorous scientific evaluation of its effectiveness. Successful proposals will develop an intervention that: 1) specifies a theory of change; 2) builds upon evidence-based violence prevention interventions in related areas; 3) identifies a rationale and strategy for selecting participants; and 4) is designed to be replicated, scaled up, and independently evaluated if the demonstration project indicates effectiveness in preventing elder abuse. Applicants may develop and test interventions to prevent either a single form or multiple forms of elder mistreatment. Initial funding under this solicitation will cover an 18-month planning phase. Upon successful completion of the planning phase, additional funding may become available to support the implementation of an 18-month pilot study.

Together with University Advancement, the Office for the Advancement of Research & Scholarship (OARS) is rolling out an new crowdfunding platform called HawksNest. Through HawksNest, alumni, family, and friends of the university can directly support the research, scholarship, and service projects of Miami University students, faculty, and staff. This is how HawksNest works: * Any Miami University student, faculty, or staff member may complete an online application to have a project considered for funding. * An internal review team assesses applications and posts approved projects on HawksNest for a maximum of 45 days. * Potential donors visit the site to learn about and pledge funds to approved projects. * Once a funding goal has been met, the project can begin! * Project managers use the site to keep donors up-to-date with information on the project's progress.

The United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) (www.ovw.usdoj.gov) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for the Fiscal Year 2016 Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Assistance Program. This program furthers the Department's mission by supporting projects designed to address and prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in rural jurisdictions.

The purpose of the program is to enhance and/or expand the capacity of substance use disorder treatment providers to serve youth and adults with substance use disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders who have been underserved and/or have special needs (e.g., elderly, ethnic and racial minorities, criminal justice involved individuals, etc.). This is referred to as the "population of focus."

INL Mexico seeks innovative, cutting-edge proposals for the Police Professionalization program from organizations that aim to assist Mexico in implementing reforms consistent with the objectives of Merida Initiative Pillar II.

NIJ is seeking proposals for basic or applied research and development projects that will: (1) increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and practice, or (2) result in the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods that have the potential for forensic application. The intent of this program is to direct the findings of basic scientific research, research and development in broader scientific fields applicable to forensic science, and ongoing forensic science research toward the development of highly discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and rapid methods for the identification, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence for criminal justice purposes.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding of innovative doctoral dissertation research in the social and behavioral sciences that is relevant to providing solutions to better ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure the fair and impartial administration of criminal justice in the United States. This program furthers the Department's mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the State and local levels   Eligible applicants are limited to degree-granting academic institutions in the United States and its territories. To be eligible, the institution must be fully accredited by one of the regional institutional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Under this solicitation, the applicant institution must apply as the sponsoring institution for the doctoral candidate who will be conducting criminal-justice-related research in a discipline relevant to NIJ's mission. An eligible applicant may submit more than one application, as long as each application proposes a different project in response to the solicitation. (Applicants should also review and consider the "Duplicate Applications" note under How to Apply in Section D. Application and Submission Information.) NIJ may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations.

The Graduate Research Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (GRF-STEM) provides awards to accredited academic institutions to support graduate research leading to doctoral degrees in areas that are relevant to ensuring public safety, preventing and controlling crime, and ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal justice in the United States.

In FY 2013 the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released the 2011-2012 findings from the most recent surveys of jail and prison inmates about incidences of sexual victimization.1 Based on this information, 4.0 percent of state and federal prison inmates, and 3.2 percent of jail inmates within the United States, reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another inmate or facility staff in the past 12 months or since admission to the facility.2 In juvenile facilities, the numbers were even more troubling. An estimated 9.5 percent of adjudicated youth in state juvenile facilities and state contract facilities (representing 1,720 youth nationwide) reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another youth or staff in the past 12 months or since admission, if less than 12 months.3 On June 20, 2012, DOJ published the Final Rule creating standards as required by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). The standards apply to adult prisons and jails, juvenile correctional facilities, police lockups, and community residential centers. The standards, which took effect on August 20, 2012, seek to prevent sexual abuse and to reduce the harm that it causes. The standards are grouped into 11 categories: prevention planning, responsive planning, training and education, screening for risk of sexual victimization and abusiveness, reporting, official response following an inmate report, investigations, discipline, medical and mental care, data collection and review, and audits.

NIJ has a longstanding history of collaborating with and supporting the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) on research, evaluation, and programmatic projects. Over the years, the shared priorities of OVC and NIJ have resulted in a number of collective projects, workshops, and research. In collaboration with OVC, NIJ is seeking proposals for research on victims and victimization in the following three areas that are of interest to both agencies. 1. Studying the Victim-Offender Overlap. 2. Understanding the Violent Victimization Experiences of Young Men of Color. 3. Research on the Broader Impacts of School Shootings.