NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technology Implementation and Impact for Law Enforcement Purposes

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, is offering a funding opportunity focused on research and evaluation of emerging technology implementation and its impact on law enforcement operations. NIJ serves as the research, development, and evaluation agency of the DOJ and is committed to advancing justice through science. This opportunity reflects NIJ’s broader mission to support evidence-based practices, strengthen public safety, and ensure that law enforcement agencies can effectively adopt and assess new technologies in real-world settings. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support rigorous research that evaluates how emerging technologies are implemented and how they affect law enforcement outcomes, including operational efficiency, public safety, and agency resource allocation. The program specifically encourages studies examining technologies such as drones used in policing, artificial intelligence for threat detection, and other advanced tools that are increasingly being integrated into law enforcement practices. Applicants are expected to investigate both the effectiveness of these technologies and the processes by which agencies adopt and communicate their use to the public. Funding under this opportunity totals $3,000,000, with individual award amounts determined by the scope and requirements of proposed research projects. The funding can support a wide range of allowable costs necessary to conduct rigorous research, including personnel, data collection, evaluation activities, and dissemination of findings. There is no mandatory cost-sharing requirement, though applicants may propose voluntary contributions. The anticipated period of performance is up to 60 months, allowing for comprehensive, multi-year studies that can produce meaningful and actionable results. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing government entities at the state, county, city, and tribal levels; institutions of higher education (both public and private); nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; and for-profit organizations, including small businesses. Applicants are encouraged to form partnerships between researchers and practitioners to ensure that studies are grounded in real-world law enforcement contexts and produce practical insights that can guide policy and operational decisions. The application process is structured as a two-stage submission. First, applicants must submit a concept paper along with the SF-424 form through Grants.gov. The concept paper outlines the proposed research, methodology, and budget sketch. Based on a merit review of these concept papers, NIJ will invite selected applicants to submit a full proposal through the JustGrants system. Full applications require a detailed proposal narrative, budget justification, supporting documentation, and evidence of research independence and integrity. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including the significance of the research problem, methodological rigor, applicant capabilities, potential impact, and cost effectiveness. The timeline for this opportunity begins with a release date of May 14, 2026, and a deadline for submitting the SF-424 and concept paper by June 15, 2026. Invitations for full applications are expected around mid-July 2026, with final awards anticipated to begin performance on January 1, 2027. Throughout the project period, awardees must produce deliverables such as scholarly publications, data sets, and final research reports, and must comply with NIJ data archiving and reporting requirements. For assistance, applicants can contact the OJP Response Center via email at OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov or by phone at 800-851-3420. Additional technical support is available through Grants.gov and JustGrants help desks. This funding opportunity is part of NIJ’s ongoing efforts to generate high-quality research that informs law enforcement practices and enhances public safety through the effective use of emerging technologies.

Emphasize strong researcher-practitioner partnerships; clearly justify technology use case; propose rigorous evaluation design; align with NIJ priorities and practical law enforcement outcomes