NIJ FY 2026 State and Local Collection and Reporting of Crime Data

The National Institute of Justice, operating under the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice, administers this funding opportunity to advance research that supports public safety and the rule of law. NIJ serves as the research, development, and evaluation agency of the Department of Justice and is tasked with generating knowledge and tools to improve criminal justice outcomes. This specific opportunity focuses on improving the quality and reliability of crime data collected and reported by state and local jurisdictions across the United States. The initiative reflects ongoing federal priorities to strengthen data-driven decision making in law enforcement and public policy. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support rigorous research that examines how crime data is collected, classified, and reported, and to identify systemic issues that affect data accuracy and integrity. The program places particular emphasis on inconsistencies in offender demographic data, especially race and ethnicity, which have been shown to suffer from misclassification and reporting errors. Applicants are expected to design studies that assess current practices, identify gaps, and propose scalable solutions that can be broadly adopted across jurisdictions. The ultimate goal is to enhance the reliability of crime statistics used for operational, administrative, and policy purposes. Funding under this opportunity is structured as a single award with an expected total program funding of two million dollars. The award may be issued as either a grant or cooperative agreement, allowing for potential federal involvement in project execution. The performance period may extend up to twenty four months, with a maximum of twelve months dedicated to active research. Awardees are expected to produce both scholarly outputs and practical dissemination products, including best practices guides that translate findings into actionable improvements for practitioners. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing a wide range of entities including state, county, and local governments, tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and for profit entities. However, eligibility is restricted to U.S. based entities, including territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam, while non U.S. entities are explicitly excluded. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, although applicants may provide cofunding if desired. Applicants may submit multiple proposals as long as each represents a distinct project. The application process involves a two step submission mechanism. Applicants must first complete and submit the SF 424 form through Grants.gov, followed by submission of the full application package in JustGrants. Required components include a proposal narrative, budget, and several supporting documents such as biographical sketches, data management plans, and financial disclosures. The proposal narrative must adhere to strict formatting guidelines and address key evaluation criteria including problem statement, project design, team capabilities, and potential impact. Applications are evaluated based on these criteria with weighted scoring to determine funding decisions. The timeline for this opportunity includes a release date in June, with final submission deadlines in late August and early September. Specifically, the Grants.gov submission deadline is August twenty eight, two thousand twenty six, and the JustGrants deadline is September four, two thousand twenty six. Awards are anticipated to be made by October first, two thousand twenty six. During the award period, recipients are required to submit regular performance reports and deliverables, including final research reports and data sets, to ensure transparency and accountability. For assistance, applicants may contact the Office of Justice Programs Response Center via phone or email during standard business hours. Additional support is available through Grants.gov and JustGrants help desks. Overall, this funding opportunity represents a significant federal investment in improving the infrastructure and reliability of crime data systems, with the expectation that resulting insights will strengthen law enforcement practices and public trust.

Align proposal clearly to stated goals and evaluation criteria; emphasize rigorous methodology and actionable outcomes; ensure compliance with formatting and submission requirements