NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Corrections

The NIJ Research and Evaluation on Corrections funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice through the Office of Justice Programs and the National Institute of Justice. NIJ serves as the research and evaluation arm of the Department of Justice, advancing knowledge and evidence-based practices across the criminal justice system. This funding opportunity is designed to support rigorous scientific research aligned with the department’s mission to uphold the rule of law, enhance public safety, and strengthen correctional systems through data-driven insights. The purpose of this program is to fund research focused on two specific priority areas: the management and development of the correctional workforce and correctional officer safety. Applicants are expected to propose studies that examine recruitment, retention, workforce motivation, and accountability systems, as well as factors affecting officer safety, resilience, and operational readiness. The program emphasizes actionable, policy-relevant research that can improve correctional practices and outcomes for staff, incarcerated individuals, and supervised populations. Proposals outside these two topic areas will not be considered. Funding under this opportunity totals $3 million, with individual award amounts determined by the scope and needs of proposed research projects. There is no fixed award ceiling; applicants are encouraged to propose budgets appropriate to their project design. The period of performance is expected to be up to 60 months, with an anticipated project start date of January 1, 2027. The funding instrument is a grant, and awards may cover up to 100 percent of project costs. While cost sharing is not required, applicants may include voluntary contributions, which become binding if accepted. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as state and local governments, tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, public housing authorities, and school districts. Partnerships are permitted, but a single entity must serve as the primary applicant and perform the majority of the work. The program encourages collaboration with correctional agencies and emphasizes research independence and integrity, particularly for evaluation projects involving program staff. The application process requires a two-step submission: first, applicants must submit the SF-424 form via Grants.gov, followed by the full application in JustGrants. Required components include a proposal narrative, budget detail form, resumes or CVs, and various supporting documents such as a data management plan and statements on research integrity. The proposal narrative must detail the research problem, methodology, expected impact, and team capabilities. Evaluation criteria include the strength of the research design, relevance to the field, applicant expertise, potential impact, and budget justification. Applications are subject to a competitive peer review process, followed by programmatic and financial review. Key deadlines include submission of the SF-424 by June 2, 2026, and the full application by June 9, 2026. NIJ will assess proposals based on technical merit and alignment with program goals, with final award decisions made by the NIJ Director. Successful applicants will be required to produce scholarly outputs, submit data for archiving, and provide periodic performance and financial reports. For assistance, applicants may contact the OJP Response Center via email at OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov or by phone at 800-851-3420. The funding opportunity is part of NIJ’s ongoing research portfolio and may recur in future fiscal years depending on appropriations and program priorities.

Align proposal strictly to one of the two required research topics; emphasize rigorous methodology and actionable impact; include strong evaluation design and dissemination plan