NIJ Funding Opportunities

“This NOFO seeks to fund applications for rigorous research and evaluation projects targeted toward developing a better understanding of the abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults.

NIJ seeks proposals in five topical areas:

  • Evaluation of programs that seek to prevent, intervene in, or respond to the abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults.
  • Research on financial fraud against older adults, including knowledge building around scam prevention messaging.
  • Research on formal and informal caregivers who abuse (either financially, physically, sexually, and/or emotionally) or neglect older adults, to inform intervention and prevention program development.
  • Forensic research involving the development of radiographic evidence and bioinformatic approaches relevant to the physical abuse of older adults.
  • Research examining the role of emerging technologies in fraud and exploitation.
Deadline to submit SF-424 in Grants.gov: May 19, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Deadline to submit application in JustGrants: May 26, 2026, by 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time”
 

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women

This NOFO seeks applications for grant funding to conduct research and evaluation projects examining a broad range of topics to reduce violence against women (VAW), including the crimes of domestic violence (DV) and family violence (FV); intimate partner violence (IPV); rape, sex trafficking, sexual violence (SV); stalking; and teen dating violence (TDV), also known as adolescent relationship abuse (ARA), along with the trauma that results from these crimes and the associated criminal justice system response, procedures, and policies. 

NIJ also seeks to invest in high-quality evaluations focused on testing programs, practices, models, or interventions aimed at (1) enhancing engagement with the justice system for women and girls who have been victimized and (2) improving accountability within the criminal justice system from individuals who engage in or perpetrate violence against women and girls. This program furthers the DOJ’s mission by supporting the development of new knowledge and tools to address the challenges of crime and justice in the United States through fundamental research.

Deadline to submit SF-424 in Grants.gov: May 11, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Deadline to submit application in JustGrants: May 18, by 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time”

NIJ FY25 Graduate Research Fellowship

“This NOFO seeks to support doctoral students whose dissertation research is relevant to preventing and controlling crime, protecting the border, enforcing the law, promoting public safety, or ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal or juvenile justice in the United States. This furthers the DOJ mission by increasing the pool of researchers who are engaged in providing science-based solutions to problems relevant to criminal and juvenile justice policy and practice in the United States.
Please see the Eligible Applicants section for the eligibility criteria.
OJP is committed to advancing work that furthers DOJ’s mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis. OJP supports DOJ’s commitment.
Grants.gov Deadline
May 19, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline
May 27, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern”
 

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Corrections

“This funding opportunity seeks rigorous proposals on: (1) management and development of the correctional workforce; and (2) correctional officer safety. Proposals for research outside of these two topics will not be considered responsive to this NOFO. Applicants may submit more than one proposal; however, only one topic may be submitted per proposal. Applicants are requested to identify the topic addressed in their application on the title page of the proposal narrative. NIJ is particularly interested in applications with research designs that incorporate action-oriented research, where jurisdictions are an integral part of defining the program, implementing change, and revising practices based on assessment of the change. Applicants  may propose a phased implementation plan if the research design and questions warrant this approach.”
Grants.gov Deadline
June 2, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline
June 9, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern
 

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Forensic Science Systems

“This NOFO seeks proposals for rigorous applied research and evaluative studies on the forensic science system. The field of forensic science is changing, particularly as technological advancements improve the criminal justice system’s ability to use forensic evidence more effectively and efficiently. Research is needed to better understand the impact of forensic science on the criminal justice system and law enforcement operations. With this NOFO, NIJ requests applications in three topic areas: • The impact of forensic science on the criminal justice system and law enforcement operations, such as improving investigative clearance rates, increasing law enforcement effectiveness, and reducing crime lab backlogs. • Evaluations of the implementation of new and innovative forensic science methods and their impact on strengthening courtroom admissibility and evidentiary reliability. • Developing the forensic science workforce.”

Grants.gov Deadline June 2, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline June 9, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern
 

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation for the Testing and Interpretation of Physical Evidence in Publicly Funded Forensic Laboratories

“This funding opportunity seeks proposals for research and evaluation studies to produce practical knowledge that can improve the examination and interpretation of physical evidence in
forensic science laboratories. Specifically, NIJ seeks applications for rigorous research and
evaluation projects that will:
• Identify and inform the forensic community of best practices through the evaluation of
existing and emerging laboratory protocols; and/or
• Have a direct and immediate impact on laboratory efficiency and assist in making
laboratory policy decisions.”

Grants.gov Deadline: June 3, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline: June 10, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern
 

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on School Safety

“This funding opportunity seeks to fund rigorous and innovative research and evaluation projects
to fill knowledge gaps in two topical areas: 1) research on malleable factors that affect school
violence in K-12 schools; and 2) evaluations of the impact and effectiveness of school safety approaches implemented for purposes authorized under the STOP School Violence Act. This
NOFO is released by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in partnership with the Bureau of
Justice Assistance (BJA). “

Grants.gov Deadline

June 3, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern Application 

JustGrants Deadline June 10, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime: Nexus with Firearms and Violence

“This NOFO seeks applications for rigorous applied research on the intersection of drug crimes
and firearms to inform the development of evidence-based tools, practices, and policies for state, tribal, and local law enforcement and other criminal justice stakeholders that address drug trafficking, drug markets, and drug-related violence. With this FY25 NOFO, NIJ seeks applications in four topic areas: (1) Pattern Identification; (2) Interdiction & Disruption Strategies;
(3) Prosecution; and (4) Drug Market Dynamics.”

Grants.gov Deadline June 8, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline June 15, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern
 
“This NOFO is released by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in partnership with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). The funding opportunity seeks to build upon past research and evaluation efforts by focusing on emerging evidence needs and remaining gaps to combat human trafficking and protect children, with a particular focus on trafficking at the Southern Border.
Applicants should propose projects that will have a clear effect on U.S. criminal justice policy and practice. This NOFO calls for applications in two categories:
• Category 1: Justice System Responses to Trafficking (Anticipated Award Amount:
$3,000,000)
This category seeks applications for research and evaluation projects on strategies to
improve trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and disruption of human trafficking
networks, particularly along the Southern border; and evaluations of well-developed
direct service programs to help American child and adult victims of labor and sex
trafficking.
• Category 2: Technology and Trafficking (Anticipated Award Amount: $1,000,000)
This category seeks applications for research and evaluation at the intersection of
technology and trafficking, especially relating to technology used by traffickers and
technologies used to investigate and build cases.”
 
Grants.gov Deadline June 8, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline June 15, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern
 

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence for Criminal Justice Purposes

“This NOFO seeks to support research and evaluation that advances the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the criminal justice system. The goal of this NOFO is to enhance lawful decision-making and help improve its accuracy and effectiveness through AI applications supporting crime prevention, public safety, and criminal justice systems. Research should explore both the benefits and limitations of AI, addressing potential risks and downstream impacts. NIJ expects to fund studies that explore use cases in policing, corrections, courts, or other criminal justice adjacent areas to examine the suitability of using AI to solve operational problems, as well as evaluate the impacts and outcomes when integrated into criminal justice practice.
Applying for this funding opportunity involves a two-stage process that begins with submission of a concept paper. Based on the merits of the concept paper, NIJ may request that the applicant submit a full proposal. Applicants should not submit a full proposal unless invited. For information on the concept paper format, please see the General Purpose of the Fundingsection of this NOFO.”

Grants.gov Deadline June 15, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
 

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

“This NOFO will support research and evaluation of emerging technology implementation and impact for law enforcement purposes. Topics include policies, trainings, operational and staffing issues; communications strategies associated with technology implementation; and impacts of technology implementation and use on public safety and agency budgets. NIJ encourages researchers and practitioners to partner or build on existing researcher-practitioner partnerships to guide the law enforcement community on the best ways to implement technology to solve contemporary problems in policing. Applying for this funding opportunity involves a two-stage process that begins with submission of a concept paper. Based on the merits of the concept paper, NIJ may request that the applicant submit a full proposal. Applicants should not submit a full proposal unless invited. For information on the concept paper format, please see the General Purpose of the Funding section of this NOFO. “

Grants.gov Deadline June 15, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
 

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Policing Practices

“This NOFO seeks rigorous, applied evaluative research on: (1) existing police training; (2) officer safety and health; (3) criminal investigations; and (4) policing strategies and tactics.”

Grants.gov Deadline June 9, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline June 16, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern
 

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Youth Justice Topics

“This NOFO seeks proposals for evaluation projects to inform policy and practice in the field of youth justice in the following two topics:
1. Evaluations on Juvenile Justice System Prosecution
2. Evaluations of Juvenile Reentry Practices”

Grants.gov Deadline June 10, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline June 17, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern
 

Innovations in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes

“This NOFO supports basic or applied research and development of Innovations in forensic science for criminal justice purposes. These awards support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project that will:
1. Increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and practice;
or
2. Lead to the production of useful material(s), device(s), system(s), or method(s) that have
the potential for forensic application.”

Grants.gov Deadline June 2, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline June 9, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern