W.E.B. Du Bois Program of Research on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Justice System

Overview

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) seeks applications for funding of investigator-initiated research examining how observed racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system might be reduced through public policy interventions at any point during the administration of justice for juveniles and/or adults. 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. 

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. With this solicitation, NIJ seeks applications for funding for investigator-initiated research examining how observed racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system might be reduced through public policy interventions at any point during the administration of justice from two categories of researchers: 

1. Category 1: W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars – Researchers who are advanced in their careers (awarded a terminal degree at least seven years prior to December 31, 2022) may apply for grants for research, evaluation, and mentoring of less-experienced researchers. 

2. Category 2: W.E.B. Du Bois Fellows – Researchers who are early in their careers (awarded a terminal degree within seven years of December 31, 2022) may apply for grants for research and evaluation. 

NIJ will give special consideration to proposals with methods that include meaningful engagement with the people with lived experience of the subject of study; including, but not limited to, justice practitioners, community members, crime victims, service providers and individuals who have experienced justice system involvement. 

Applicants are encouraged to propose multidisciplinary research teams to build on the complementary strengths of different methods and areas of subject matter expertise. NIJ also seeks proposals that include consideration and measurement of issues of diversity, discrimination, and bias across age, gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, as applicable. 

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for rigorous research projects examining the existing body of evidence to identify policy interventions that have the potential to reduce observed racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system (which may involve primary and/or secondary data collection). NIJ expects the findings and recommendations derived from this research to guide future research and the testing of promising interventions. 

NIJ is interested in policy interventions that have the potential to reduce disparities at any point during the administration of justice for juveniles and/or adults. These interventions could include policing practices, access to defense resources, access to justice, pre-trial release practices, charging decisions, sanctions imposed, access to treatment services, post-release programming, or any other point at which disparity is evident. NIJ is particularly interested in identifying those interventions that have the greatest potential to positively intervene in an individual’s progress out of the justice system.

Maximum dollar amount for each award to be determined by the requirements of the research proposed in grants selected for award. Applicants are encouraged to propose budgets that match the research activities proposed, up to the full dollar amount anticipated to be awarded under this solicitation. 

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under Solicitation $2,000,000.00