Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2020 17310
The Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant opportunity titled "Research into Immigration and Crime, Fiscal Year 2020" (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2020 17310) is a discretionary research grant focused on improving the evidence base around how immigration intersects with crime in the United States. The central goal is to support rigorous research that deepens understanding of the relationship between immigration (including both lawful and unlawful immigration) and crime from two angles: perpetration (who commits crime and under what conditions) and victimization (who is harmed by crime and how patterns of victimization may differ across immigrant and non-immigrant populations). In practical terms, NIJ is looking for projects that can move the conversation beyond assumptions and provide clearer, data-driven findings that can inform justice policy and practice.
The program sits within CFDA 16.560 and falls under the funding activity areas of law, justice, and legal services, as well as science and technology and broader research and development. This framing signals that NIJ expects empirical, methodologically sound work, such as statistical analyses, longitudinal studies, comparative designs, or mixed-method research that connects strong quantitative evidence with qualitative insights from communities and institutions. While the solicitation summary does not list specific research questions, it clearly indicates that proposals should address immigration and crime relationships in a way that can illuminate patterns, mechanisms, and potentially moderating factors (for example, differences by geography, time period, offense type, local policy environment, demographic factors, or reporting behavior). Because NIJ explicitly references both perpetration and victimization, strong proposals would typically consider how immigration status or immigrant community context may relate not only to offending, but also to exposure to crime, willingness to report, access to services, and interactions with law enforcement and the courts.
Funding is expected to support multiple awards, with NIJ anticipating up to $2,000,000 total available and an award ceiling of $2,000,000. The notice lists an expected two awards, suggesting a competitive environment where NIJ may prioritize proposals with particularly strong designs, credible data sources, and clear deliverables that can be used by policymakers and practitioners. The opportunity was created on January 28, 2020, with an original application closing date of April 1, 2020.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can conduct or support research. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as described in the solicitation's additional eligibility language. This wide eligibility range reflects NIJ's interest in drawing proposals from universities, research institutes, government agencies, and other capable organizations that can access relevant data, engage impacted communities, and translate findings into usable knowledge for the justice system.
Overall, this solicitation is designed to fund careful, policy-relevant research that clarifies how immigration status and immigration-related dynamics may correlate with crime and victimization outcomes. NIJ's emphasis on both legal and illegal immigration, and on both offending and victimization, indicates an intent to develop a fuller and more balanced picture of public safety realities, potentially helping agencies and communities make more informed decisions based on credible evidence rather than anecdote or speculation.Apply for NIJ 2020 17310
- The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research into Immigration and Crime, Fiscal Year 2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 28, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 01, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Research into Immigration and Crime, Fiscal Year 2020."
Which agency is offering this funding?
This grant opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ 2020 17310.
What type of grant is this?
This is a discretionary research grant focused on building evidence through rigorous research.
What is the main goal of the solicitation?
The main goal is to improve the evidence base on how immigration intersects with crime in the United States by supporting rigorous, data-driven research.
What topics should proposed research address?
Projects should deepen understanding of the relationship between immigration and crime from two angles: perpetration (who commits crime and under what conditions) and victimization (who is harmed by crime and whether patterns of victimization differ across immigrant and non-immigrant populations).
Does NIJ want research on lawful immigration, unlawful immigration, or both?
Both. The solicitation explicitly references immigration including both lawful and unlawful immigration.
What does NIJ mean by studying "perpetration"?
In this context, perpetration refers to research examining who commits crime and under what conditions, and how those patterns may relate to immigration status or immigration-related dynamics.
What does NIJ mean by studying "victimization"?
Victimization refers to research examining who is harmed by crime and how victimization patterns may differ across immigrant and non-immigrant populations, including factors like exposure to crime and reporting behavior.
What kinds of methods are expected or encouraged?
The opportunity emphasizes empirical, methodologically sound work. Examples described include statistical analyses, longitudinal studies, comparative designs, or mixed-method research that combines quantitative evidence with qualitative insights.
Are specific research questions listed in the summary?
No. The solicitation summary does not list specific research questions, but it indicates proposals should illuminate patterns, mechanisms, and potentially moderating factors in the immigration-crime relationship.
What kinds of moderating factors might a proposal consider?
Examples mentioned include differences by geography, time period, offense type, local policy environment, demographic factors, or reporting behavior.
Is the emphasis only on crime rates, or also on justice system interactions?
The description suggests proposals may consider not only offending and victimization, but also willingness to report, access to services, and interactions with law enforcement and the courts.
What funding areas or disciplines does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under law, justice, and legal services, as well as science and technology and broader research and development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The program is within CFDA 16.560.
How much total funding is expected to be available?
NIJ anticipated up to $2,000,000 total available.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $2,000,000.
How many awards does NIJ expect to make?
The notice indicates an expected two awards.
Does the expected number of awards suggest anything about competitiveness?
With an expected two awards and a focus on rigorous designs and credible data sources, the environment is likely competitive, with NIJ potentially prioritizing proposals with strong methodology and clear, usable deliverables.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on January 28, 2020.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was April 1, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as described in the solicitation's additional eligibility language.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are both listed as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits are listed as eligible (with an exclusion noted for higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible.
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible.
Are local and state government agencies eligible?
Yes. State, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments, are listed as eligible.
What kinds of projects does NIJ appear to be seeking?
NIJ appears to be seeking careful, policy-relevant research that moves discussion beyond assumptions and produces credible, data-driven findings that can inform justice policy and practice.
What kinds of outputs does NIJ seem to value?
While specific deliverables are not enumerated in the summary, the language suggests NIJ may prioritize clear deliverables and findings that are usable by policymakers and practitioners.
What is the overall purpose of the solicitation in terms of public conversation?
The solicitation is intended to support a fuller, more balanced picture of public safety realities related to immigration by grounding conclusions in credible evidence rather than anecdote or speculation.
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| National Youth Gang Survey, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 18233 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 18233 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Assessing the Effectiveness of the Second Chance Act Grant Program: A Phased Evaluation Approach, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17170 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17170 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
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