NIJ FY23 Research and Evaluation on the Administration of Justice: Advancing Access to Justice 60 Years after Gideon | O NIJ 2023 171579

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NIJ FY23 "Research and Evaluation on the Administration of Justice: Advancing Access to Justice 60 Years after Gideon" opportunity?

This is a discretionary research and evaluation funding opportunity from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). It supports rigorous, methodologically sound studies that examine how courts and other criminal justice tools, practices, and policies affect the administration of justice and public safety in state, local, and tribal settings, with a strong emphasis in FY23 on indigent defense and equitable access to justice.

Why does the solicitation reference Gideon v. Wainwright?

The opportunity is anchored in the 60th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the landmark case associated with the right to counsel for people who cannot afford an attorney. The solicitation uses this milestone to prioritize research that improves understanding of public defense and indigent defense services (IDS) and how defense representation shapes equitable access to justice.

What topics are especially competitive under this solicitation?

While the program addresses the administration of justice broadly, NIJ indicates that FY23 proposals aligned with indigent defense and equity will be especially competitive. That includes studies focused on what improves or undermines the quality, accessibility, and outcomes of defense representation for people who cannot afford counsel, and what reforms or interventions measurably reduce inequities.

What kinds of projects is NIJ looking for?

NIJ is seeking well-designed research and evaluation projects that are methodologically sound and produce credible, actionable evidence. Projects should assess how justice-system practices and policies operate in real settings and how they affect fairness, effectiveness, and public safety, particularly in state, local, and tribal contexts.

How important is equity in the proposed research?

Equity is a central emphasis. NIJ encourages applicants to address equity and fairness in measurable ways, not just as broad statements of values. Proposals are encouraged to consider and measure diversity, discrimination, and bias across characteristics such as age, gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, as applicable, using data, metrics, and analytic strategies that can detect disparities, identify mechanisms, and test interventions to reduce inequities.

What does NIJ mean by "special consideration" for lived-experience engagement?

NIJ indicates it will give special consideration to proposals that meaningfully engage people with lived experience related to the study area. The intent is to support research done with the people most affected by the justice system, rather than research conducted only about them, in ways that strengthen relevance, accuracy, and the likelihood that findings are used.

Who counts as lived-experience stakeholders for this opportunity?

The solicitation notes that lived-experience engagement can include individuals such as public defenders, appointed counsel administrators, judges, court staff, community members, service providers, crime victims, and people who have experienced justice system involvement.

Are multidisciplinary research teams encouraged?

Yes. NIJ encourages multidisciplinary teams that combine complementary expertise across fields and methods. Examples mentioned include law, criminology, sociology, public policy, statistics, implementation science, psychology, economics, and qualitative research.

If a project relies on partnerships with agencies, what documentation is expected?

NIJ expects clear documentation of partner commitment and cooperation. If the proposal relies on partnerships with criminal justice agencies or other organizations, the application should include letters of support signed by an appropriate decision-making authority from each partnering agency.

What must partner letters of support specifically acknowledge?

The letters must acknowledge the requirement that de-identified data derived from, provided to, or obtained through an NIJ-funded award must be archived by the grant recipient with the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) at the end of the project.

What is the NACJD data archiving requirement?

De-identified data associated with the NIJ-funded award (including data derived from, provided to, or obtained through the project) must be archived by the grant recipient with the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) at the end of the project.

When should applicants and partners address data archiving planning?

NIJ encourages applicants and partners to review NIJ data archiving guidance early. The solicitation signals that planning for compliance should be built into partnerships and project execution rather than treated as an end-of-project task.

Is there a deadline for having formal agreements with partner agencies in place?

Yes. If an award is made, the grantee is expected to have a formal agreement with partner agencies in place by January 1, 2024. The agreement should include explicit provisions that enable compliance with the NACJD archiving requirement.

How important is dissemination in this solicitation?

Dissemination is a major focus. NIJ is looking for robust, creative, multi-pronged dissemination strategies designed to ensure findings influence policy and practice. This goes beyond academic publication plans and emphasizes real-world uptake.

What kinds of dissemination approaches does NIJ want to see?

NIJ emphasizes strategies that support practical impact, including building strategic partnerships with organizations and associations positioned to reach practitioners and decision-makers, translate evidence into guidance, and support implementation.

Is there a recommended budget level for dissemination and impact activities?

NIJ offers special consideration to proposals that allocate at least 15 percent of the requested project budget to dissemination and impact activities. NIJ expects this commitment to be clearly reflected in both the budget worksheet and the budget narrative.

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation is open to a wide range of entities, including state, county, and local governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; public housing authorities; and for-profit organizations (including small businesses).

What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is O-NIJ-2023-171579, and the CFDA listing is 16.560.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling listed in the solicitation is $2,000,000.

What was the application closing date?

The original application closing date was April 26, 2023.

Can multiple organizations apply together as co-prime applicants?

No. For multi-entity collaborations, NIJ clarifies that only one organization can apply as the prime applicant.

How should collaborating organizations be included if they will use federal funds?

Other participating entities must be included as subrecipients if they will use federal award funds. The prime applicant remains primarily responsible for execution, compliance, and deliverables.

Does the prime applicant need to conduct most of the work?

Yes. NIJ states that the applicant is expected to conduct the majority of the proposed work, reinforcing that the lead organization maintains primary responsibility for the project.

What broader goals does OJP connect to this solicitation?

The solicitation is framed around OJP goals that include advancing civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, supporting victims and justice-impacted people, strengthening community safety, and building public trust in the justice system.

What makes a proposal strong for this opportunity based on the description provided?

The strongest proposals are positioned to combine rigorous research methods with genuine stakeholder engagement, clear plans for data stewardship and NACJD archiving compliance, documented partnership commitments where applicable, and a dissemination strategy designed to move evidence into policy and practice rather than leaving results unused.