NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Youth Justice Topics | O NIJ 2025 172607

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Youth Justice Topics

1) What is the official name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Youth Justice Topics", offered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

2) What are the key identifiers for this grant (Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA)?

Funding Opportunity Number (FON): O-NIJ-2025-172607
CFDA: 16.560

3) What is the main purpose of the solicitation?

The purpose is to fund evaluation-focused research that can directly inform youth justice policy and day-to-day practice. NIJ is looking for methodologically sound evaluations that clarify what works, what does not, under what conditions, and for which youth populations, with findings that support decision-making across jurisdictions.

4) Is NIJ looking for descriptive studies or evaluations?

NIJ is emphasizing evaluations rather than purely descriptive work. Proposals are expected to assess the implementation and impacts of defined policies, programs, or practice changes, and to produce actionable evidence about effectiveness, unintended consequences, and operational tradeoffs.

5) What topic areas does NIJ want projects to address?

This solicitation is centered on two topic areas:

• Evaluations of juvenile justice system prosecution
• Evaluations of juvenile reentry practices

6) What kinds of projects fit under "evaluations of juvenile justice system prosecution"?

Projects under this topic typically evaluate how prosecution-related decisions and practices affect outcomes for youth and communities. Examples of what may be examined include case processing, diversion versus formal processing, charging decisions, plea practices, transfer or waiver decisions, equity and consistency across groups, and system efficiency. The focus is on evaluating defined prosecution policies or practice changes and their impacts.

7) What does NIJ mean by evaluating prosecution practices?

Based on the information provided, NIJ is seeking studies that go beyond describing prosecution systems and instead assess the implementation and outcomes of specific prosecution policies, programs, or changes in practice. The goal is to generate evidence that stakeholders can use to understand effectiveness, unintended effects, and operational tradeoffs.

8) What kinds of projects fit under "evaluations of juvenile reentry practices"?

This topic focuses on youth returning to the community after detention or placement and evaluates which reentry approaches improve outcomes. Evaluations may examine reentry planning, service coordination, education and workforce supports, behavioral health interventions, family engagement, mentoring, supervision strategies, and connections to community-based resources.

9) What outcomes are emphasized for juvenile reentry evaluations?

The stated goals include building evidence about which reentry models reduce recidivism, improve stability and well-being, and support successful reintegration. NIJ also highlights the importance of examining implementation quality, barriers to implementation, and local conditions that shape results.

10) What makes a proposal "competitive" for this solicitation?

The solicitation indicates that competitive proposals generally include:

• Clear research questions
• A well-defined intervention or practice to be evaluated
• Credible comparison strategies where feasible
• Strong data plans (including administrative records and outcome measures)
• Plans to translate findings into usable guidance for practitioners and policymakers

11) Does NIJ expect rigorous study designs?

Yes. The opportunity supports evaluation projects, which typically implies rigorous designs and careful attention to real-world implementation. The description also points to credible comparison strategies where feasible and strong data plans.

12) Is stakeholder or practitioner engagement encouraged?

Yes. Because the purpose is to inform policy and practice, proposals that incorporate stakeholder engagement, practitioner input, and dissemination plans aimed at end users are described as aligned with the intent of the opportunity.

13) Does the funding appear intended for direct services or research and evaluation?

It is framed as research and evaluation. The activity category is science and technology and other research and development, reflecting NIJ's focus on building empirical evidence rather than direct service delivery.

14) What is the funding instrument?

The funding instrument is a grant.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and private institutions of higher education
• Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
• For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
• Small businesses
• Other eligible entities

The listing also references "Other Units of Local Government and Federal Agencies", reinforcing that a wide range of public-sector partners and research performers can apply.

16) How many awards does NIJ expect to make?

NIJ expects to make about five awards.

17) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $4,000,000.

18) When is the application deadline?

The application deadline listed is June 10, 2026.

19) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on May 8, 2026.

20) What is NIJ ultimately trying to learn or produce through these projects?

NIJ is aiming to fund evaluations that generate practical, policy-relevant evidence on two youth justice issues: (1) how juvenile prosecution practices operate and affect outcomes and (2) how juvenile reentry practices can be improved to support safer, more successful transitions back to the community.

21) What types of evidence or outputs are implied by the solicitation description?

Based on the description, NIJ is looking for findings that can support decision-making, including evidence about effectiveness, unintended consequences, operational tradeoffs, implementation quality, barriers, and the conditions under which results vary across settings and youth populations. The description also points toward dissemination approaches that translate results into usable guidance for practitioners and policymakers.

22) Are projects expected to work across jurisdictions or focus on a single site?

The description emphasizes decision-making across jurisdictions and understanding conditions and populations, but it does not specify whether projects must be multi-jurisdictional or may be single-site. Applicants would need to align their design with the goal of producing actionable evidence that stakeholders can use.

23) Are administrative records and outcome measures relevant to this grant?

Yes. The opportunity description explicitly references strong data plans, including administrative records and outcome measures, as features commonly found in competitive proposals.

24) What are examples of "real-world implementation" considerations NIJ cares about?

The solicitation highlights the importance of implementation-focused evaluation work, including assessing implementation quality, identifying barriers, and examining local conditions that shape results. This suggests NIJ values evaluations that account for how programs or practice changes operate in practice, not only whether outcomes change.