NIJ FY09 Social Science Research on Wrongful Conviction

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The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to enhance the administration of justice and public safety. NIJ solicits applications to inform its search for the knowledge and tools to guide policy and practice.NIJ is interested in stimulating a scientifically rigorous body of research on the topic of wrongful convictions, specifically focusing on the 200-plus cases of exonerations based on post-conviction DNA examinations, and comparisons of DNA-based and non-DNAbasedexonerations. Thus far, there have been over 200 cases of post-conviction DNA exonerations in the United States identified by media and interested organizations; however, there has been little social-science-based research on this topic. This solicitation is intended to support a more expansive and empirical examination of wrongful convictions than currently exists. In particular, this solicitation seeks to fund research on post-conviction DNA exonerations in the investigation, trial, and post-conviction stages of the criminal justice process as well as a comparison to non-DNA exonerations. Proposals should seek to optimize the extent of the data that can be collected in each of these three stages. A strong preference will be given to proposals for the collection and analysis of data in all three of these stages.

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