Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2009 1936
Apply for NIJ 2009 1936
- The National Institute of Justice in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY09 Social Science Research on Wrongful Conviction" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560 National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 23, 2009 and posted on Jan 14, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 16, 2009. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIJ FY09 Social Science Research on Wrongful Conviction grant (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2009 1936) was a discretionary research and evaluation grant offered by the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice within the Office of Justice Programs. The purpose of the opportunity was to build a stronger, more scientifically rigorous social science evidence base on wrongful convictions, with particular attention to the growing set of post-conviction DNA exonerations in the United States. At the time of the solicitation, more than 200 DNA-based exoneration cases had been identified by media outlets and advocacy or interest organizations, but NIJ noted that social science research had not kept pace with the scale and importance of these cases. The grant was designed to move the field beyond anecdotal discussions by supporting systematic, empirical work that could produce actionable knowledge and tools for criminal justice policy and practice.
The core research focus was on examining post-conviction DNA exonerations across key phases of the criminal justice process and, importantly, comparing what is learned from DNA-based exonerations to what is learned from non-DNA exonerations. NIJ explicitly encouraged projects that would collect and analyze data spanning all three major stages: the investigation stage (how cases were initiated, investigated, and built), the trial stage (how evidence and testimony were presented and challenged, and how adjudication unfolded), and the post-conviction stage (how claims of innocence were raised, reviewed, litigated, and ultimately resolved, including the role of DNA testing where applicable). Applicants were told to optimize the breadth and depth of data gathered within each stage, and NIJ expressed a strong preference for proposals that addressed all three stages rather than focusing narrowly on just one point in the process. In practical terms, this meant NIJ was looking for comprehensive, end-to-end analyses that could identify patterns, contributing factors, decision points, and potential reforms from the earliest investigative steps through final exoneration outcomes.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, NIJ anticipated making a single award, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $600,000 and no required cost sharing or matching. The award instrument was a grant, categorized under research and evaluation, and tied to CFDA number 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants). Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications contained in the full solicitation. The opportunity was posted on January 14, 2009, with an application closing date of March 16, 2009, and it was later archived on June 19, 2009. Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov, with technical submission support available through the Grants.gov hotline and email.
NIJ also provided a program contact for substantive questions about the solicitation requirements: Bethany Backes, Social Science Analyst (202-305-4419; Bethany.Backes@usdoj.gov). Overall, the solicitation centered on producing credible, data-driven insights into how wrongful convictions happen, how they persist through trial and appeals, and how exonerations occur, while explicitly pushing the field to compare DNA and non-DNA pathways to better understand both the unique value of DNA evidence and the broader systemic issues that lead to miscarriages of justice.
FAQs: NIJ FY09 Social Science Research on Wrongful Conviction (NIJ 2009 1936)
What is the NIJ FY09 Social Science Research on Wrongful Conviction grant?
It was a discretionary research and evaluation grant offered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice within the Office of Justice Programs. The solicitation focused on building a stronger, scientifically rigorous social science evidence base on wrongful convictions, with particular attention to post-conviction DNA exonerations in the United States.
What was the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose was to move the field beyond anecdotal discussions by supporting systematic, empirical social science research on wrongful convictions and exonerations that could produce actionable knowledge and tools for criminal justice policy and practice.
Why did NIJ emphasize post-conviction DNA exonerations?
At the time of the solicitation, more than 200 DNA-based exoneration cases had been identified by media outlets and advocacy or interest organizations, and NIJ noted that social science research had not kept pace with the scale and importance of these cases.
What kinds of cases were applicants expected to study?
Projects were expected to examine post-conviction DNA exonerations and also compare insights from DNA-based exonerations to insights from non-DNA exonerations.
What criminal justice stages did NIJ want research to cover?
NIJ highlighted three major stages and encouraged data collection and analysis across all of them: (1) the investigation stage, (2) the trial stage, and (3) the post-conviction stage.
What did NIJ mean by the investigation stage?
The investigation stage referred to how cases were initiated, investigated, and built.
What did NIJ mean by the trial stage?
The trial stage referred to how evidence and testimony were presented and challenged, and how adjudication unfolded.
What did NIJ mean by the post-conviction stage?
The post-conviction stage referred to how claims of innocence were raised, reviewed, litigated, and ultimately resolved, including the role of DNA testing where applicable.
Did NIJ prefer projects that covered all stages or only one stage?
NIJ expressed a strong preference for proposals that addressed all three stages rather than focusing narrowly on just one point in the process. Applicants were instructed to optimize the breadth and depth of data gathered within each stage.
What was NIJ ultimately trying to learn from the research?
The solicitation centered on producing credible, data-driven insights into how wrongful convictions happen, how they persist through trial and appeals, and how exonerations occur, while comparing DNA and non-DNA pathways to better understand both the unique value of DNA evidence and broader systemic issues.
How many awards did NIJ expect to make?
NIJ anticipated making a single award.
What was the maximum award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) award amount was $600,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. NIJ stated there was no required cost sharing or matching.
What type of funding instrument was used?
The award instrument was a grant, categorized under research and evaluation.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The solicitation was tied to CFDA 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications contained in the full solicitation.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number was NIJ 2009 1936.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on January 14, 2009, and the application closing date was March 16, 2009.
When was the solicitation archived?
It was later archived on June 19, 2009.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov.
Where could applicants get technical help with Grants.gov submission?
Technical submission support was available through the Grants.gov hotline and email.
Who was the NIJ program contact for substantive questions?
NIJ provided a program contact for questions about the solicitation requirements: Bethany Backes, Social Science Analyst, 202-305-4419, Bethany.Backes@usdoj.gov.
What was the overall research orientation NIJ wanted to support?
NIJ aimed to support systematic, empirical, end-to-end analyses that could identify patterns, contributing factors, decision points, and potential reforms from early investigative steps through final exoneration outcomes.
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