FY25 Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technology Implementation and Impact for Law Enforcement Purposes
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers, universities, and law enforcement organizations interested in studying how emerging technologies impact police operations and public safety. Eligible applicants typically include academic institutions, research organizations, nonprofit research centers, and law enforcement agencies. The program supports research projects that evaluate new technology implementations—such as predictive policing tools, surveillance systems, data analytics platforms, and other innovations—in real-world law enforcement contexts. Funding supports research design, data collection, analysis, and publication of findings. Geographic scope is nationwide. Applicants must demonstrate research capacity, access to law enforcement partners for implementation studies, and ability to produce peer-reviewed or policy-relevant evaluation findings.
This grant is for researchers, universities, and law enforcement organizations interested in studying how emerging technologies impact police operations and public safety. Eligible applicants typically include academic institutions, research organizations, nonprofit research centers, and law enforcement agencies. The program supports research projects that evaluate new technology implementations—such as predictive policing tools, surveillance systems, data analytics platforms, and other innovations—in real-world law enforcement contexts. Funding supports research design, data collection, analysis, and publication of findings. Geographic scope is nationwide. Applicants must demonstrate research capacity, access to law enforcement partners for implementation studies, and ability to produce peer-reviewed or policy-relevant evaluation findings.
Program description
This NOFO will support research and evaluation of emerging technology implementation and impact for law enforcement purposes. Topics include policies, trainings, operational and staffing issues; communications strategies associated with technology implementation; and impacts of technology implementation and use on public safety and agency budgets. NIJ encourages researchers and practitioners to partner or build on existing researcher-practitioner partnerships to guide the law enforcement community on the best ways to implement technology to solve contemporary problems in policing.
Applying for this funding opportunity involves a two-stage process that begins with submission of a concept paper. Based on the merits of the concept paper, NIJ may request that the applicant submit a full proposal. Applicants should not submit a full proposal unless invited. For information on the concept paper format, please see the General Purpose of the Funding section of this NOFO.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Police Department
- Private University
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for researchers, universities, and law enforcement organizations interested in studying how emerging technologies impact police operations and public safety. Eligible applicants typically include academic institutions, research organizations, nonprofit research centers, and law enforcement agencies. The program supports research projects that evaluate new technology implementations—such as predictive policing tools, surveillance systems, data analytics platforms, and other innovations—in real-world law enforcement contexts. Funding supports research design, data collection, analysis, and publication of findings. Geographic scope is nationwide. Applicants must demonstrate research capacity, access to law enforcement partners for implementation studies, and ability to produce peer-reviewed or policy-relevant evaluation findings.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative (typically 25-35 pages) describing research questions, methodology, and evaluation plan
- Detailed budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capability statement and qualifications of key personnel
- Letters of support from law enforcement agency partners
- Literature review or statement of the research problem
- Data management plan (for access and security)
- Timeline and milestones
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or exemption letter (if human subjects involved)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institute of Justice
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-616-5314
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.560 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$18,393,640
-
$10,561,120
-
$9,800,000
-
$6,998,958
-
$5,997,434
-
$5,691,859
-
$4,581,851
-
$4,501,620
-
$4,500,000
-
$4,000,000
Top States by Funding
- NC 9 awards $38.0M
- VA 13 awards $27.9M
- PA 3 awards $12.5M
- IL 9 awards $11.7M
- CA 6 awards $11.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.560). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $57,808,937 | |
| 2025 | $3,183,371 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this NIJ research grant?
Academic institutions, nonprofit research organizations, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other entities with research capacity and law enforcement partnerships can apply. Applicants should have institutional experience with research management and evaluation methodology.
What is the deadline and application timeline?
The application period opens May 14, 2026, with a fixed deadline of June 15, 2026. Applicants should plan to submit well before the deadline, as technical issues can arise close to the cutoff.
What types of research projects are supported?
Grants fund evaluations of emerging technologies in law enforcement settings—including studies on implementation processes, outcome measurement, impact on crime reduction, community relations, officer safety, or operational efficiency. Mixed-methods and longitudinal studies are encouraged.
How competitive is this grant?
NIJ research grants are highly competitive. Successful applications typically demonstrate strong research design, established law enforcement partnerships, clear evaluation metrics, and potential for influencing policy or practice in the field.
What is the typical funding range?
NIJ research grants typically range from $150,000 to $500,000 depending on project scope, duration, and complexity. Check the solicitation for specific budget caps.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish formal partnerships with law enforcement agencies before applying. Reviewers want evidence of buy-in from agencies that will implement and participate in the research.
- Focus on rigorous methodology and clear evaluation metrics. NIJ values research that can definitively measure whether technologies achieve their intended outcomes.
- Address potential equity and civil rights concerns in your research design. Emerging law enforcement technologies raise important questions about bias, privacy, and community impact—showing awareness of these issues strengthens applications.
- Create a realistic implementation timeline and budget. Law enforcement studies require coordination with multiple partners and can face delays; reviewers are skeptical of overly optimistic schedules.
- Emphasize dissemination and policy relevance. NIJ prioritizes research that will inform law enforcement best practices, policy, or training. Plan how findings will reach end-users beyond academic publications.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often fail to secure genuine law enforcement partnerships before applying, submitting letters of support that lack specificity about how agencies will participate. Weak research design—including vague outcome measures, inadequate sample sizes, or unclear attribution of results—frequently leads to rejection. A third common error is ignoring the civil rights and equity dimensions of emerging law enforcement technologies; reviewers now expect applicants to address potential bias, transparency, and community impact in their evaluation framework.
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