In collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), NIJ is seeking competitive applications for a cooperative agreement to support research on the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Program.

The purpose of this solicitation is to inform the program's place-based and community-oriented

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efforts to reduce violent and serious crime as part of the Administration's comprehensive strategy to advance neighborhood revitalization.

In partnership with researchers and community stakeholders, BCJI grantees identify "hot spots" in neighborhoods challenged by poverty, unemployment, struggling schools, and inadequate housing; they collaboratively develop environmental design, legislative, and other approaches to promote collective efficacy and target crime among offenders returning from incarceration, gangs, and youth.

Applications must propose four research tasks:
a review of BCJI planning, implementation, and enhancement grants; a process evaluation of BCJI grant activities; an evaluability assessment of BCJI program sites; and a process and outcome evaluation of the BCJI Training and Technical Assistance.