NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence for Criminal Justice Purposes

Key Facts

Status: Forecasted

Posted date: May 14, 2026

Close date: June 15, 2026

Opportunity ID: 362406

Opportunity number: O-NIJ-2025-172615

Opportunity category: Discretionary

Agency name: National Institute of Justice

Agency code: USDOJ-OJP-NIJ

Award floor: $0

Award ceiling: $2,500,000

Cost sharing required: No

Funding Instrument Types
  • Grant
Category of Funding Activity
  • Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Eligible Applicants
  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Tools
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
  • agency_code:usdoj_ojp_nij
  • category_of_funding_activity:science_and_technology_and_other_research_and_development
  • cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:false
  • eligible_applicants:city_or_township_governments
  • eligible_applicants:county_governments
  • eligible_applicants:for_profit_organizations_other_than_small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_governments_federally_recognized
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_organizations_other_than_federally_recognized_tribal_governments
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_having_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_that_do_not_have_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:others
  • eligible_applicants:private_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:public_and_state_controlled_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:special_district_governments
  • eligible_applicants:state_governments
  • funding_instrument_type:grant
  • opportunity_category:discretionary
  • status:forecasted
Description

This NOFO seeks to support research and evaluation that advances the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the criminal justice system. The goal of this NOFO is to enhance lawful decision-making and help improve its accuracy and effectiveness through AI applications supporting crime prevention, public safety, and criminal justice systems. Research should explore both the benefits and limitations of AI, addressing potential risks and downstream impacts. NIJ expects to fund studies that explore use cases in policing, corrections, courts, or other criminal justice adjacent areas to examine the suitability of using AI to solve operational problems, as well as evaluate the impacts and outcomes when integrated into criminal justice practice. 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.

NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence for Criminal Justice Purposes
This NOFO seeks to support research and evaluation that advances the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the criminal justice system. The goal of this NOFO is to enhance lawful decision-making and help improve its accuracy and effectiveness through AI applications supporting crime prevention, public safety, and criminal justice systems. Research should explore both the benefits and limitations of AI, addressing potential risks and downstream impacts. NIJ expects to fund studies that explore use cases in policing, corrections, courts, or other criminal justice adjacent areas to examine the suitability of using AI to solve operational problems, as well as evaluate the impacts and outcomes when integrated into criminal justice practice. 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.
[Forecasted] NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence for Criminal Justice Purposes
Forecasted
National Institute of Justice
Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Grant
State governments
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Small businesses
Others
2026-05-14