NIJ FY 2026 State and Local Collection and Reporting of Crime Data

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking proposals for rigorous research that examines the accuracy of crime data collection and reporting practices across state and local jurisdictions. The goal is to identify common challenges and develop scalable and widely adoptable best practices to improve data quality and integrity. Of particular interest are studies that examine how agencies collect information regarding offenses to ensure fidelity between reported data and actual events and to strengthen broader data governance practices. Key aspects of this opportunity include: • The development of best practices for crime data collection and reporting • The examination of common challenges in data quality and integrity • The improvement of data governance practices • The potential for scalable and widely adoptable solutions • The focus on state and local jurisdictions