It is the purpose of this subchapter to establish a National Institute of Justice, which shall provide for and encourage research and demonstration efforts for the purpose of—(1) improving Federal, State, and local criminal justice systems and related aspects of the civil justice system;
(2) preventing and reducing crimes;
(3) insuring citizen access to appropriate dispute-resolution forums; and
(4) identifying programs of proven effectiveness, programs having a record of proven success, or programs which offer a high probability of improving the functioning of the criminal justice system.
The Institute shall have authority to engage in and encourage research and development to improve and strengthen the criminal justice system and related aspects of the civil justice system and to disseminate the results of such efforts to Federal, State, and local governments, to evaluate the effectiveness of programs funded under this chapter, to develop and demonstrate new or improved approaches and techniques, to improve and strengthen the administration of justice, and to identify programs or projects carried out under this chapter which have demonstrated success in improving the quality of justice systems and which offer the likelihood of success if continued or repeated. In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Institute shall give primary emphasis to the problems of State and local justice systems and shall insure that there is a balance between basic and applied research.
(Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 201, as added Pub. L. 96–157, § 2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1172; amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 604(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2078.)
Editorial Notes
References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of Pub. L. 90–351, as added by Pub. L. 96–157, § 2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1167, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.
Codification
Section was formerly classified to section 3721 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
Prior ProvisionsA prior section 201 of Pub. L. 90–351, title I, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 198; Pub. L. 93–83, § 2, Aug. 6, 1973, 87 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 94–503, title I, § 104, Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2408, set out Congressional statement of purpose in providing for a program of planning grants, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–157.
Amendments1984—Pub. L. 98–473 redesignated par. (5) as (4), struck out former par. (4) relating to improvement of efforts to detect, investigate, prosecute, and otherwise combat and prevent white-collar crime and public corruption, and in closing provisions struck out “to develop alternatives to judicial resolution of disputes,” after “local governments,”, and inserted “and demonstrate” after “to develop”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–473 effective Oct. 12, 1984, see section 609AA(a) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as an Effective Date note under section 10101 of this title.
National Training Program for State and Local ProsecutorsPub. L. 110–424, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4819, provided that: