NIJ FY23 Center for Enhancing Research Capacity (CERC) at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

The NIJ FY23 Center for Enhancing Research Capacity (CERC) at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) is a grant opportunity offered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The aim of this grant is to support initiatives that promote civil rights and racial equity, enhance access to justice, assist crime victims and those impacted by the justice system, strengthen community safety, protect the public from crime and emerging threats, and foster trust between law enforcement and the community.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking proposals for the development, operation, and management of the Center to Enhance Research Capacity (CERC) at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The intended beneficiaries of this grant are minority serving institutions. The proposals may include collaborations with other entities; however, it is necessary to submit a strong letter of support from each partner, signed by an appropriate decision-making authority. If the proposal involves the use, derivation, or provision of de-identified data through the NIJ-funded award, the partnering entities must agree to archive such data with the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) once the project is completed. It is advised that applicants and their potential partners familiarize themselves with NIJ's data archiving guidelines.

Successful grantees will be required to have a formal agreement with partnering agencies by January 1, 2024. This agreement should include provisions to fulfill the data archiving requirements specified in the award. In cases where federal award funds will be utilized by multiple partnering agencies to execute the proposed project, only one entity/partnering agency may act as the applicant, while others must be designated as subrecipients. Additionally, the applicant is expected to play a significant role in conducting the proposed work.

Overall, the NIJ FY23 CERC grant offers the opportunity for Minority Serving Institutions to enhance their research capacity while addressing critical issues related to civil rights, justice, community safety, and the relationship between law enforcement and the community. Collaboration with other entities is encouraged, with a strong emphasis on data archiving and fulfilling the responsibilities associated with the grant.