Field-Initiated Research and Evaluation Program

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to generate high-quality research and evaluation that will inform and enhance the field of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. Applications are encouraged from researchers and evaluators representing multiple academic disciplines and using innovative methodological strategies. The ideal project will not only increase the knowledge base regarding juvenile delinquency, but also will have practical implications for juvenile justice policy and practice.

Background

Since its inception in 1974, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has been charged with sponsoring research on juvenile crime and victimization. Projects supported by OJJDP have advanced the understanding of juvenile crime and its impact on society and have suggested appropriate responses in the areas of prevention, early intervention, and graduated sanctions. In general, OJJDP funds research activities that derive from congressional mandates or address statutory priority areas that are narrowly defined. However, many creative and important research ideas deserving support arise outside the Federal Government. The Field- Initiated Research and Evaluation Program allows OJJDP to provide flexible funding for innovative and rigorous research that supports its mission. In past years, OJJDP has supported field-initiated research on such topics as gangs in correctional institutions, mental health issues in the juvenile justice system, and juvenile sex offending. This year, OJJDP seeks applications in four topical areas: (1) Juvenile justice and delinquency prevention in tribal or Alaskan Native communities (Native American research); (2) evaluation of juvenile justice programs for female delinquents; (3) juvenile justice system operations, sanctions, and treatments; and (4) general research on topics related to juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. The background, goals, and objectives for each area are described below. Note: Although some applications may be appropriate for more than one topical area (e.g., an evaluation of a program for Native American girls could qualify for areas 1 and 2), each application should be submitted under only one category.

(1) Native American Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Background

The U. S. Department of Justice is currently involved in multiple research and programmatic efforts to address justice issues in tribal and Alaskan Native communities. Recent findings from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report American Indians and Crime highlight the importance of such efforts. Based on multiple sources, including the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data, the report contains various findings with specific relevance for the juvenile population: • Rates of violent victimization in every age group are higher among American Indians than among all other races. • From 1992 to 1995, American Indians and Asian Americans were the only racial or ethnic groups to experience increases in the rates of abuse or neglect of children under age 15. • Native Americans under age 18 are arrested for alcohol- related violations at a rate twice the national average. The BJS study is the most comprehensive national report on issues of crime and justice affecting Native Americans. In general, there is little research on juvenile justice and delinquency prevention in tribal and Alaskan Native communities. All too frequently, those studies that are conducted reflect limited knowledge of local cultures and indigenous justice systems. In the past year, the Office of Justice Programs has sought guidance from Native American practitioners and researchers around the country on such issues as crime and justice research in Indian country, Alaskan tribal justice policies and practices, and youth gangs in Indian country. Recommendations for researchers that emerged from these consultations included the following: (1) investigators should make greater efforts to involve indigenous people in the design and implementation of their research; (2) research findings should have clear practical implications for the community in which the study was conducted, as well as for Native American communities in general; and (3) methods of inquiry should be based on and sensitive to local customs and values. These recommendations also apply to projects under this Field- Initiated Research and Evaluation Program. Thus, projects under this initiative should reflect efforts to involve local community participants in the design and implementation of any research or evaluation conducted in tribal and Alaskan Native communities. Projects should use culturally appropriate methods of inquiry and should offer practical implications with relevance to both the local community and broader audiences. OJJDP expects to use the results of these projects to provide empirically based guidance regarding juvenile justice and delinquency prevention policies and practices in tribal and Alaskan Native communities.

In addition, these projects should help to develop and guide culturally appropriate research practices with tribal and Alaskan Native populations. OJJDP encourages the pursuit of new avenues of inquiry and innovative approaches to the problem of juvenile crime and delinquency in tribal and Alaskan Native communities. Such approaches are also being supported through OJJDP's Tribal Youth Program. Copies of the program announcement for the Tribal Youth Program and its evaluation are available from the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (800-638-8736) and online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/grants/current.html.

Goals

The goal of this section of the field-initiated research and evaluation program is to foster original, rigorous scientific research that uses innovative research methods to study juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice in tribal and Alaskan Native communities. This program seeks empirical research on delinquent and criminal behavior both by and against tribal youth, interventions with youthful offenders, tribal juvenile justice system policies and practices, and alcohol and drug use by tribal youth.

Objectives

• Conceptualize and investigate research questions dealing specifically with tribal or Alaskan Native juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. • Develop methodological approaches that are culturally sensitive, relevant and appropriate. • Expand and validate hypotheses on juvenile delinquency as they relate to tribal and/or Alaskan Native youth. • Develop knowledge that will inform new hypotheses, techniques, approaches, or methods to improve juvenile justice and delinquency prevention efforts both within and outside tribal and Alaskan Native territories.

Award Period

The project period will be up to 2 years.

Award Amount

Up to $400,000 is available for research and evaluation related to Native American juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. Individual grant amounts, which will be subject to negotiation, will not exceed $200,000 per project.

(2) Evaluation of Juvenile Justice Programs for Female Juvenile Offenders

Background

The appropriate and effective treatment of female offenders by the juvenile justice system is a matter of increasing interest to policymakers, practitioners, and the public. Although males remain responsible for the majority of juvenile crime, females represented 25 percent of all juvenile arrests in the United States in 1996. Most female delinquents come to the attention of the juvenile court for status offenses or nonviolent crimes (e.g., shoplifting, forgery). However, females have become increasingly involved in more serious and violent delinquent behavior. Therefore, there is growing concern that the juvenile justice system be able to effectively address the special needs of this population. Although male and female delinquents experience many of the same problems (e.g., chaotic home environments, poverty, substance abuse), female offenders have unique needs that challenge the ability of the justice system to provide appropriate treatment. Many female delinquents have been victims of childhood sexual and/or physical abuse. Some are involved in relationships with abusive partners. Some enter the justice system pregnant or having already given birth to one or more children. Research suggests that gender-specific programming is needed to encourage healthy attitudes and behavior and promote social competence. Traditionally, the juvenile justice system has paid little attention to the special needs of female offenders. The 1992 reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDP Act) required all States applying for Federal formula grants under the JJDP Act to identify gaps in their provision of services to female juvenile offenders. As a result of this process, many States began to recognize the dearth of appropriate programs for this population. In the fall of 1998, OJJDP published Juvenile Female Offenders: A Status of the States Report. This report provides an inventory of State efforts to address the needs of at-risk girls and female juvenile offenders. Such efforts range from providing sensitivity training to correctional staff and probation officers to offering programs for teenage mothers. Although the number of gender-specific programs for female offenders is increasing, little is known about their content, structure, or effectiveness. The purpose of this component of the Field-Initiated Research and Evaluation Program is to encourage researchers to evaluate specialized services for females in the juvenile justice system. Well-designed evaluations should demonstrate which approaches are most useful for this population, and provide findings so that policymakers and communities might replicate and implement programs found to be effective and cost-efficient.

Goals

The goal of this section of the field-initiated research and evaluation program is to stimulate high-quality process and impact (outcome) evaluations of juvenile justice programs for female juvenile offenders. The programs to be evaluated should be geared toward intervention within the different components of the juvenile justice system (e.g., assessment, detention, secure corrections, community- based treatment, aftercare). Programs that focus exclusively on prevention are not eligible under this initiative. Considering the limited award period (a maximum of 2 years) and the amount of funding available (up to $300,000 per award), OJJDP expects that evaluations funded under this initiative will focus on process and/or short-term impact or outcome evaluations. Researchers are also encouraged to consider using this award to lay the groundwork for longer term evaluations, which may then be funded on an ongoing basis using funding from other sources. Ideally, investigators should collaborate with practitioners and program developers to build their evaluation into new or existing programs.

Objectives

• Conduct innovative evaluations of gender-specific programs for adolescent female offenders in the juvenile justice system. • Identify promising programs and program models for meeting the needs of female juvenile delinquents. • Improve the ability of the juvenile justice system to identify and meet the multiple needs of female offenders and increase the likelihood that female offenders will leave the juvenile justice system with an enhanced capacity to become responsible, productive citizens. • Encourage collaborative working relationships among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the field of juvenile justice. • Enhance the ability of community-based and institutional programs to conduct empirically based evaluations of their own effectiveness.

Award Period

The project period will be up to 2 years.

Award Amount

Up to $600,000 is available for the evaluation of juvenile justice programs for female juvenile offenders. Individual grant amounts, which will be subject to negotiation, will not exceed $300,000 per project.

(3) Juvenile Justice System Operations, Sanctions, and Treatments

Background

Early in this decade, OJJDP created the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. The Comprehensive Strategy identifies core principles for addressing juvenile crime at the national, State, and local level. Among these principles is the recognition that delinquency prevention is the most cost-effective approach to combating juvenile crime. However, the juvenile justice system must also be capable of responding immediately and effectively when delinquency does occur. Once youth have entered the juvenile justice system, graduated sanctions must be in place to allow the system to respond to offenders' individual needs while maintaining public safety. Since 1993, the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ ) model has provided a framework for strengthening the juvenile justice system. The three objectives of the BARJ model reflect the principles of the Comprehensive Strategy. These objectives include: (1) Accountability; (2) competency; and (3) community protection. Accountability mandates that juvenile offenders receive appropriate sanctions for their offenses and requires that they make amends to the victim(s) and community they have harmed. Competency refers to the idea that contact with the juvenile justice system should increase the likelihood that offenders will become productive, responsible citizens. Finally, community protection means that the juvenile justice system has a duty to ensure public safety. As the issue of accountability has received more emphasis within the juvenile justice system, the role of crime victims has expanded significantly. There has been a growing recognition that victims must play an active role in the juvenile justice process. State legislatures have passed laws mandating victims' rights and requiring restitution for the loss and inconvenience that victims experience. Some States have established a victims' bill of rights specifically for victims of juvenile crime, while others have added language that ensures that these victims are included under existing victims' rights legislation. Examples of rights accorded to victims of juvenile crime include the following: (1) Victims must be notified of relevant hearings and allowed to attend; (2) victims must be notified when offenders are released from custody; and (3) victim impact statements must be considered in sentencing, parole, and release decisions. In some communities, centralized victims' bureaus provide information, referral services, and supportive services such as victim advocacy, counseling, and financial compensation. To accomplish the BARJ objectives of accountability, competency, and community protection, the juvenile justice system must combine graduated sanctions with increasingly intensive treatment and rehabilitative services. An effective system must include a broad range of available sanctions, from community programs to secure corrections. Risk and needs assessments should inform the placement of offenders in the system. Finally, aftercare is a critical, but often overlooked, component of the system. Juveniles who receive services while detained or incarcerated can quickly lose any treatment gains if such services are abruptly discontinued when the juvenile is released. The juvenile justice system must ensure that youth are smoothly reintegrated into the community and that the risk of their reoffending is greatly reduced. The purpose of this background information is to provide a framework within which investigators might structure their research designs. Research is needed on such topics as: (1) Risk and need assessment measures; (2) ways to ensure accountability; (3) case management in the juvenile justice system; (4) implementation and appropriate targeting of graduated sanctions; (5) community-based approaches; (6) effective and innovative treatment strategies; (7) identification of gaps in the continuum of care; (8) the role of the victim in the juvenile justice system; (9) programming for specific subgroups of offenders, such as very young or serious and violent offenders; and (10) the development and evaluation of intensive aftercare approaches. Research proposals on additional topics relevant to juvenile justice system operations, sanctions, and treatments are, of course, welcome.

Goals

The goal of this section of the field-initiated research and evaluation program is to foster original, rigorous scientific research that will enhance the operations, sanctions, and treatments within the juvenile justice system. Research is sought that will not only increase the knowledge base, but also will provide empirical support for implementing specific juvenile justice policies and practices. Ideally, research funded under this initiative will improve the ability of the juvenile justice system to meet the needs of both juvenile offenders and the communities in which they reside.

Objectives

• Conceptualize and investigate new research questions related to operations, sanctions, and treatments in the juvenile justice system. • Develop new methodological approaches to address important research questions. • Generate and validate hypotheses regarding the nature and efficacy of the juvenile justice system's response to juvenile crime and delinquency. • Develop knowledge that will lead to new hypotheses, techniques, methods, or approaches for improving the functioning of the juvenile justice system. • Provide information that can be used by practitioners and policymakers who seek to improve the ability of the juvenile justice system to meet the needs of offenders and the public. • Improve the ability of the juvenile justice system to identify and meet the multiple needs of juvenile offenders and improve the likelihood that youth will leave the juvenile justice system with an enhanced capacity for becoming responsible, productive citizens.

Award Period

The project period will be up to 2 years.

Award Amount

Up to $600,000 is available for research and evaluation of juvenile justice system operations, sanctions, and treatments. Individual grant amounts, which will be subject to negotiation, will not exceed $300,000 per project.

(4) General Research

Background

This component of the Field-Initiated Research and Evaluation Program provides flexible funding for research which, while it may not fit neatly under any of OJJDP's current initiatives, supports the agency's mission in significant and creative ways. The issues and problems currently confronting the juvenile justice system

require strategies and solutions that cut across traditional juvenile justice boundaries. In addition to criminologists, sociologists, psychologists, social workers, medical professionals, educators, child welfare specialists, and others have important roles to play in addressing juvenile delinquency and victimization. Ideally, field- initiated research should have practical implications for juvenile justice policies and practices. Early in this decade, OJJDP created the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. The general principles of the Strategy include (1) Strengthening the family; (2) supporting core social institutions; (3) promoting delinquency prevention; (4) intervening immediately and effectively when delinquent behavior occurs; (5) establishing a system of graduated sanctions for juvenile offenders; and (6) identifying and controlling the small group of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders. Investigators applying under the general research component of the Field-Initiated Research and Evaluation Program may want to consider working in one of these areas. Additionally, in November 1998, members of the Study Group on Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders and the Study Group on Very Young Offenders were surveyed regarding their priorities for juvenile justice research. Their responses suggested that research is needed in the following areas: (1) risk and protective factors for juvenile offending; (2) risk and needs assessment instruments for courts and correctional facilities; (3) causes of early-onset offending; (4) characteristics and needs of very young offenders; (5) causes of desistance from offending; (6) causes of serious and violent offending; (7) successful and innovative intervention programs for specific subgroups of juvenile offenders (e.g., serious and violent offenders, very young offenders, girls, youth with prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol); and (8) the impact of juvenile transfers to adult court. Finally, investigators may want to consult OJJDP's Comprehensive Plan for Fiscal Year 1999, which is available on the OJJDP Web site at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org. The Plan is based on the Comprehensive Strategy and contains the research and program initiatives that OJJDP plans to fund during this fiscal year. Applicants may want to develop projects that will complement the agency's proposed research and programs.

Goals

The goal of this section of the field-initiated research and evaluation program is to foster rigorous, original scientific research that uses innovative methods to further the agency's mission of enhancing the juvenile justice system and preventing juvenile delinquency. Research that demonstrates collaboration among multiple disciplines is strongly encouraged. Project results should be of practical use to practitioners and policymakers and increase the juvenile justice knowledge base.

Objectives

• Promote and support innovative research and evaluation in the field of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. • Conceptualize and investigate new research questions in the juvenile justice field. • Develop new methodological approaches to addressing priority issues. • Develop knowledge that can be used to craft effective programs, policies and strategies for reducing and preventing juvenile delinquency and victimization. • Conduct research that will enhance the ability of the juvenile justice system to respond to the needs of both juvenile offenders and society at large.

Award Period

The project period will be up to 2 years.

Award Amount

Up to $600,000 is available for general research. Individual grant amounts, which will be subject to negotiation, will not exceed $300,000 per project. Note: The information that follows applies to all four of the topical areas described above.

Products

Proposals should contain a description of all products that will originate from the project. At a minimum, each grantee will be required to produce a final report that provides an overview of the research project. This overview should contain the following: (1) The theory and hypotheses guiding the work; (2) a description of the research or evaluation methods; (3) research and evaluation results (both significant and nonsignificant); (4) any practical or policy implications of the results; and (5) recommendations for future study. If possible, grantees should indicate in their final report how their work might contribute to defining and/or implementing best practices in the field of juvenile justice. This final report should be publishable as an OJJDP research report. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to consider submitting their results for publication in a refereed journal. Applicants must also indicate their willingness to provide at least one additional report suitable for publication as an OJJDP Bulletin or Fact Sheet. This report should be completed within 60 days of the grant's closing date.

Eligibility Requirements

OJJDP invites applications from public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, tribal and Alaskan Native communities, and individuals, or any combination of the above. Private, for-profit organizations must agree to waive any profit or fee. In the case of joint applications, one applicant must be clearly indicated as primary (for correspondence and award purposes) and the other(s) listed as coapplicant(s). OJJDP encourages collaborative relationships among researchers, practitioners, and tribal entities. If the research is of a collaborative nature, written assurances of the collaboration should be provided. Similarly, when specific programs or agencies are the subject of an applicant's research or evaluation, the application should include letters of commitment or cooperation from the relevant program or agency. Finally, applicants must demonstrate that they have experience or ability related to the type of research or evaluation that they are proposing to conduct.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated and rated by a peer review panel according to the criteria outlined below. In addition, the extent to which the project narrative makes clear and logical connections among the components listed below will be considered in assessing a project's merits.

Problem(s) To Be Addressed (20 points)

Applicants must include in the project narrative a clear description of the research questions to be addressed. Applicants should discuss how previous research supports and shapes these questions and should identify the relevance of these questions for the field of juvenile justice. The proposed research will be judged on its ability to contribute to knowledge and practice in the field of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention.

Goals and Objectives (10 points)

The application must include goals and objectives that are clear, concrete, and relevant to the field of juvenile justice. Goals should derive directly from the problems to be addressed. Objectives should consist of clearly defined, measurable tasks that will enable the applicant to achieve the goals of the project.

Project Design (40 points)

The application should present in detail the design of the project. Design elements should follow directly from the project's goals and objectives. The data to be collected and/or analyzed should clearly support the project's goals and objectives. The applicant should describe the research or evaluation methodology in detail and should demonstrate the validity and usefulness of the data that will be collected and/or analyzed. The application must include a timeline that indicates when specific tasks will be initiated and completed. The timeline should be referenced as appropriate in the narrative, but should also be placed in appendix A of the application.

Management and Organizational Capability (20 points)

Applicants must demonstrate the existence of a management structure that will support the achievement of the project's goals and objectives in an efficient and cost-effective manner. In particular, applicants must ensure that the tasks delineated in the project timeline (see ``Project Design'' above) are adequately staffed. Resumes for key staff members should be included in appendix B. Applicants should also demonstrate the organizational capacity to complete the work described in the ``Project Design'' section. The applicant should include a description of any similar projects it has undertaken previously. Applicants should also demonstrate knowledge and experience related to juvenile justice issues. In addition, applicants should provide evidence of their ability to work collaboratively with juvenile justice system practitioners or service providers, particularly in the project's area of study. Research that involves specific agencies, organizations, or programs, including those under governmental or tribal auspices, should submit appropriate letters of cooperation in appendix C.

Budget (10 points)

Applicants must provide a proposed budget that is complete, detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost-effective in relation to the activities to be undertaken. All budgeted costs should be directly related to the achievement of project goals and objectives. A brief budget narrative should be included in this section.

Format

Proposals requesting awards of less than $50,000 will be considered ``small grants.'' Applications for small grants must limit the program narrative to 15 pages. Applicants requesting $50,000 or more must submit a program narrative of no more than 30 pages. These page limits do not include the budget narrative, appendixes, application forms, or assurances. At the end of the program narrative, applicants should indicate which author(s) were responsible for each of the narrative sections. Appendix A should contain the project's timeline with dates for initiation and completion of critical project tasks. Appendix B should contain the resumes for the principal investigator and key staff members. Appendix C should include all necessary letters of cooperation or support. The narrative portion of the application must be submitted on 8\1/ 2\-by 11-inch paper using a standard 12-point font. The application should be double-spaced and printed on one side of the paper only. The narrative should be preceded by an abstract with a maximum length of 300 words. These requirements are necessary to maintain a fair and uniform set of standards among all applicants. If the application fails to conform to these standards, it will not be eligible for consideration.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number

For all these programs except Native American Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the CFDA number, required on Standard Form 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' is 16.542. For Native American Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the CFDA number is 16.731. Standard Form 424 is included in OJJDP's Application Kit, which can be obtained by contacting the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800-638- 8736 or sending an e-mail request to puborder@ncjrs.org. The Application Kit is also available online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/grants/ about.htmlkit. Under the ``Descriptive Title'' section of Standard Form 424, in addition to the project's title, applicants should indicate under which topical area they are applying (i.e., Native American research, evaluations of programs for female offenders, juvenile justice system operations, or general research).

Coordination of Federal Efforts

To encourage better coordination among Federal agencies in addressing State and local needs, the U.S. Department of Justice is requesting applicants to provide information on the following: (1) Active Federal grant awards supporting this project or related efforts, including other awards from the Department of Justice; (2) any pending applications for Federal funds for this or related efforts; and (3) plans for coordinating any funds described in items (1) and (2) with the funding requested in this application. For each Federal award, applicants must include the program or project title, the Federal granting agency, the amount of the award, and a brief description of its purpose. ``Related efforts'' is defined for these purposes as one of the following: • Efforts for the same purpose (i.e., the proposed project would supplement, expand, complement, or continue activities funded with other Federal grants). • Another phase or component of the same program or project (e.g., to implement a planning effort funded by other Federal monies or to provide a substance abuse treatment or educational component within an existing juvenile justice project). • Services of some kind (e.g., technical assistance, research, or evaluation) to the program or project described in the application.

Delivery Instructions

All application packages should be mailed or delivered to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, c/o Juvenile Justice Resource Center, 2277 Research Boulevard, Mail Stop 2K, Rockville, MD 20850; 301-519-5535. Note: In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, the applicant must clearly write ``Field-Initiated Research and Evaluation Program'' and specify which topical area is addressed in the application (i.e., Native American research, evaluations of programs for female offenders, juvenile justice system operations, or general research).

Due Date

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the original and five copies of the application package are received by 5 p.m. ET on September 10, 1999.

Contact

For further information, contact Charlotte Kerr, Deputy Division Director, Research and Program Development Division, at 202-307-5929. Alternatively, e-mail inquiries can be sent to Charlott@ojp.usdoj.gov.

References

Bureau of Justice Statistics. 1999. American Indians and Crime. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Community Research Associates. 1998. Juvenile Female Offenders: A Status Report of the States. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Robin Lubitz, Deputy Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. [FR Doc. 99-19056 Filed 7-26-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-18-P