This webpage introduces and describes the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) 2023 National Research Conference.
The National Institute of Justice recently hosted the 2023 National Research Conference highlighting key priorities of NIJ Director Nancy La Vigne, Ph.D., to build evidence that promotes safety, equity, and justice for all. These priorities include supporting inclusive research that engages those closest to the issue, conducting research with a racial equity lens, and ensuring research findings lead to improvements in criminal justice policies and practices. The first NIJ research conference in 12 years — a three-day event in Arlington, Virginia — attracted more than 540 attendees including researchers, practitioners, advocates, and others. The conference’s Evidence to Action theme reflected NIJ’s efforts to ensure that the field learns about research, trusts the findings, and is inspired to make evidence-informed changes to improve their policies and practices. Attorney General Merrick Garland opened the conference, affirming how the work of NIJ and its grantees informs work across the U.S. Department of Justice.