Work of National Institute of Justice Dedicated to Crime Control and Justice Issues

 

Sarah Hart was sworn in as the Director of the National Institute of Justice in August 2001. From 1995 to 2001, she served as chief counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and had previously served for 16 years as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. Q:What is the mission of the National Institute of Justice? Does that mission benefit the federal courts? A: NIJ is the research and development agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and is the only federal agency solely dedicated to researching crime control and justice issues. NIJ provides objective, independent, non-partisan evidence-based knowledge and tools. In partnership with others, NIJ's mission is to prevent and reduce crime, improve law enforcement and the administration of justice, and promote public safety. By applying the disciplines of the social and physical sciences, NIJ o researches the nature and impact of crime and delinquency; o develops applied technologies, standards and tools for criminal justice practitioners; o evaluates existing programs and responses to crime; o tests innovative concepts and program models in the field; o assists policymakers, program partners, and justice agencies; and o disseminates knowledge to many audiences.

Sarah Hart, Director of NIJ

NIJ's work has been of benefit to the federal courts, although in a limited way given the Institute's mandate to emphasize state and local needs. For example, from 1997-2001, NIJ funded a pilot program in 24 federal districts called Operation Drug TEST. The program attempted to provide drug testing for all defendants before their first court appearance; effective sanctions when defendants on release were found to be using illegal drugs; and referral of drug-using defendants to treatment as needed. The evaluation of the program found mixed results, and highlighted program implementation challenges. As a result, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts decided not to continue the program beyond 2001 when NIJ's funding ended. Although the particular program model was not ultimately successful, the experiment reinforced the value of identifying which defendants are illegal drug users, particularly chronic users.

_Q:Five years ago, NIJ began building a national technology research and development program. Why? What is the goal of this program?

_A:NIJ's technology program actually dates from the very earliest days of the Institute and is more than 30 years old. In the 1970s, the Institute developed and promoted a number of technologies that are in common use today, including soft body armor-credited with saving the lives of nearly 3,000 police officers-and magnetometers that are widely used. About five years ago, NIJ's funding for technology increased significantly. Today, NIJ's Office of Science and Technology manages about $200 million of programs. In this area, NIJ's major goals are to develop technologies and standards that strengthen the justice system or contribute to public safety; provide objective testing of commercial products against NIJ's standards; and provide objective advice to state and local agencies on technology issues.

_Q:As part of its strategic plan, NIJ also creates tools and technologies to meet the needs of law-enforcement. What does this entail and what are some of the results?

_A:Tools and technologies developed by NIJ for law enforcement are extensive. Examples include: DNA identification technologies; interoperable devices and protocols that permit public service agencies (police, fire, medical and other) to communicate effectively across jurisdictional barriers; less-than-lethal weapons; technologies to detect bombs or concealed weapons; and improved forensic techniques.

_Q:NIJ also tests research-based interventions to break the cycle of crime. Can you tell us about a few of those interventions? Do any of these interventions affect, or are used by, federal probation?

_A:One of the larger NIJ projects in this area is the "Breaking The Cycle" (BTC) field test, funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. BTC is a system-wide intervention that includes 1) collaboration among justice and treatment system agencies, 2) early intervention, 3) individualized treatment and supervision plans, 4) sanctions for those who do not comply and incentives for those who do, and 5) judicial oversight. Results from the Birmingham, Alabama, BTC site were encouraging, despite challenges in fully implementing the BTC model. BTC participants had a statistically significant lower likelihood of drug use (approximately 30 percent) than the comparison group; and BTC participants had a much lower probability of being arrested than the comparison group. An important finding from Birmingham was that not everyone who tested positive on their initial drug test needed treatment. Only 25 percent of those who tested positive were scored as "severely dependent" on standard drug dependency classification instruments. These results suggest that coercive abstinence strategies may be cost-effective for repeatedly failing offenders. NIJ also is evaluating the effectiveness of using systems to track probationers; these results could prove useful to federal probation officials.

_Q:Your research publications cover a wide range, from reports on the threat of Russian Organized Crime to a Users Guide for Hand-Held and Walk-Through Metal Detectors. What guides NIJ research?

_A:The Institute actively solicits the views of practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to set its research agenda. For example, our core counter-terrorism technology program grew out of a national survey of over 100 law enforcement agencies. NIJ also holds strategic planning sessions and has standing committees that provide advice. NIJ's research topics also are influenced by executive branch funding partners and congressional direction. I especially welcome views from the Judiciary as to where research is needed.

_Q:In your career, you have moved from corrections at the state level to the federal level. With that perspective, what are the most important issues facing the federal corrections system?

_A:Both federal and state corrections administrators face enormous challenges in maintaining safe and secure prison facilities that provide inmates with the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves. However, the federal system is facing tremendous increases in inmate population as well as changes in the nature of inmates incarcerated. Federal criminal prosecutions are increasingly focusing on drug and gun crimes. In addition, the Federal Bureau of Prisons is now responsible for incarcerating Washington, D.C. inmates. This shift to violent and street crime offenders has resulted in more high-risk inmates with substantial and costly education, medical, and drug treatment needs.

_Q:The NIJ also assists policymakers. Will you have a role in developing homeland security plans or policies? undertaking?

_A:In October 2001, President Bush established an Office of Homeland Security within the White House. The first head of that office is former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. I worked for Governor Ridge for six years and I have tremendous respect for him and his abilities. As a research agency, NIJ does not directly develop national policy or operational plans. NIJ helps to develop technologies and reference materials used by state and local officials to select and procure equipment, modify plans, and provide training. We look forward to providing whatever assistance we can in homeland defense.

_Q:Is NIJ creating a database of DNA samples of convicted offenders? Why? And for what will it be used? Will it be available to both state and federal law enforcement agencies?

_A:I believe strongly that the increased use of DNA testing and other forensic sciences will solve many serious crimes and ensure reliable verdicts. DNA testing holds great promise because it allows law enforcement officers to quickly and reliably identify repeat sex offenders and pedophiles. However, NIJ is not creating a national DNA database. Rather, the FBI manages the national COmbined DNA Index System (CODIS) that enables federal, state, and local crime labs to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically. The CODIS database has over 775,000 convicted offender and over 30,000 forensic profiles. All 50 states and Congress have passed legislation authorizing the collection of DNA samples from those convicted of certain offenses. NIJ is funding states to reduce their backlogs of unanalyzed DNA sam-ples from convicted offenders so that these data can be uploaded into the national database. NIJ also will be starting a new program to fund states to analyze DNA samples from unsolved crime scenes, including rape kits.