Justice Department Holds Conference On Criminal Justice Research

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) National Institute of Justice (NIJ) hosts its conference today through Wednesday, June 20, in Arlington, Va.  The event serves as a national forum, bringing together over 1,000 criminal and juvenile justice scholars, policy makers, and practitioners at the local, state, and federal levels to discuss research, technology, and programs affecting criminal justice policy and practice.

Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West gave opening remarks at the conference, underscoring the theme to this year's conference – "Turning to Science: Enhancing Safety, Improving Justice, and Reducing Costs" – and emphasizing the relevance and utility of science beyond the academy and the laboratory. 

"For more than four decades, NIJ has given us new knowledge and new tools to fight crime and ensure the fair administration of justice.  Today – in this era of tight budgets and competing priorities – its work is more important than ever," said Acting Associate Attorney General West.

Conference participants will attend over 50 panels and workshops, learn about new methods and technologies as well as promising developments in research, and participate in expert panel discussions. The conference provides the opportunity for criminal justice researchers and professionals to share the most recent crime and criminal justice findings, explore the implications for policy and practice, and build relationships with other professionals in the field. 

"As we all know, the challenges facing us in criminal justice are considerable.  But our knowledge about what works is growing, and the tools and technology we have at our disposal are expanding," said Mary Lou Leary, OJP's Acting Assistant Attorney General. "Our goal is to facilitate a vigorous and thoughtful exchange of knowledge leading to better policies and practices throughout the justice system."

Tuesday's keynote speaker, Joan Petersilia, Professor at Stanford Law School, will speak on the future of prison downsizing in the United States.  Dr. Petersilia served as former special advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, assisting with the reorganizing of California juvenile and adult corrections and helping to implement prison and parole reform.

"The NIJ Conference gives criminal justice professionals a rare opportunity to interact with scientists and an opportunity to learn how the field is applying findings from research, how they are innovating, and how practices are evolving," said NIJ Director John H. Laub, Ph.D. 

Monday's panel topics include wrongful convictions, untested sexual assault kit evidence, body armor, and predicting risk in community corrections. Tuesday panels will present the latest findings on human trafficking, police legitimacy, crimes against American Indian and Alaskan Native women, and improving response to victims. Wednesday features a plenary on evidence-based practices and policies to keep officers safer on the street, and panel topics including improving officer traffic safety and transnational organized crime. 

A full listing of speakers and panels at the conference held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va. is available at:   http://asoft130.securesites.net/secure/causda/clientuploads/design/DOJ_Meetings/NIJ/Schedule_for_Website.pdf

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking.  More information about OJP can be found at http://www.ojp.gov

SOURCE Office of Justice Programs