US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

34 U.S.C. § 10121

Statement of purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter to establish a National Institute of Justice, which shall provide for and encourage research and demonstration efforts for the purpose of—
(1)
improving Federal, State, and local criminal justice systems and related aspects of the civil justice system;
(2)
preventing and reducing crimes;
(3)
insuring citizen access to appropriate dispute-resolution forums; and
(4)
identifying programs of proven effectiveness, programs having a record of proven success, or programs which offer a high probability of improving the functioning of the criminal justice system.
The Institute shall have authority to engage in and encourage research and development to improve and strengthen the criminal justice system and related aspects of the civil justice system and to disseminate the results of such efforts to Federal, State, and local governments, to evaluate the effectiveness of programs funded under this chapter, to develop and demonstrate new or improved approaches and techniques, to improve and strengthen the administration of justice, and to identify programs or projects carried out under this chapter which have demonstrated success in improving the quality of justice systems and which offer the likelihood of success if continued or repeated. In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Institute shall give primary emphasis to the problems of State and local justice systems and shall insure that there is a balance between basic and applied research.

Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 201Pub. L. 96–157, § 293 Stat. 1172Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 604(a)98 Stat. 2078(, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 90–351Pub. L. 96–157, § 293 Stat. 1167This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of , as added by , , , which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.

Codification

section 3721 of Title 42Section was formerly classified to , The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Prior Provisions

section 201 of Pub. L. 90–35182 Stat. 198Pub. L. 93–83, § 287 Stat. 197Pub. L. 94–503, title I, § 10490 Stat. 2408Pub. L. 96–157A prior , title I, , ; , , ; , , , set out Congressional statement of purpose in providing for a program of planning grants, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 98–4731984— redesignated par. (5) as (4), struck out former par. (4) relating to improvement of efforts to detect, investigate, prosecute, and otherwise combat and prevent white-collar crime and public corruption, and in closing provisions struck out “to develop alternatives to judicial resolution of disputes,” after “local governments,”, and inserted “and demonstrate” after “to develop”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–473section 609AA(a) of Pub. L. 98–473section 10101 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

National Training Program for State and Local Prosecutors

Pub. L. 110–424122 Stat. 4819

“SECTION 1.

TRAINING FOR STATE AND LOCAL PROSECUTORS.

“The Attorney General is authorized to award a grant to a national nonprofit organization (such as the National District Attorneys Association) to conduct a national training program for State and local prosecutors for the purpose of improving the professional skills of State and local prosecutors and enhancing the ability of Federal, State, and local prosecutors to work together.

“SEC. 2.

COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION.

“The Attorney General may provide assistance to the grantee under section 1 to carry out the training program described in such section, including comprehensive continuing legal education in the areas of trial practice, substantive legal updates, support staff training, and any other assistance the Attorney General determines to be appropriate.

“SEC. 3.

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

“There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out this Act $4,750,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012, to remain available until expended.”

, , , provided that: