The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) and the American Society of Criminology (ACS) have joined to start the Crime and Justice Research Alliance (CJRA), a new Washington-based partnership to help elevate objective research on criminal justice issues. CJRA represents more than 5,000 criminal justice scholars and research experts who will also benefit from having a more direct link to policy discussions in Washington. CJRA said it would serve as a nonpartisan resource to policymakers across the political spectrum and will provide services such as summarizing published scholarly articles and identifying expert witnesses to speak to Congressional committees, members of Congress and Justice Department officials. Its goal is to provide objective research necessary to inform hearing questions, legislation, appropriations and other policy discussions.
“This new organization will provide the Congress, U.S. Department of Justice and other federal policymakers with a 'one-stop shop' of the most rigorous research and the authoritative experts to inform public debate on criminal justice issues,” said Nancy La Vigne of the Urban Institute, who serves as chair of the CJRA board. In addition to connecting policymakers with the latest research and experts, the alliance will also help communicate legislative, appropriations, and policy developments in Washington to the criminal justice research and academic communities. CJRA has launched a website, www.