The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development and evaluation
agency of the US Department of Justice. The NIJ is dedicated to improving
knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science. NIJ
provides objective and independent knowledge and tools to reduce crime and
promote justice, particularly at the state and local levels.

Each year, the NIJ publishes and sponsors dozens of research and study documents
detailing results, analyses and statistics that help to further the organization's
mission. These documents relate to topics like biometrics, corrections technology,
gun violence, digital forensics, human trafficking, electronic crime, terrorism, tribal
justice and more. This document is one of these publications.