Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2020 18257
The Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funding opportunity titled "Research on Law Enforcement Responses to Sex Trafficking of Minors, Fiscal Year 2020" (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2020 18257; CFDA 16.560) is a discretionary grant program meant to support research that examines how law enforcement agencies in the United States have changed their approaches to preventing and responding to the sex trafficking of minors since the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. The central idea behind the solicitation is to build a clearer, evidence-based picture of what has shifted in practice over the last two decades, what remains uneven or underdeveloped, and what real-world barriers are shaping the way agencies handle these cases.
NIJ makes two research areas mandatory, and proposals that do not directly address both will not be considered for funding. First, applicants must study how widely law enforcement agencies have adopted practices grounded in the view that a trafficked minor should be treated as a victim rather than as a delinquent or offender. This requirement reflects a major policy and cultural shift that has been encouraged since TVPA: moving away from arresting, charging, or otherwise processing minors primarily through a delinquency lens and toward approaches that prioritize victim identification, protection, referral to services, and trauma-informed engagement. Second, applicants must examine the challenges agencies have faced when trying to adopt or implement these victim-centered practices. In other words, NIJ is not only looking for descriptions of ideal policy but also for an honest assessment of the practical obstacles that can prevent reforms from being adopted consistently, sustained over time, or applied across different units, jurisdictions, and case types.
Beyond those two required topics, NIJ signals additional areas that can be included to strengthen a proposal. One specifically mentioned area is the nature and effectiveness of victim-oriented practices that agencies have adopted. That could include research on how particular policies, training models, investigative protocols, multidisciplinary partnerships, diversion strategies, or referral pathways function in practice, and whether they lead to better outcomes such as improved victim identification, reduced criminalization of minors, increased access to services, stronger case building against traffickers and exploiters, or better coordination with child welfare, prosecutors, and community-based service providers. While NIJ does not limit applicants only to that example, the solicitation makes it clear that any additional topics are optional and must be built around, not in place of, the two required focus areas.
The opportunity is structured as a grant with an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000, and NIJ anticipated making one award. The solicitation was created on March 24, 2020, with an original closing date of May 25, 2020. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as described in the solicitation's additional eligibility information. The funding activity categories tied to the program include law, justice, and legal services, as well as science and technology and other research and development, reflecting NIJ's role as the research, development, and evaluation arm of the Department of Justice.
Overall, the grant is best understood as a targeted research investment focused on documenting and explaining the real evolution of law enforcement responses to minor sex trafficking after TVPA, with special emphasis on whether agencies have truly operationalized a victim-centered framework and what stands in the way when they try. The aim is not simply to restate statutory intent, but to measure adoption, map variation across agencies, and identify implementation challenges so that future policy, training, and practice can be guided by stronger evidence rather than assumptions.Apply for NIJ 2020 18257
- The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research on Law Enforcement Responses to Sex Trafficking of Minors, Fiscal Year 2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 24, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Research on Law Enforcement Responses to Sex Trafficking of Minors, Fiscal Year 2020."
Which agency is offering this grant?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ 2020 18257, and the CFDA number is 16.560.
What type of program is this?
This is a discretionary grant program supporting research.
What is the overall purpose of the solicitation?
The solicitation supports research that examines how U.S. law enforcement agencies have changed their approaches to preventing and responding to the sex trafficking of minors since the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. The goal is to build an evidence-based picture of what has changed over the last two decades, what remains uneven, and what barriers shape agency practice.
What law or policy change is central to the research focus?
The central reference point is the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 and the policy and cultural shift it encouraged in how trafficked minors are treated.
Are there required research topics?
Yes. NIJ makes two research areas mandatory, and proposals that do not directly address both will not be considered for funding.
What is the first mandatory research area?
Applicants must study how widely law enforcement agencies have adopted practices grounded in the view that a trafficked minor should be treated as a victim rather than as a delinquent or offender.
What does "treating a trafficked minor as a victim rather than an offender" mean in this solicitation?
It refers to approaches that move away from arresting, charging, or processing minors primarily through a delinquency lens and toward practices that prioritize victim identification, protection, referral to services, and trauma-informed engagement.
What is the second mandatory research area?
Applicants must examine the challenges agencies have faced when trying to adopt or implement these victim-centered practices, including practical obstacles that prevent reforms from being adopted consistently, sustained over time, or applied across units, jurisdictions, and case types.
What happens if a proposal addresses only one of the required topics?
NIJ states that proposals that do not directly address both required research areas will not be considered for funding.
Does NIJ want only policy descriptions or also real-world implementation details?
NIJ is looking for more than descriptions of ideal policy. The solicitation emphasizes an honest assessment of practical barriers and implementation challenges that shape whether victim-centered reforms are applied consistently and sustained over time.
What optional topics can applicants include to strengthen a proposal?
NIJ signals that proposals can be strengthened by including additional research areas beyond the two required topics. One specifically mentioned optional area is the nature and effectiveness of victim-oriented practices adopted by agencies.
What examples of "victim-oriented practices" are mentioned?
Examples include policies, training models, investigative protocols, multidisciplinary partnerships, diversion strategies, and referral pathways.
What kinds of outcomes might the research examine when looking at effectiveness?
The solicitation mentions outcomes such as improved victim identification, reduced criminalization of minors, increased access to services, stronger case building against traffickers and exploiters, and better coordination with child welfare, prosecutors, and community-based service providers.
Are applicants limited only to the optional topic example NIJ mentions?
No. NIJ does not limit applicants only to that example, but it makes clear that any additional topics are optional and must be built around (not in place of) the two required focus areas.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000.
How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?
NIJ anticipated making one award.
When was the solicitation created and when was it originally due?
The solicitation was created on March 24, 2020, with an original closing date of May 25, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as described in the solicitation's additional eligibility information.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, other than institutions of higher education.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible applicants.
What are the funding activity categories associated with this program?
The funding activity categories include law, justice, and legal services, as well as science and technology and other research and development.
Why does the solicitation include science and technology or research and development categories?
The categories reflect NIJ's role as the research, development, and evaluation arm of the Department of Justice.
What timeframe of change is this research meant to cover?
The research is focused on changes since the passage of the TVPA in 2000, examining how practice has evolved over roughly two decades.
Is the goal to restate statutory intent or to measure real-world change?
The stated aim is not simply to restate statutory intent, but to measure adoption, map variation across agencies, and identify implementation challenges so future policy, training, and practice can be guided by evidence rather than assumptions.
What kinds of variation does NIJ want documented?
NIJ emphasizes mapping variation in how practices are adopted and implemented across different units, jurisdictions, and case types, and identifying where responses remain uneven or underdeveloped.
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