Webinar Presenters:

Linda Truitt, Ph.D., National Institute of Justice

Gregory Torain, M.Ed., L.C.P.C., Bureau of Justice Assistance

Courtney Stewart , Ed.D., Bureau of Justice Assistance

NIJ Multisite Impact and Cost-Efficiency Evaluation 

of Veterans Treatment Courts , Fiscal Year 2022

Solicitation Post Date: October 29, 2021

Grants.Gov Registration Deadline: January 13, 2022

JustGrants Application Deadline: January 27, 2022
Webinar Agenda

• NIJ’s Courts Research Portfolio

• NIJ Multisite Impact and Cost-Efficiency Evaluation of 

Veterans Treatment Courts

• NIJ FY2022 Research Solicitation

• Research Partner Sites

• Application Guidance and Information Resources
NIJ’s Courts Research Portfolio

• Problem Solving Courts Research

– Multisite Evaluation of VTCs Process and Implementation Study

– Multisite Adult Drug Court Evaluation

– Evaluation of Adult Reentry Courts

• NIJ’s Courts Research Strategic Plan, 2020-2024

– Develop the courts workforce and enhance court workgroups

– Advance court practice

– Support the fair and impartial administration of justice

– Promote data and research capacity building

See NIJ Journal article, NIJ’s Courts Research: Examining Alternatives to 

Incarceration for Veterans and Other Policy Innovation (2021)
NIJ Multisite Impact and Cost-Efficiency Evaluation 

of Veterans Treatment Courts

• Field needs

President’s FY 2021 budget allocated $25 million for VTC programs; 

funding supports VTC site-based awards and training and technical 

assistance (TTA)

• DOJ Priorities

Access to justice and to treatment; alternatives to incarceration; prevent 

misuse of stimulants and opioids, overdoses; ensure equity and inclusion in 

adult drug courts and VTCs, and expand access to services for veterans

• BJA Goal

Apply lessons from this project to guide VTC program policy
NIJ FY2022 Research Solicitation

• NIJ seeks applications for funding to conduct a multisite process, impact 

and cost-efficiency evaluation of veterans treatment courts (VTCs)

• NIJ will make one $3 million award for a five-year cooperative 

agreement (7/1/2022 start date)

• The awardee will lead a cross-site evaluation in partnership with up to 

six large VTCs across the U.S. 

• The research protocol will incorporate experimental design and other 

rigorous research methods

• The project begins with a 6-month Planning phase to confirm the 

research protocol including VTC site selection

Do not include site nominations or program letters of support.
NIJ FY2022 Research Solicitation (continued)

• Research questions will examine:

– Program impact on relapse, recidivism, and other outcomes

– For whom are programs effective

– Which program elements are effective

– Whether programs are cost-efficient

• Topics of interest include veterans* with violent offense histories, 

mental health and comorbidity, leveraging technology, peer 

mentoring, and equitable service access 

*VTCs may admit active service members to programs
NIJ FY2022 Research Solicitation (continued)

• Project Phases:

– Planning (6 months)

Finalize protocol including VTC site selection, site agreements, 

and Internal Review Board (IRB) approval

– Research (54 months)

Complete site recruitment* and lead cross-site evaluation 

including research tasks, analysis, data and written 

deliverables, and dissemination

*Complete recruitment of 6 sites by Year 1; end site replacement by Year 2 
NIJ FY2022 Research Solicitation (continued)

• Evaluation Research Tasks (VTC program and similar comparison group): 

– Process

Document program logic models, actual caseflow, services, and procedures to 

examine program retention and compliance, leveraging technology, peer 

mentoring, and equitable service access

– Impact

Examine effects on public safety (arrests, violations, convictions, and 

incarcerations) and other outcomes (alcohol and other drug use, mental health, 

and housing stability)

– Cost-Efficiency

Examine public investment and net benefits using primary information 

collection, secondary data sources, multiple outcomes of interest, and findings 

from process and impact evaluations

Collect equivalent information on comparison group 
NIJ FY2022 Research Solicitation (continued)

• Research applications must:

– State research questions that correspond to methods, data collection, 

analysis, and reporting plans

– Detail qualitative and quantitative research methods – how will be 

implemented, and how information will be compiled and analyzed

– Detail interview protocols including baseline and followup interviews; at 

least 75% response rates and bioassay alcohol and other drug tests

– Describe protocol and budget options should field research plans need to be 

modified due to public health concerns

– Describe potential archival data resources, and how validity and reliability 

concerns will be addressed

– Demonstrate cultural competence in protocol and team capabilities; address 

geographic, racial/ethnic, language, and other diversity issues
Research Partner Sites

• Goal: cross-site evaluation with six large VTCs led by one research team

• VTC programs must be stable with 40 or more participants

• NIJ and BJA will schedule virtual visits with VTC program team and 

partners to explore feasibility of becoming a research partner site 

• Each VTC must designate one program and one research representative

• VTC sites will be confirmed by the NIJ grantee at the Planning phase

• Site information collected for research purposes will remain confidential

• Each site will receive $25,000 in each of the first two years for supporting 

research tasks

• Sites are encouraged to develop complementary research tasks with the 

research team if supplemental funds are available

History of BJA or other federal funding is NOT required .
Research Partner Sites (continued)

• Are there any restrictions on the NIJ grant funds that sites receive for 

participating? Funding is authorized for research support and services including 

data collection and technology.

• How will the sites be selected? The NIJ research team will confirm six large VTCs 

based on stable program operations and ability to participate.

• What happens if a site drops out? The cross-site evaluation team will address any 

issues, but participation is voluntary and a decision to stop cannot be penalized. 

• How long is the IRB approval process? At least a month after the research 

protocol is finalized, depending on site agency review.

• Will technical assistance be available to sites? BJA encourages all VTCs to take 

advantage of training and technical assistance resources.*

*https://bja.ojp.gov/program/adult-drug-court-grant-program/training-and-technical-assistance
Research Application Guidance

• Budget – the $3 million award will fund two phases:

1. Planning $100,000 (6 months)

2. Research $2,900,000 (54 months)

– Of the $2,900,000, each site will be paid $25,000 in each of 

the first two years of the NIJ grant

– Attach a budget worksheet and narrative that describes each 

phase

– Research budget may be supplemented in future fiscal years, 

but do not include proposed new tasks in application budget

Do not include tasks beyond $3 million in application budget
Research Application Guidance

• Deliverables

– Monthly Project Update Calls

– Project Startup Meeting

– Revised Evaluation Plan

– Draft Abstract, Executive Summary, and Report

– NIJ Briefing

– Final Abstract, Executive Summary, and Research Report

– Professional Conference Presentations

– Data Sets and Associated Files and Documentation

– Other dissemination suggestions encouraged
Research Application Guidance (continued)

• Application Review Criteria

– Problem Statement 15%

– Project Design and Implementation 50%

– Capabilities and Competencies 25%

– Potential Impact (dissemination) 10%

– Budget (comments only)

• Register and submit application ahead of deadlines:

Grants.Gov Registration Deadline: January 13, 2022

JustGrants Application Deadline: January 27, 2022

• Label files and upload in correct section (Project Management Plan)

• Itemize appendices in a table of contents style

• Combine similar documents like resumes into a single file

Document application submission contents and timestamp
Information Resources

• NIJ solicitation webpage 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-nij-2022-171012

• Potential Research Partner Sites

– NIJVTC@usdoj.gov

• Research Solicitation Applicants

– NIJ solicitation support: grants@ncjrs.gov 800-851-3420

– Grants.Gov: support@grants.gov 800-518-4726

– JustGrants: JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov 833-872-5175

NIJ and BJA staff are not permitted to discuss applications