2018 US Code
Title 34 - Crime Control and Law Enforcement
Subtitle I - Comprehensive Acts
Chapter 101 - Justice System Improvement
Subchapter II - National Institute of Justice
Sec. 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—

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, §201, as added Pub. L. 96–157, §2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1172; amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §604(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2078.)

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this title", meaning title I of Pub. L. 90–351, as added by Pub. L. 96–157, §2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1167, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.

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

A prior section 201 of Pub. L. 90–351, title I, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 198; Pub. L. 93–83, §2, Aug. 6, 1973, 87 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 94–503, title I, §104, Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2408, set out Congressional statement of purpose in providing for a program of planning grants, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–157.

1984—Pub. L. 98–473 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".

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–473 effective Oct. 12, 1984, see section 609AA(a) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as an Effective Date note under section 10101 of this title.

Pub. L. 110–424, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4819, provided that:

"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.

"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.

"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."