The Committee on Law and Justice’s (CLAJ) mission is to improve government decision making and public policy and promote the understanding and dissemination of research in matters involving law and justice. CLAJ’s independent, expert reports and other scientific activities identify new areas of research, assist in resolving scientific controversies, extend the research agenda in established areas, promote theory development, and advance research-based policies.

During its 45-year history, CLAJ has attracted nationally and internationally renowned experts to provide independent, objective advice to the nation. The committee is composed of national experts with interdisciplinary knowledge drawn from the fields of criminal justice, criminology, public policy, law, sociology, economics, and behavioral sciences, among others.

Impact Highlights

• Influencing policy: The Growth of Incarceration in the United States (2014) was cited by Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to support the introduction of the Smarter Sentencing Act in 2015.
• Changing practice: In 2018, Congress reauthorized the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, which amended the law to require federal and state policies and plans to “reflect the science of adolescent development,” as recommended in our 2013 and 2014 reports on juvenile justice reform.
• Setting the research agenda: The National Institute of Justice solicited grants for research projects that aimed to reduce crime “with minimal negative collateral consequences” as part of a five-year strategic plan to evaluate community engagement and trust in law enforcement, a key research gap identified by our report, Proactive Policing: Effects on Crime and Communities.

Our Focus Areas

• Crime and victimization: Examining crime and victimization through activities focused on the causes, trends, and prevention of crime, the victimization of vulnerable populations, and family violence.
• Criminal justice system: Focusing on the workings of the criminal justice system, encompassing, for example, investigation and enforcement, adjudication, and corrections.
• Youth & the justice system: Exploring law and justice topics in the context of youth, adolescent development, and the juvenile justice system.

To learn more about CLAJ’s work, contact us at CLAJ@nas.edu.