Justice Today
Justice Today is the official podcast of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, where we discuss the most pressing criminal justice issues and explore efforts to prevent crime, assist victims, and strengthen the criminal and juvenile justice systems by providing vital research, data and best practices. We do not collect comments or messages. Learn more at: https://www.justice.gov/doj/privacy-policy
Episodes
57 episodes
Celebrating 40 Years of Impact: A Special Episode with Karhlton F. Moore, Director of BJA
In this special episode of Justice Today, we’re marking a significant milestone in the world of justice and public safety—the 40th Anniversary of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).Since its inception in 1984, BJA has played...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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29:13
Celebrating 40 Years of Impact: A Special Episode with Former Directors of BJA
In this special episode of Justice Today, we’re marking a major milestone in the world of justice and public safety—the 40th Anniversary of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). As one of the nation’s leading agencies for advancing j...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:22:22
Redesigning Life in U.S. Prisons
The prison system in the U.S. typically places a heavy emphasis on security, control, and punishment, and this foundation can create an adversarial culture within correctional facilities — incarcerated individuals versus correctional staff. But...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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54:16
Enhancing Corrections Spaces and Cultures
The nations prisons and jails are struggling to recruit and retain staff. These staffing challenges impact re-entry efforts and overall public safety.In this episode of Justice Today, hear from former Bureau of Justice Assistan...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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31:39
Closing Cases Using Gunshot Residue
Not every crime scene will have definitive evidence, such as DNA, to link an individual to a crime. In those cases, law enforcement relies on other evidence to build the burden of proof. NIJ graduate research fellow Dr. Shelby Khandasammy devel...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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19:30
Employing Mental Health Clinicians to Improve Police Outcomes
Law enforcement agencies are teaming up with mental health clinicians to improve behavioral health responses and allow police officers to focus on crime reduction. In this episode, our host discusses how Denver police work side-by-side with men...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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17:15
What's Known and Unknown About Marijuana (Part Two)
What’s Known and Unknown About Marijuana (Part Two)Marijuana legalization poses many challenges — especially those related to drug chemistry and toxicology — for researchers, law enforcement, and policy makers. In the latest episode of...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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27:57
What's Known and Unknown about Marijuana (Part One)
Marijuana poses many challenges for researchers, law enforcement, and policy makers, challenges that fall into two fields: drug chemistry and toxicology. NIJ scientist Dr. Frances Scott joins this episode to explain the complications in drug ch...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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27:55
Cold Cases and Serial Killers (Part Two)
NIJ Social Science Analyst Eric Martin discusses why the number of serial killers is declining and the factors that deter people from this type of violent offense. He also shares insight into whether society is experiencing an evolution away fr...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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27:24
A Data-Informed Response to Emerging Drugs
The emerging drug crisis in the U.S. touches both criminal justice and public health, and experts from both fields came together at NIJ’s 2023 National Research Conference to discuss strategies and tools to fight this problem. Dr. Frances Scott...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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19:39
A Conversation With Nancy Blaney: Shelter Services for Survivors and Their Companion Animals
Learn how the need for secure housing for victims of crime and their companion animals led to the creation of the Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program.Office for Victims of Crime Director Kristina R...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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30:22
The Power of Prosecutors
Every day, Joe Platania and his office make complex judgment calls that help decide whether people will spend years or even decades behind bars. In this episode, Platania explains how this process of “prosecutorial discretion” works.
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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28:05
Cold Cases and Serial Killers (Part One)
In April 2018, the Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo was arrested. NIJ support helped lead to his arrest, and in the aftermath of the arrest, NIJ Social Science Analyst Eric Martin was among those tasked with finding other cases NIJ helped l...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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30:06
Reaching Recovery in Rural and Tribal Areas
The road to recovery from substance use has many twists and turns, and often stops and restarts. In Navajo County, Arizona, county prosecutor Bradley Carlyon is working to help residents on the road to recovery from the moment they enter the co...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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17:40
Meeting People Where They Are to Improve Institutional Culture
Incarcerated individuals deserve opportunities for healing and growth, but they often lack the necessary resources for such opportunities. Additionally, organizational cultures that don’t support these outcomes often stand in the way. Researche...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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54:48
Progressing from Evidence to Action
A large body of research on crime and justice is available, yet it can take years for findings to influence practice in the field. During a recent panel at NIJ’s 2023 National Research Conference, researchers and practitioners shared ideas and ...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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21:27
Estimating Age of Death from Subadult Remains (Part Two)
The long-standing problem of estimating the age and sex of subadult skeletal remains has been significantly "solved" with the advances in understanding the growth and development patterns in the skeletons of young people. This is the second hal...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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19:52
Estimating Age of Death from Subadult Remains (Part One)
The long-standing problem of estimating the age and sex of subadult skeletal remains has been significantly "solved" with the advances in understanding the growth and development patterns in the skeletons of young people. Kyra Stull, an anthrop...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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15:57
30x30 Initiative: Prioritizing Women in Law Enforcement
Research shows that women officers use less force and are perceived by communities as more honest and compassionate. Yet currently, women make up only 12 percent of sworn officers and 3 percent of police leadership in the United States. In this...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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21:58
Driving Down Gun Violence (Part Two)
Three LEADS Scholars serving in different law enforcement agencies and positions discuss their experiences with identifying and implementing evidence-based interventions to reduce gun violence. NIJ Senior Advisor Dr. Tamara Herold hosts this co...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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15:46
Driving Down Gun Violence (Part One)
Three LEADS Scholars serving in different law enforcement agencies and positions discuss their experiences with identifying and implementing evidence-based interventions to reduce gun violence. NIJ Senior Advisor Dr. Tamara Herold hosts this co...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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20:41
Vaping: It's Not What You Think
Vaping has grown in popularity as an alternative to cigarettes, but like its predecessor, vaping brings many health complications to consumers. Thanks to the persistence of researchers like Dr. Michelle Peace, these once unknown dangers have be...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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41:38
SAKI—Bringing Justice to Georgia
The National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) has played an essential role in obtaining justice for victims of sexual assault nationwide. During this episode of the Justice Today podcast, hear how SAKI funding helped the state of Georgia pr...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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24:08
