The National Institute of Justice is best described as:

• A. A local police academy
• B. The federal agency that funds research and evaluates programs to improve crime control and justice administration
• C. A private think tank on justice policy
• D. A state bureau coordinating justice liaison

Answer: (B)

The National Institute of Justice is the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, dedicated to funding and conducting rigorous research and evaluations to improve crime control and justice administration. It’s a federal agency, not a local police academy, not a private think tank, and not a state bureau. NIJ supports studies on policing, corrections, and policy effectiveness, and it publishes findings that guide practitioners and policymakers.