Refocus BJS/NIJ away from academic agendas toward “everyday American” crime stats
Mandate says BJS should prioritize core crime/punishment statistics clear to lay readers, avoid academic niche agendas and contractor reports that look official, and fund NCVS sufficiently.
Mandate
Mandate Ch. 17 (Justice) — Protecting Integrity of BJS and NIJ: focus BJS on core statistics of interest to everyday Americans/policymakers; no niche academic agendas; clear line between official stats and third-party contractor reports; NIJ fund unbiased high-interest research; prioritize National Crime Victimization Survey.
Undo plan
1) Keep BJS/NIJ scientific independence including disparity, victimization, and policing research academics need.
2) Maintain clear labeling of contractor reports without purging inconvenient topics.
3) Fully fund NCVS and transparent methodology.
4) Insulate statistical chiefs from political content vetoes.
5) Verify: NCVS sample size; publication calendars; NAS peer review.