Justice Research and Statistics Association

The Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) is a national nonprofit organization of state Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs), researchers, and practitioners throughout government, academia, and justice organizations. JRSA members form a network of justice professionals dedicated to policy-relevant research and practice. The association was created in 1974 to promote cooperation and the exchange of criminal justice information among the states. The Justice Research and Statistics Association is a 501 (c)(3) organization and SAC Directors serve as the voting members of the Association.

SACs contribute to viable, effective policy development in their states through statistical services, research, evaluation, and policy analysis. Through the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) State Justice Statistics Program, SACs also undertake statistical research and analysis on themes selected by BJS and JRSA that reflect issues of current concern and significance to the justice community. JRSA collects information annually in a computerized index called the Infobase of State Activities and Research (ISAR) on SAC research, analyses, and activities, as well as reports and publications.

JRSA provides:

• access to state-based information such as the Infobase of State Activities and Research (ISAR), a searchable clearinghouse of SAC research, and programs, and the SAC Digest, an electronic compilation of SAC publication abstracts

• grant notes, etc., a bulletin on current funding opportunities

• the JRSA Forum, a quarterly newsletter

• Justice Research and Policy, JRSA’s semiannual peer-reviewed journal

• online resources, including JRSA project web sites and links to other justice sites

• conducts multistate research on statewide and systemwide problems and practices.

• convenes conferences so justice professionals can share information and hear about new research, programs, and technologies.

• provides training and technical assistance on a wide range of topics, including…
  • automated systems planning and management
  • crime analysis, including spatial analysis of crime data and analysis of incident-based data
  • evaluation and research methods
  • computer technologies for records management, data analysis, and forecasting
  • using the Internet and developing web sites