Current Grant Projects
Gang Resistance Education and Training Evaluation of Results (GREATER): Dr. Jose Miguel Cruz (LACC) was awarded a 3-year grant by the US Dept. of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) to co-lead (with Notre Dame researchers) an evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program in El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica & Panama. The award will allow FIU researchers to conduct the first systematic evaluation of GREAT programs implemented in Central America.
Prosecutorial Performance Indicators: Dr. Kutateladze, in partnership with Loyola University Chicago, is implementing an ongoing project with several prosecutor’s offices across the U.S. The project will help prosecutors improve data and analytical capacity, develop and implement new performance indicators to assess progress over time, and respond to the need to ameliorate racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system. The project is funded by the MacArthur Foundation, Microsoft, and the Schusterman Foundation.
Improving Strategies for Investigating and Prosecuting Hate Crimes: Dr. Kutateladze and senior fellow Melba Pearson, in conjunction with CUNY's Institute for State and Local Governance, are leading a multi-year effort funded by the National Institute of Justice. The aim of the grant is to coordinate with prosecutorial offices and elected prosecutors from across the country to improve the process of flagging, investigating, and prosecuting hate crimes. The work will involve a review of state laws on hate crime, data collection from nearly 100 elected/appoint prosecutors, a review of administrative case file data, the development of a hate crimes database, and interviews with prosecutors, investigators, and victim service providers.
Correctional Officer (CO) Wellness: Examining Stress Reduction and Suicide Prevention: Dr. Zgoba, along with Dr. Laura Salerno from the New Jersey Department of Corrections, has been awarded funding from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to examine trauma and stress among COs in New Jersey. The researchers will implement an evidence-supported CO wellness training curriculum that prioritizes trauma, stress, and suicide risk; a peer-to-peer mentor support program; and a family outreach program. Changes in officer sick time, overtime, disciplinary charges, criminal charges, medical leave requests, CO suicides, CO suicide attempts, and overall stress levels will be examined. Five hundred officers will take part in the multi-year study.