The Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute (CJPRI) is a premier research hub housed within the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ) at Portland State University. Located in the College of Urban and Public Affairs, our mission is to advance evidence-based criminal justice policy through rigorous applied research studies.
We provide the data and insights necessary for informed decision-making, focusing on effective strategies for crime prevention, public safety, and rehabilitative justice.
Our Core Initiatives
As a leader in Oregon criminal justice research, we fulfill our mission through these activities:
- Legislative Research Support: Serving as a primary public policy resource for the Oregon Legislative Assembly and local government units under Senate Bill 240.
- Faculty-Led Research Projects: Securing funding and providing administrative oversight for cutting-edge studies conducted by our expert Criminology and Criminal Justice faculty.
- Knowledge Dissemination: Sharing high-impact findings from the CJPRI to influence criminal justice reform and national policy discussions.
- Policy Maker Resources: Maintaining a digital forum where Oregon policy makers can evaluate criminal justice practices using objective, performance-based criteria.