Center for Justice Research

What Center for Justice Research does

Center for Justice Research (CJR) is a university-based research center affiliated with Texas Southern University, a historically Black university in Houston, Texas, founded in 2017. The center conducts data-driven research on inequity in the U.S. criminal justice system, with active projects covering police reform, prosecutorial decision-making, pretrial and risk assessment equity, violent crime reduction, and the intersection of maternal health and structural racism. Its research output is disseminated through peer-reviewed academic publications, policy reports, research briefs, and the AI-driven Justice Insights podcast, and is delivered directly to public agencies via tailored technical assistance and training programs.

CJR's underlying methodology is a translational research model that integrates statistical analysis, longitudinal criminal justice data, surveys, and structured community input from justice-impacted individuals. The organization maintains extensive longitudinal datasets drawn from Texas jurisdictions, including analyses covering 117,071 adult probationers and 7,757 welfare fraud prosecutions spanning 1990-2023. Its research infrastructure is supported by a network of multi-university collaborations (Michigan State, Stetson, Elon, University of Wisconsin-Madison) and the internally developed Culturally Responsive Researcher Network (CRRN), which builds a pipeline of culturally responsive criminal justice scholars.

The center operates as a non-commercial entity within the Texas State University System and generates no product revenue. Its operating model is grant-funded, with confirmed funding from federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health ($2.6 million, five-year maternal health disparities award), the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, supplemented by philanthropic support such as Arnold Ventures ($600,000 in 2022). Research, training, and technical assistance services are provided free of charge to public agencies, policymakers, and communities, with customer engagement concentrated in Texas government and criminal justice stakeholders, including the Houston Police Department, Harris County Pretrial System, and Dallas County Juvenile Justice Department.

Name

Center for Justice Research

Legal name

Center for Justice Research

Website

https://centerforjusticeresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Center for Justice Research is a Houston-based research center at Texas Southern University that conducts data-driven studies on criminal justice equity, policing reform, risk assessment, and maternal health disparities. It serves public agencies, policymakers, and communities through peer-reviewed publications, policy reports, technical assistance, and the Justice Insights podcast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Criminal Justice Policy Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAIAJ

Law School Research Centers & Institutes (e.g., Law & Economics, Human Rights)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Law Schools

SECONDARYBPAGAFAI

Criminal Justice Reform & Legal System Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPADAGAK

Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

SECONDARYBPAHALAG

Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Research, Analytics & Expert Services

Keywords

• Criminal justice research
• Policy analysis
• Risk assessment evaluation
• Law enforcement research
• Academic publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: Primarily funded through research grants from federal agencies including NIH ($2.6 million for maternal health disparities research) and Department of Justice. Additional funding from foundations and institutional support.
2. Technical Assistance and Training Services: Tailored technical assistance, capacity-building, and training for justice agencies and practitioners. Supporting implementation of effective policies and programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Center for Justice Research conducts evidence-based research on criminal justice policy and practice, producing academic publications, policy reports, research briefs, and an AI-driven podcast (Justice Insights). The center also delivers tailored technical assistance, capacity-building, and training to justice agencies and policymakers, covering topics such as policing reform, prosecutorial decision-making, risk assessment equity, violent crime reduction, and maternal health disparities.

Product overview

The Center for Justice Research is a university-based research center (not a commercial software company) that offers a portfolio of research products and services focused on advancing equity and fairness in criminal justice. The core offerings include the AI-driven Justice Insights Podcast for disseminating research findings, peer-reviewed Academic Publications, in-depth policy Reports, and concise Research Briefs for decision-makers. Research spans multiple focus areas including policing reform, prosecutorial decision-making, risk assessment and predictive bias, violent crime reduction, and maternal/infant health disparities. Supporting programs include the Culturally Responsive Researcher Network (CRRN) for community-embedded research, and Research, Training, and Technical Assistance services for justice agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Justice Insights: AI-driven podcast delivering cutting-edge research and analysis on critical issues in criminal justice reform, exploring evidence-based solutions to challenges in policing, courts, and corrections
• Culturally Responsive Researcher Network (CRRN)

Products and services

• Justice Insights Podcast
• Academic Publications
• Reports
• Research Briefs
• Research, Training, and Technical Assistance
• Culturally Responsive Researcher Network (CRRN)

Quantifiable outcome

• DMC program participants showed significantly lower likelihood of drug/alcohol use and rearrest compared to comparison groups
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Baylor College of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2023Collaborating partner in $2.6 million NIH-funded five-year research project on maternal health disparities in Houston. CJR leads the research with Baylor providing medical expertise and academic rigor to the partnership.
• UTHealth McGovern Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2023Collaborating partner in NIH-funded maternal health disparities research. Contributes medical school expertise to the interdisciplinary research team examining structural factors affecting maternal and infant health outcomes.
• Texas Southern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for Center for Justice Research. Provides institutional infrastructure, academic affiliation, and support for research operations including the location at 3100 Cleburne St. Houston, Texas.
• Michigan State UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration to enhance Smart Suite program by promoting culturally responsive research, expanding outreach to diverse researchers, and fostering partnerships through national database and training.
• Stetson UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner collaborating on studies examining community factors, mental health, violent crime, and suicide across U.S. municipalities. Partnership in Justice Insights podcast content development.
• Elon UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in multi-university research collaboration examining complex relationships between community factors, mental health, violent crime, and suicide.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution on research examining secondary traumatic stress among community violence intervention practitioners, contributing methodological and academic expertise.
• The Metropolitan Organization (TMO)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization on Police Reform Action Team, working with CJR to design data-driven measurement systems for evaluating police reform effectiveness in Houston.
• Black Public Defender AssociationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Reimagining Public Safety Project, a two-year initiative to redefine public safety in Chicago from the perspective of Black communities.
• Chevron (Black Employee Network)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership between CJR and Chevron's Black Employee Network culminating in report on corporate impact in racial equity and justice reform, highlighting systemic inequalities and corporate responsibility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vera Institute of Justice: Independent nonprofit research and policy organization pursuing safety, fairness, and effectiveness across the justice system. Most directly comparable peer given shared focus on criminal justice research, technical assistance to jurisdictions, and policy reform advocacy.
• Brennan Center for Justice: NYU-affiliated law and policy organization conducting research on criminal justice reform, policing, and racial equity. Comparable in combining university-based research with policy advocacy and producing empirically grounded recommendations for justice system reform.
• Council on Criminal Justice: Nonpartisan criminal justice policy and research organization producing evidence-based analysis and recommendations on policing, courts, and corrections. Directly comparable in its research-driven approach to justice reform and policy translation.
• Center for Court Innovation: Nonprofit that combines research with on-the-ground court and community programs to test innovative justice interventions. Comparable in its translational approach bridging research and practitioner implementation.

Broad incumbents

• Urban Institute Justice Policy Center: Established research organization with a dedicated Justice Policy Center conducting rigorous evaluation of criminal justice programs and policies. Comparable in producing peer-reviewed research and evidence-based recommendations for reform.
• RAND Corporation: Major research institution with extensive criminal justice research portfolio spanning policing, courts, and corrections. Comparable in producing high-quality empirical research for federal agencies including DOJ and NIJ, though much broader in scope.
• NORC at the University of Chicago: University-affiliated independent research organization conducting large-scale social science research including criminal justice. Comparable in combining academic rigor with federally funded research projects and policy translation.
• MDRC: Social policy research organization known for rigorous program evaluations in criminal justice, education, and workforce development. Comparable in applying rigorous evaluation methodologies to justice system interventions.

Emerging players

• Pretrial Justice Institute: Specialized research and advocacy organization focused on pretrial justice reform, including risk assessment and racial disparity analysis. Partially comparable given CJR's overlapping pretrial research portfolio.

Others

• National Institute of Justice: Federal research, evaluation, and development agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Comparable as a funder and convener of criminal justice research, though it operates as a federal agency rather than a university-based research center.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cjresearchtsu
• Facebookfacebook.com/cjresearchtsu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-justice-research-856335160
• Instagraminstagram.com/cjresearchtsu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Justice Research