A. Institutional context 
1. University mission and vision:  The Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies' (hereinafter the Justice Center) research, instructional, and outreach functions are strongly supportive of the University as a land grant institution striving for the highest quality programs.  The research is program and policy focused, and outreach is emphasized.
2. Growth and resource outlook for the University:  Nevada continues to be the fastest growing state, and as the state grows, demand for research leading to justice policy formulation and refinement will increase, outreach needs and opportunities related to justice will multiply, and education about justice will be needed.
3. Demographic trends in Nevada, western U.S.:  Nevada and the West are becoming increasingly diverse in national, ethnic, and racial terms, and evolving into greater social and cultural complexity.  These changes will stress our institutions, call attention to inter-group differences, and require attention to adjustments in social and cultural practices and policies.  This is fertile ground for concern with justice in human affairs.
4. UCCSN Master Plan:  The major component of what we do is what differentiates the University from other UCCSN components:  research.  The Justice Center also serves a training function for justice policy researchers and practitioners in the justice system, which connects with education, outreach, and economic needs. The Justice Center provides opportunities for undergraduates to enrich their experience through participation in research projects.
5. The UNR Academic Master Plan for 1997-2001 identifies justice as one of the six University themes: "equity and justice in an increasingly complex society."
6.  The Justice Center is a statewide program that is supported by appropriation of $75,000 annually.  Other funds come from outside sources.
7. Space allocation:  Space has grown from two small offices in the Reynolds Journalism Building to presently adequate office and conference space in the National Judicial College.
8. Research funding and productivity data:  the Justice Center was created in 1992.
 
During the last five years:
®The Justice Center has received 18 grants or contracts, totaling $295,582.25. 
®Gifts to the Justice Center for the period totaled $32,000.
®The staff of the Center has published a total of 2 books; 37 articles in professional journals; 19 chapters;        and 13 other kinds of professional publications (e.g., technical reports; conference proceedings).
®The staff has presented over 100 papers at regional, national, and international conferences, some of which were invited presentations.
®During this period the staff participated in 7 workshops.
®Research and other activities have provided service to 9 local, state, and national justice agencies (e.g., Washoe County Court Services, the Nevada Supreme Court, and the Federal Judicial Center).
®21 UNR faculty and graduate students received assistance in proposal development.
®The Justice Center has brought 22 Distinguished Speakers to the campus for presentations to students, faculty, the legal community, and the public.
®We have presented 43 brown-bag colloquia.
®There were 7 workshops, conferences, or related events during the period (e.g., Public Forum on Capital Punishment, with the National Judicial College a co-sponsor).
®During the period the Justice Center published and circulated to the University, the community, and the state 15 newsletters; 7 year-end reports; 10 project reports; and three issues of the Grant Sawyer Center Occasional Paper Series.
®The Justice Center sponsored a substantial grant (co-PIs James Richardson and Gerald Ginsburg) funded by the State Justice Institute, which was combined with funding from the National Judicial College, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the Federal Judicial Center, and ourselves to design and implement a national study of judges' preparation for decisions about scientific evidence in the courtroom.  This research produced numerous presentations at scientific meetings and publications.  The findings were used also to create a benchbook for judges which has had major impact.

B. Discipline- or mission-specific context
1. The need for social science research on justice programs and policy has grown apace during the last 25 years.  The social psychology of courtroom procedure, the evaluation of educational programs for justice system personnel (including attorneys, judges), and the assessment of correctional practices are among the many areas addressed. The appearance of new, major journals, such as the American Psychological Association's Psychology, Public Policy, and the Law,  and Social Justice Research, an international journal co-edited by the Justice Center Director, underscore growth in the field.  The need for doctoral training in justice studies has been recognized in recent years by the creation of tracks within existing traditional programs (e.g., Political Science) and the Justice Studies Program at Arizona State University.