NIJ’s scientific activities fall within six broad research areas, and within these areas, NIJ supports a collection of ongoing research portfolios. In the table below, NIJ’s research portfolios are organized by the primary research areas that they address. Some research portfolios also address secondary research areas, as noted.
| Research Areas | Research Portfolios |
| Crime Prevention and Control | |
| Forensic and Investigative Sciences | Forensic Science |
| Justice Systems Operations | Courts b Policing b |
| Technology | |
| Victimization | |
| Youth safety and justice |
Table Notes - Secondary Research Areas: a Victimization, b Technology, c Crime Prevention and Control, d Justice Systems Operations
Each research portfolio in the table has its own webpage that provides detailed descriptions, research priorities, research questions, related reports and datasets, and additional information.
Within the six broad research areas, NIJ also supports studies on various topics that fall outside of the core research portfolios listed above. Support for these additional topics varies based on emerging priorities and available resources.