Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies Faculty Research Grant Program

Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies

Faculty Research Grant Program (supported by Correctional Service Canada)

Deadline: September 30, 2011

The Centre Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies at the University of Saskatchewan (the “Centre”) is an interdisciplinary centre aimed at promoting research and graduate training in the areas of justice and forensic sciences. Demands have, and continue to emerge, at the municipal, provincial and national levels for scholarly activity pertaining to the criminal justice system. These demands include the need for research, training and evaluation concerning the law and justice systems, personnel and inmates, crime prevention, conflict resolution, and community health issues as informed and impacted by correctional services.

The Centre is pleased to invite applications for faculty research awards, made possible through funding support from Correctional Service Canada. The purpose of these awards is to fund small projects that will enable researchers to better position their research for success at provincial and national funding levels. The total amount of funding available for this competition is $20,000. It is anticipated that individual awards will be in the $5,000 to $7,000 range, however, applications up to a maximum of $15,000 may be considered.

The deadline for receipt of applications is September 30, 2011 with results to be announced by the end of October, 2011.

The Centre will accept submissions from any University of Saskatchewan faculty member whose research proposal investigates a law, crime, justice and/or corrections topic from a social science, health science, legal, management or interdisciplinary perspective. Only one submission per faculty member will be considered per competition, although a particular individual may be named as Principal Investigator on one submission and Co-investigator on another. Researchers may receive funding on a yearly basis, provided an application was submitted to a provincial or national funding agency in the previous year on the work that has already received funding from the Forensic Initiative.
Consideration will be given to all submissions but funding is competitive and will be granted based on the following criteria:

- the importance and relevance of questions being addressed,
- the potential theoretical contribution to an understanding of criminal behaviour and other justice-related phenomena,
- the potential practical contribution to the criminal justice system and its member agencies and stakeholders, including offenders and victims
- relevance to Saskatchewan and/or the prairie region,
- relevance to a provincial or national funding program to which the researcher intends to submit an application in the next 12 months,
- plans to ensure effective knowledge translation,
- the soundness and practicality of the proposal, and
- the potential value for money

The proposal must include (all pages must be numbered):

1.    Title of the research project;
2.    Brief summary of the research (up to 5 pages) presented in accordance with the following topics: background issue(s), synopsis of relevant research, rationale for the research, research question(s), methodology, data analysis, other agency/organization involvement/approval, and potential implications/impact of the research;
3.    Proposed budget for the research with justification of expenses, a statement of request specifying the amount of financial resources that are being requested, and a disclosure about any other potential or existing sources of funding;
4.    Projected timeframe in which the research will be completed;
5.    Dissemination or communication plan;
6.    Statement of commitment to apply for provincial or national funding within the next 12 months and explanation of how the present proposal will improve the external funding application;
7.    Brief biographies of the principal investigator and all co-investigators (up to one
half page per person); 8. References; 9.    Documentation that supplements the research summary may be included in Appendices (e.g., sample questionnaires, focus group questions, survey instruments, interview protocols, solicitation announcements, consent forms, correspondence with criminal justice agencies and stakeholders).

Incomplete proposals will be returned to the applicant without review.

Submissions must be signed by the applicant, any co-applicants and their respective Department Heads (if applicable), and Deans or Associate Deans. A copy of the ethics application and Research Ethics Board approval is not required with the submission, but per University policy, will be required before funding is released.

Grant applications will be reviewed by an Awards Committee, made up of a minimum of three (3) members, selected annually from among the members and affiliated faculty of the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies, including one representative of Correctional Service Canada-Regional Psychiatric Centre research program.

Successful applicants must abide by the policies and regulations of the University of Saskatchewan regarding the use of research funds. In addition, award recipients will be required to submit an annual summary of their expenditures in order for the Centre to meet its own external reporting requirements. Grant funds may not be used to provide honoraria or release time stipends for the Principal Investigator or Co-investigators.

Eligible expenses:

- Travel directly associated with the research
- Research dissemination travel (maximum allowable $1000)
- Materials and supplies
- Salary and mandatory benefits for undergraduate or graduate students or non-
student research assistants
- Equipment rental
- Postage and long-distance telephone expenses
- Printing
- Specialized computing software
- Fees paid to research subjects (e.g. honorariums) where ethically approved.

Any unexpended funds at the completion of the research must be returned to the Centre and will be added to the funds available in subsequent grant competitions.

The term of the grant will be in accordance with the applicant’s request or as negotiated with the Awards Committee. It is anticipated that most grants will be for one year or less, although awards may be granted for a longer period if approved by the Awards Committee. The term may be extended only upon written request to and approval by the Committee.

Upon completion of the research, grant recipients must prepare and submit to the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies a maximum 3-page summary of the research, including rationale, research question(s) addressed, methodology used, findings, conclusions and implications for policy and/or practice, to be posted on the Centre’s website. Researchers are also requested to submit to the Centre for its records a copy of any technical report or research publication produced from this research. Support from CSC and the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies must be acknowledged in any publication unless written notice to the contrary is given.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Ronda Appell, Coordinator, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies Tel: 966-2687 Fax: 966-6007 ronda.appell@usask.ca

Applications should be directed to:

Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies 9 Campus Drive, Room 110B Arts University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5