NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Drones as First Responders
The National Institute of Justice funds researcher–law enforcement partnerships to evaluate drones as first responders for violent crime, immigration enforcement, and other policing activities.
Funder: National Institute of Justice
Due Dates: November 30, 2026 (Grants.gov) | December 7, 2026 (JustGrants)
Funding Amounts: $3,500,000 total program funding; award ceiling of $3,500,000; 6 awards expected
Summary: Supports rigorous evaluations of drones as first responders for violent crime, immigration enforcement, and other law enforcement activities.
Key Information: NIJ expects research entities and law enforcement agencies to collaborate on DFR implementation and operational evaluation.
Description
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the U.S. Department of Justice’s research, development, and evaluation agency within the Office of Justice Programs, supports rigorous evaluations of drone technology used in law enforcement. This competitive opportunity seeks actionable information about police implementation of small drones for combating violent crime, immigration enforcement, and other law enforcement activities.
The program welcomes research on drones as first responders (DFR), including evaluations of existing capabilities or pilot programs at police departments already using DFR. It also supports implementation of new pilot programs or demonstrations. The focus is collaboration between researchers and law enforcement agencies to implement DFR and evaluate its operational performance.
