Research Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in conducting research in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Our agency is committed to facilitating and promoting research that increases our ability to inform corrections policy, practice, and that contributes to general knowledge in criminal justice and other academic fields.

These links on this page summarize the procedures and requirements for research conducted with prisoners, probationers, and staff of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice.  Please contact us if you have any questions about these documents. 

While our policy and procedures regarding research generally follow those of university/college research review boards (IRBs), there are some differences which are detailed in the guide to the research approval process. Please become familiar with this document. The guidelines are in place to manage the challenges inherent in maintaining the agency's commitment to research while operating a large system. We follow the federal regulations at 45CFR46. The web address of the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) is http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp if you need further information on the federal guidelines.

There are links to documents you need to complete below. Reentry, Programs and Services provides a number of tools for individuals interested in conducting research - from high school students to professional researchers. We look forward to working with you and helping you find the best tools for your research topic!

A Guide to the Research Approval Process

Approval Process at N.C. DPS

Application  

Application Instructions

Linda Mitterling
Administrative Analysis Unit
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
4221 MSC
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-4221