Race, Justice and Policy
(RJP) is a research initiative
that brings together experts from the University of Delaware's College
of Arts and Science, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice,
School of Public Policy and Administration, Legal Studies and the Center
for Drug and Health Studies to examine policy-related questions on race
and justice facing communities and residents in the State of Delaware.
Through leadership and collaboration with state and local agencies,
the RJP initiative conducts research with the goal of producing
nationally recognized research and providing leadership on race and
justice issues. The RJP also examines issues of race, inequality and
social justice though: course offering by affiliated faculty, workshops
and/or speaker series with participation from policy leaders, and
community engagement and partnership activities through internships,
which allows students to get direct experience with key state and local
agencies.
The mission of the RJP is to utilize strategic social science research
methodologies to assist government agencies, educational institutions,
and community stakeholders in the development of policy changes to
advance the cause of social justice and address racial disparities. RJP
research initiative was founded on the premise that academic
institutions can work with communities to provide rigorous and
objective information that can be used to influence policy changes. At
the University of Delaware, The RJP initiative provides a unique
opportunity—through research and learning—to bring students and faculty
together with policy makers and justice leaders around the common
interest areas of social justice and race.