The Mission of the State Justice Institute

The Mission of the State Justice Institute

SJI was established by State Justice Institute Authorization Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10701 et seq.) to improve the administration of justice in the state courts of the United States. Incorporated in the State of Virginia as a private, nonprofit corporation, SJI is charged, by statute, with the responsibility to:

• Direct a national program of financial assistance designed to assure that each citizen of the United States is provided ready access to a fair and effective system of justice;
• Foster coordination and cooperation with the federal judiciary;
• Promote recognition of the importance of the separation of powers doctrine to an independent judiciary; and
• Encourage education for judges and support personnel of state court systems through national and state organizations.

To accomplish these broad objectives, SJI is authorized to provide funding to state courts, national organizations which support and are supported by state courts, national judicial education organizations, and other organizations that can assist in improving the quality of justice in the state courts. SJI is supervised by a Board of Directors appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Board is statutorily composed of six judges; a state court administrator; and four members of the public, no more than two can be of the same political party.

Through the award of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, SJI is authorized to perform the following activities:

A. Support technical assistance, demonstrations, special projects, research and training to improve the administration of justice in the state courts;

B. Provide for the preparation, publication, and dissemination of information regarding state judicial systems;

C. Participate in joint projects with federal agencies and other private grantors;

D. Evaluate or provide for the evaluation of programs and projects to determine their impact upon the quality of criminal, civil, and juvenile justice and the extent to which they have contributed to improving the quality of justice in the state courts;

E. Encourage and assist in furthering judicial education; and,

F. Encourage, assist, and serve in a consulting capacity to state and local justice system agencies in the development, maintenance, and coordination of criminal, civil, and juvenile justice programs and services.