NIBRS Animal Cruelty Data Research Award Grant

The NIBRS Animal Cruelty Data Research Award offers two $5,000 stipends for master's and doctoral students to analyze data on animal cruelty, a distinct crime category recognized by the FBI since 2014. This initiative aims to assess trends in animal cruelty and inform effective interventions to protect animals and communities. Applications must be submitted by January 15, 2026, with a focus on utilizing NIBRS data as a central aspect of the research.

NOTE: To be considered, the completed application form and accompanying materials must be submitted no later than January 15, 2026.
In 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation added animal cruelty as a distinct crime category within its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Two years later, it started accepting data on such crimes from law enforcement agencies around the country. Since then, AWI has actively encouraged the use of these data to assess animal cruelty trends and inform more effective interventions to protect both animals and people in affected communities. In furtherance of this effort, AWI's Center for the Study of NIBRS Animal Cruelty Data is pleased to offer two $5,000 stipends for master's and doctoral students to utilize NIBRS animal cruelty data in their research. Please note, it is essential that analysis of NIBRS animal cruelty data play a central part in the proposed research project. Datasets for analysis can be downloaded from the Center’s website (The raw data can also be obtained from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer or the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research’s National Archive of Criminal Justice Data).

Eligibility

Master's and Doctoral students.