NSF Gaps-to-Graphs (INTEGRATED JUSTICE)
NSF Proto-OKNBeginnerEnded

NSF Gaps-to-Graphs (INTEGRATED JUSTICE)

“⭐ Enhance and Accelerate Justice with AI Knowledge”

The Challenge

What you'll do: • Research and analyze the problem space • Explore gaps in AI-powered data models • Present your approach with a proposal for sources and how to fix the gap What you'll deliver: A list of gaps + options to remedy. Why it matters: Your Challenge: Enhance +20% and Accelerate x10 AI Research’s Impact on Software Supply Chains For an hour, attendants will help Proto-OKN projects transition to markets, by co-piloting data enhancement solutions for their Knowledge Graphs. Developing AI requires both technical and domain/business leaders to collaborate. NO TECHNICAL SKILLS NEEDED

Timeline

NSF Gaps to Graphs (Integrated Justice) - Co-creation session

Mentor Session

Thu, May 14, 2026

This is when we will gather, test, and co-create.

About This Challenge

# Bridging Justice System Knowledge Gaps Through AI-Powered Networks Discover and address critical gaps in criminal justice knowledge to strengthen fairness, equity, and effectiveness across our legal system. This master-level challenge focuses specifically on the Integrated Justice Proto-OKN Knowledge Graph - an advanced AI system mapping criminal justice processes, outcomes, and interventions into an interconnected knowledge network. You'll work directly with justice researchers to identify where this knowledge system falls short and develop strategies to fill those gaps. ## What You'll Explore The Integrated Justice Knowledge Graph captures critical intelligence about: - Case processing patterns and decision-making factors - Recidivism prediction models and intervention effectiveness - Sentencing disparities and bias detection mechanisms - Resource allocation across courts, corrections, and community programs - Victim services coordination and outcome tracking - Rehabilitation program success rates and implementation barriers Your Mission: Simply identify where this research-grade knowledge graph has gaps in knowledge or impact, and develop practical options to remedy these deficiencies. ## The Justice Knowledge Challenge Current criminal justice knowledge systems face significant limitations: - Data Silos: Critical case and outcome data remains isolated across agencies and jurisdictions - Decision Delays: Justice professionals lack real-time access to relevant evidence-based practices - Bias Blind Spots: Disconnected systems miss patterns of disparity and inequitable outcomes - Scale Problems: Knowledge systems struggle with the complexity and interconnectedness of justice processes The Integrated Justice Proto-OKN aims to address these issues, but needs expert analysis to identify blind spots and enhancement opportunities. ## Your Analytical Role No technical experience required - we need your justice domain expertise and practical insight. You'll work in focused teams including: - Integrated Justice Proto-OKN researchers - Criminal justice practitioners and administrators - Legal professionals and public defenders - Social workers and rehabilitation specialists - Community advocates and policy experts Together, you'll: 1. Identify Knowledge Gaps: Pinpoint what critical justice information is missing or inadequately represented 2. Assess Impact Limitations: Determine where the knowledge graph fails to drive meaningful justice outcomes 3. Develop Remediation Options: Design practical approaches to address identified deficiencies 4. Prioritize Solutions: Rank gap-filling strategies by feasibility and justice impact 5. Map Implementation Pathways: Connect gap analysis to actionable improvement roadmaps ## Real Impact Potential Your contributions will directly influence: - Enhanced Decision Support: Improved data access enabling more informed, equitable justice decisions - Reduced Disparities: Better connected data revealing and addressing systemic biases - Stronger Community Outcomes: More complete knowledge improving rehabilitation and reintegration success - Future Justice Innovation: Your gap analysis will guide next-generation criminal justice knowledge systems ## Success Metrics Core Deliverables: - Comprehensive gap inventory identifying knowledge and impact deficiencies - Prioritized remediation options with implementation feasibility assessments - Impact analysis quantifying how gap-filling improves justice outcomes - Actionable roadmap for Integrated Justice Proto-OKN enhancement Broader Impact: - Justice professionals gain access to more complete case and outcome intelligence - Courts and corrections make better-informed resource allocation decisions - Researchers understand practical knowledge gaps limiting real-world justice reform impact - Communities benefit from more effective, equitable criminal justice processes ## Getting Started Come prepared to share your expertise about justice system challenges, knowledge gaps, and data limitations in your domain. Whether you work in courts, corrections, probation, legal aid, victim services, or community justice programs - your perspective is essential for identifying where our knowledge systems fall short. Justice knowledge gaps perpetuate inequity and ineffectiveness. Join us to find them and fix them.

Research Team

Meet the criminal justice research team behind the Integrated Justice Proto-OKN Knowledge Graph - your direct collaborators for this challenge. ### Northwestern University SCALES Research Team Led by Dr. Adam Pah and the interdisciplinary team at Northwestern's SCALES (Science of Complex Adaptive Networks Laboratory for Extreme-Scale), the Integrated Justice project represents a groundbreaking effort to transform how we understand and navigate criminal justice systems through advanced network science and AI. What makes this collaboration unique: - NSF Proto-OKN Leadership - Northwestern SCALES is spearheading one of the flagship justice-focused projects in the national Open Knowledge Network initiative - Multi-jurisdictional partnerships - active data partnerships with Cook County courts, Illinois Department of Corrections, and community-based organizations across Chicago - Complex systems expertise - world-renowned capabilities in modeling interconnected social, institutional, and decision-making networks - Justice transformation focus - dedicated to creating measurable improvements in fairness, efficiency, and community outcomes ### Research Innovation Pipeline The SCALES Integrated Justice team is actively developing: - Multi-agency knowledge graphs connecting case flows from arrest through reentry - Algorithmic bias detection systems identifying disparities across demographic groups and geographic areas - Predictive intervention models matching individuals with evidence-based programs and services - Resource allocation optimization helping jurisdictions deploy staff and funding more effectively - Real-time decision support tools providing judges and case managers with relevant outcome data - Community impact measurement tracking how justice system decisions affect neighborhood-level wellbeing ### Your Research Partnership Working directly with Dr. Pah's team, you'll gain unprecedented access to: - Current knowledge graph architecture and data integration challenges - Real-world validation results from Cook County implementation pilots - Ongoing research findings on bias detection and intervention effectiveness - Partnership feedback from courts, corrections agencies, and community organizations - Technical documentation on system capabilities and current limitations - Direct input into research priorities and development roadmaps Your expertise is crucial for identifying where this cutting-edge research translates effectively to practice - and where critical gaps remain that could undermine real-world justice improvements. The Northwestern team is actively seeking domain expert perspectives to ensure their NSF-funded innovations create lasting, equitable change in how justice systems operate and serve communities.

Resources

Integrated Justice Proto-OKN Research Platform • SCALES-OKN Integrated Justice Knowledge Graph - https://scales-okn.org/integrated-justice-project/ - Primary knowledge graph mapping criminal justice processes, case outcomes, and intervention effectiveness with real-time semantic query capabilities across connected justice datasets • National Institute of Justice Data Resources - https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/data-resources-program - Federal justice research datasets including recidivism studies, program evaluations, and evidence-based practice assessments with longitudinal outcome tracking • Bureau of Justice Statistics Data Collections - https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection - Comprehensive justice system statistics covering courts, corrections, law enforcement, and victim services with demographic and geographic breakdowns • Administrative Office of US Courts Database - https://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports - Federal case processing data, sentencing patterns, and judicial workload metrics with case type and disposition analysis • State Court Processing Statistics - https://www.courtstatistics.org/ - Multi-jurisdictional court performance data including case flow management, disposition times, and resource allocation patterns Justice Outcomes and Intervention Intelligence • Recidivism Research Database - https://www.ussc.gov/research/research-reports/recidivism - Evidence-based recidivism prediction models, risk assessment validation studies, and intervention effectiveness tracking across justice populations • Program Evaluation Clearinghouse - https://www.crimesolutions.ojp.gov/ - Systematic reviews of justice interventions including drug courts, mental health courts, and community-based alternatives with outcome measurement standards • Victim Services Coordination Platform - https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/voca/victim-compensation - Victim compensation data, service utilization patterns, and cross-agency coordination metrics with trauma-informed care integration • Corrections Population Dynamics - https://www.bop.gov/about/statistics/ - Incarceration trends, facility capacity management, and population flow analysis with reentry program participation and success rates • Specialty Court Outcomes Database - Drug court, veterans court, and mental health court performance data with participant characteristics and completion rate analysis Bias Detection and Equity Assessment • Sentencing Disparity Analysis Platform - https://www.ussc.gov/research/research-reports - Demographic sentencing patterns, guideline departure analysis, and judicial decision-making factors with statistical bias detection algorithms • Pretrial Justice Database - https://www.pretrial.org/pretrial-data/ - Pretrial detention patterns, risk assessment tool performance, and release decision outcomes with demographic equity monitoring • Prosecutorial Decision Intelligence - Charging patterns, plea bargaining outcomes, and prosecutorial discretion analysis with case similarity matching and disparity identification • Public Defense Effectiveness Metrics - Caseload analysis, resource allocation patterns, and defense outcome tracking with workload impact assessment on client representation quality • Juvenile Justice Disparities Tracking - https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ - Youth justice processing differences by demographics, geography, and offense type with disproportionate minority contact analysis Cross-Agency Coordination and Resource Analytics • Justice Information Sharing Networks - https://www.ijis.org/ - Inter-agency data sharing protocols, information exchange standards, and coordination effectiveness metrics across justice system stakeholders • Community Corrections Intelligence - Probation and parole supervision data, compliance monitoring patterns, and community-based program utilization with geographic service gap analysis • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Integration - https://www.samhsa.gov/criminal-juvenile-justice - Treatment program coordination, co-occurring disorder management, and cross-system service delivery with outcome correlation analysis • Reentry Services Coordination Platform - Post-release service utilization, employment placement tracking, and housing assistance effectiveness with recidivism outcome correlation • Law Enforcement-Justice Interface - Arrest-to-disposition tracking, case processing efficiency, and cross-agency communication effectiveness with case outcome prediction modeling Policy Impact and Legislative Analysis • Criminal Justice Reform Impact Database - https://www.vera.org/publications - Policy change outcomes, reform implementation tracking, and systemic impact assessment with before-and-after comparative analysis • Legislation Effectiveness Intelligence - Sentencing reform outcomes, diversion program mandates, and funding allocation impacts with population-level outcome measurement • Cost-Benefit Analysis Platform - Justice system economic modeling, intervention cost-effectiveness, and resource optimization analysis with taxpayer impact assessment • Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations - Research synthesis on effective practices, implementation guidance, and scalability assessment with jurisdiction-specific adaptation strategies • Justice System Performance Benchmarking - Cross-jurisdictional comparison metrics, best practice identification, and performance improvement tracking with stakeholder outcome measurement

Skills

You'll Learn

Data AnalysisStrategic PlanningPresentation SkillsSoftware DevelopmentRequirements GatheringStakeholder ManagementDisruptive InnovationBusiness AnalysisOpen Innovation

Helpful to Have

Outcomes Research

Tags

#legal#justice#nsf-partnership#proto-okn#frink-query-service#ai-research-transition#knowledge-graphs#renci-unc#industry-collaboration#cybersecurity-securechain#biomedical-spoke#open-knowledge-network#research-acceleration#ai-knowledge-systems#data-science-analytics#query-federation#supply-chain-security#ucsf-spoke#purdue-hcss#remote-breakout#march-2026#research-to-market
Hugo

Hosted by

Hugo

0 teams / 50 max
Starts May 14, 2026 (EDT)
Ends May 14, 2026, 1:00 PM (EDT)

Leaderboard

Prizes

  • Certificates, Badges.