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Conducting Research at DOC

Conducting Research with DOC

The Office of Research, Data, and Decision Support (RDDS) organizes and coordinates the Department’s Research Committee (RC). The RC supervises short-range and long-range planning functions relating to the Department of Corrections and provides support and coordination of Departmental program initiatives, program development, program evaluation, statistical analysis, grant solicitations and technical assistance requests. 

The Research Policy also establishes a Research Review Committee (RRC) made up of key department officials. The RRC provides feedback to the RRC Chair, who is responsible for issuing a final decision on research proposals. 

Submitting a Proposal

If you are interested in conducting research at the Oregon Department of Correction, including Adult in Custody (AIC) or staff research, data-based research, research on the Community Corrections population or student education-based research projects, please review RDDS's Research Policy, Informed Consent Policy, Oregon Secretary of State Administrative Rules, and follow the guidelines listed. 
1. Screening Form: Click Here 
2. External Application Form: Research proposals may be submitted to the Department by completing and submitting an External Research Application (pdf) consistent with the rules and policies below.

Once you have completed the screening form, external application form and the required attachments listed in the form, please submit them to the email address listed in the application. 


Review Process

The Research Committee meets every other month or as needed to review research requests, delineate the pros and cons of each request, and determine whether to approve the projects. Each proposal must be approved by the relevant division administrator(s) and facility or regional leadership (Superintendent, Director, etc.).  

All research projects involving the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) require an initial application screening and documentation review by the ODOC Research Committee in order for ODOC to consider sponsoring the project. 

Following this initial internal review and committee support, the project must be submitted, reviewed, and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Upon receiving IRB approval, the project along with IRB approval documents need to be submitted to the Research Committee Chair for final approval prior to any data collection. 

In addition to following all relevant state and agency policies, all researchers investigating staff or AICs must adhere to all Federal Regulations:45 CFR 46 Protection of Human Subjects in Research and Subpart C — Additional Protections Pertaining to Biomedical and Behavioral Research Involving Prisoners as Subjects. 

Researchers requesting to enter institutions require additional approvals and processing including, but not limited to background checks, verification of credentials, etc. 

Thus, it is expected that all research projects submitted to the ODOC will undergo a minimum of a three-month administrative period before any data can be provided or surveys/interviews can be conducted. 

Requests must be submitted by the due dates outlined in the calendar below. Due to the multi-level review process, decisions may take a number of weeks before receiving a decision. Please consider the length of time a review may take when submitting a proposal. 

ODOC Research Committee Submission & Review Dates 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE 

COMMITTEE REVIEW DATE 

February 29, 2024 

March 21, 2024 

April 30, 2024 

May 30, 2024 

June 30, 2024 

July 25, 2024 

August 31, 2024 

September 26, 2024 

October 31, 2024 

November 21, 2024 

December 31, 2024 

January 30, 2025 


Research Committee Chair Contact 

Please direct any questions or requests for further information to odocresearchcommittee@doc.oregon.gov.


Additional Data & Statistic Requests

Online 

Phone 

Email 

Reports & Statistics - Public Records Request 

(503) 945-0935