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General Holder praises the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) for its emphasis on bringing scientific methods into the assessments of the cost-effectiveness of criminal justice policies and practices. He reports that in November 2010 he appointed a Science Advisory Board to guide the Justice Department's efforts to develop evidence-based policies and programs. Further, he applauds NIJ's continuing research efforts in critical criminal justice areas, which are, in many cases, guiding significant reforms. NIJ research is also noted in the identification of weaknesses and inefficiencies in various criminal justice policies and practices. General Holder mentions a particular area of research being conducted by NIJ, i.e., the fight against childhood exposure to violence. He identifies future challenges for NIJ, which include expansion of the circle of partners, engaging more researchers, and building on effective efforts in disseminating research findings to policymakers and practitioners.