Open Data

Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018

This bill requires departments and agencies identified in the Chief Financial Officers Act to submit annually to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress a plan for identifying and addressing policy questions relevant to the programs, policies, and regulations of such departments and agencies.  Additionally, each department or agency shall designate an Evaluation Officer to coordinate evidence-building activities, a Statistical Official with statistical expertise to advise on statistical policy, techniques, and procedures, and a Chief Data Officer responsible for lifecycle data management and other specified functions.  The Department of Justice has designated the following executives to fill these roles:

Evaluation Officer
Performance Improvement Officer
Christopher C. Alvarez

Statistical Official
Acting Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
Kevin M. Scott, Ph.D.

Chief Data Officer
Chief Information Officer
Melinda Rogers

Department of Justice Data Governance Board

The DOJ Data Governance Board is the principal internal Department forum for addressing DOJ data management standards, priorities, policies, and practices. The Board serves as the leader for coordinating and facilitating implementation of Department-wide processes and standards, and for addressing common issues affecting Component data programs and resources.

The Department's Chief Data Officer serves as chair of the Board. Membership of the Board, which meets bimonthly, includes the Department's Evaluation Officer, Statistical Official, and senior leaders from mission areas such as acquisition, budget, information technology, litigation, law enforcement, FOIA, records management, and privacy. 

Data Governance Board Charter

As noted in its charter, the Data Governance Board provides enterprise guidance for achieving objectives defined in the Department's Data Strategy. The Data Strategy outlines four strategic goals to optimize the value of the Department’s data assets. Each goal includes specific actions, desired outcomes, and responsibilities for implementation. The actions are targeted for implementation during fiscal years 2020 through 2024. The Geospatial Data Strategy supplement aligns responsibilities from the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 to the Data Strategy. The Data Governance Board is also responsible for the Department’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy which includes ties to Department data assets and availability.

Data Strategy

Geospatial Data Strategy

Artificial Intelligence Strategy

Strategic Information Resources Management Plan

Additional data and information goals are captured in the Department’s Strategic Information Resources Management Plan, also known as the Information Technology Strategic Plan.

DOJ Information Technology Strategic Plan, FY 2022-2024

Annual Update to the Strategic Information Resources Management Plan, 2023

The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 requires agencies to maintain an Open Data Plan within the Strategic Information Resources Management Plan that describes the agency's efforts to make public data maintained by the government open to the public. The DOJ Open Data Plan is currently in the DOJ Open Government Plan. Per OMB Memorandum M-19-23–Phase 1 Implementation of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, OMB Phase 2 guidance will provide agencies further guidance necessary to implement the Open Data Plan requirement. DOJ will update the Open Data Plan once guidance is received.

DOJ Open Government Plan, 2016

Department of Justice Open Data Inventory

Artificial Intelligence at Department of Justice

The Department of Justice uses AI to advance its mission of upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights.  Learn more at justice.gov/ai.

Most Popular DOJ Data Assets