The search box that appears near the top of each page uses both our built-in database search engine and Google's search engine. The database includes records of products and information types. Search results are displayed in tabs for both BJS and Google index information.

If you are looking for a specific type of information (i.e. publications), you can select "publications and products" from the dropdown menu to the right of the search box to narrow your search results. Click the advanced search link to select multiple information types, or limit your search to specific topics.

Search Engine Tips

When using the search engines, if a basic query using a few descriptive words does not return what you're looking for, here are some simple points that may help improve your results:

• Keywords must be at least two characters; the system strips out any spaces before conducting the search.
• You must select at least one information type.
• The BJS database search engine conducts an 'AND' search across the keyword and any other search criteria.
• All topic searches are conducted as 'OR' searches.
• User must select at least one search criterion
• The search is not case-sensitive. It does not matter whether you use capitals or lower case.
• The user of wildcard characters--a question mark (?) and an asterisk (*)--is not supported by the BJS database search engine. Wildcards are searched as characters.

Sorting Results

By default, the BJS built-in database search engine results are sorted in alphabetical order. You also may resort the search results by product type, title, release date or product number by clicking on header links at the top of each column of the table.

Google search results are sorted by relevance by default. You can then sort within your initial results or resort by date.

Additional resources

• You may refer to Google Search Tips for additional information.
• You can also try searching BJS and all other Office of Justice Programs agencies.