The Institute of Justice (IWS) was founded in 1990.

The IWS is a leading scientific unit in the area of harmonization of the polish law with the international legal standards, particularly with those of the European Union.

The IWS also conducts – as the only research centre in Poland – permanent empirical studies of the practice of courts and prosecution offices as well as monitors the trends of crime, crime policy and functioning of the country’s justice system.