Translational Criminology - Research and Public Policy: Final Summary Report

• NCJ Number: 250597
• Author(s): George B. Pesta; Javier Ramos; J.W. Andrew Ranson; Alexa Singer; Thomas G. Blomberg
• Date Published: June 2016
• Length: 44 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-IJ-CX-0035
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Summary); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Grants and Funding; Case Study

Annotation

This summary report presents findings from a case study of translational criminology in Florida that shows the implementation ("translation") of research-based evidence in State-level decisionmaking in the fields of juvenile and adult corrections.

Abstract

The study found that government-sponsored or government-conducted research, peer networking, and evidence provided by intermediary policy and research organizations were more effective in transferring research knowledge into practice than academic peer-reviewed publications and expert testimony. The study also found that the process and model most often linked with successful research knowledge translation in corrections was the interaction model. This involves the regular interaction of researchers and practitioners. An important recommendation based on these findings is that academics could do more to reach out to and work with policymakers and practitioners. The methodology of this case study included an extensive review and coding of the relevant prior literature on research and public policy in criminal justice; open-ended interviews with key State agency and legislative practitioners and policymakers; interviews with well-established academic researchers in adult and juvenile corrections; close-ended web-based surveys of the participating researchers, policymakers, and practitioners; a review of relevant legislative and State agency documents; and observations of archived legislative public hearings and committee meetings.