NCJ Number
61517
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 196-217
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
FOR RESEARCH TO EXERCISE A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY, IT MUST BECOME A DISTINCT AND PERMANENT PART OF THE PROCESS OF LONG-TERM POLICY DEVELOPMENT.
Abstract
THIS CANADIAN PAPER DESCRIBES STRUCTURE AND PROGRAMS OF THE RESEARCH DIVISION, MINISTRY OF THE SOLICTOR GENERAL, OTTAWA, CANADA, AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH RELEVANT TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY. DIVISION RESEARCH PRIORITIES HAVE INCLUDED PUBLIC ATTITUDES, VICTIMIZATION, CRIME PREVENTION, PREVENTIVE POLICING, DANGEROUS OFFENDERS, LONG-TERM INCARCERATION, AND MORE RECENTLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS POLICIES. POLICY PLANNERS--DEFINED AS THOSE WHO PLAN THE GOVERNMENT'S SOCIAL OBJECTIVES AND THE MEANS OF ACHIEVING THEM--CAN IMPROVE THEIR WORK WITH RESEARCHERS BY (1) ACQUIRING THE NECESSARY RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE, (2) HAVING A RESEARCH REPRESENTATIVE TAKE PART IN THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, (3) BECOMING INVOLVED WITH KEY RESEARCH DECISIONS, AND (4) WORKING WITH RESEARCHERS IN FORMING A RESEARCH AGENDA. RESEARCHERS CAN IMPROVE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO POLICYMAKING BY FORMULATING SHORT-TERM RESPONSES TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, PREPARING READABLE SUMMARIES OF RESEARCH REPORTS, AND COORDINATING THEIR RESULTS WITH THE TIMETABLES OF POLICYMAKERS. MORE PEER REVIEW SHOULD BE USED TO EVALUATE THE VALIDITY OF RESEARCH REPORTS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH SUCH REPORTS MIGHT CLARIFY POLICY ISSUES. POLICYMAKERS SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CRIME AND THE COSTS OF CRIME. WIDER DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH AND A GREATER DEGREE OF LONG-TERM RESEARCH ARE ALSO IMPORTANT. FOOTNOTES AND LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)