How Can Embedded Criminologists, Police Pracademics, and Crime Analysts Help Increase Police-Led Program Evaluations? A Survey of Authors Cited in the Evidence-Based Policing Matrix1

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric L Piza ◽  
Jason Szkola ◽  
Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Unique Role ◽  
Program Evaluations ◽  
Police Agencies ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Evidence Based Policing ◽  
Effective Programs

Abstract Evidence-based policing emphasizes the evaluation of interventions to create a catalogue of effective programs and practices. Program evaluation has primarily been considered the purview of academic researchers, with police agencies typically uninvolved in the evaluation of their own interventions. Scholars have recently advocated for police to take more ownership over program evaluation, often arguing for an increased role of three primary entities: embedded criminologists, police pracademics, and crime analysts. While an emerging body of literature has explored these entities individually, research has yet to explore the unique contributions each can make to police-led science. The current study is a survey of scholars who authored or co-authored one or more studies included in the evidence-based policing matrix. The authors explore four distinct research questions pertaining to police-led science. Findings suggest that embedded criminologists, police pracademics, and crime analysts may each have a unique role to play in promoting police-led science.

scholarly journals The Current and Potential Role of Crime Analysts in Evaluations of Police Interventions: Results From a Survey of the International Association of Crime Analysts

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric L. Piza ◽  
Shun Q. Feng
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
International Association ◽  
Crime Analysis ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Study Program ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Police Programs ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Evidence Based Policing

Crime analysts play a pivotal role in evidence-based policing by readily diagnosing the nature of crime and disorder problems. Such analysis products are key in the design of evidence-based strategies. The role of analysts in the subsequent process of evidence-based policing, the evaluation of programs to determine what works, is less known. The current study seeks to fill this gap in the literature through a survey of the International Association of Crime Analyst Membership. Findings suggest that program evaluation lies on the periphery of the crime analysis profession. Across all measures incorporated in this study, program evaluation was emphasized less than all other crime analysis functions. Findings of logistic regression models further suggest that, for the most part, no specific factors are associated with increased levels of program evaluation experience. We conclude with a discussion of how crime analysts can become more involved in evaluations of police programs and strategies.

scholarly journals Multiple Researcher Roles in Video-Reflexive Ethnography

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1145-1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Carroll ◽  
Jessica Mesman
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Planned Obsolescence ◽  
Central Focus ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Disciplinary Background ◽  
Visual Methodology

Hospital-based video-reflexive ethnography (VRE) is a collaborative visual methodology used by researchers and/or health professionals to understand, interpret, and optimize health professionals’ work practices and patients’ experiences. For more than a decade, the VRE methodology has spread throughout (research) institutions and hospitals internationally, and VRE has evolved and broadened. Different ways of doing VRE have implications for the role of the researcher. A thorough examination of the consequences for the researcher’s position is the central focus of this article. We outline three typical styles of researcher engagement with VRE: clinalyst, affect-as-method, and planned obsolescence. We argue that by examining these different styles of doing VRE research, academic researchers can then critically review and carefully choose which styles of VRE research best meet the needs of their research questions, their field relationships, their disciplinary background, and the expectations of their clinical research collaborators.

Intelligence and Cognitive Abilities at Work

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Furnham
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Intelligence Testing ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
History Of ◽  
Political Differences

Few areas of psychology attract as much discussion and debate as the topic of intelligence, more particularly, the use of intelligence tests in selection at work. More academic researchers have been attacked, hounded, sacked, and vilified for what they have written about intelligence than about any other topic. There is also still considerable debate about the role of intelligence testing in the educational settings. However, the science and the practice of intelligence testing remain far apart because of the history of misunderstanding, misapplications, and political differences. It remains difficult, even with supposedly disinterested scientists, to have an evidence-based debate about the origin of individual differences in intelligence, the measurement of intelligence, and the application of tests in commercial and educational settings.

The Role of Federal Agencies in Creating and Administering Evidence-Based Policies

2018 ◽  
Vol 678 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Maynard
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Federal Agencies ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
New Era ◽  
Program Evaluations ◽  
Evidence Review ◽  
Support Policy ◽  
Internal Capacity

The success of federal agencies in creating and using evidence-based policies hinges on (1) their commitment to include routine use of evidence—including research and program evaluations—in program design and funding decisions and (2) their capacity to adapt their operating practices accordingly. The recent push toward using evidence more deliberately in government meant that federal agencies needed to quickly improve the accessibility of existing evidence. They also had to foster internal capacity to fairly judge its quality and applicability; build capacity and support for routinely using evidence within program and policy offices to support policy development and monitoring; and create a consensus within agencies around sensible ways to categorize, rate, and apply evidence. Common evidence standards, open access to evidence review platforms, and mandates for embedding rigorous evaluations into funded programs are among the most influential tools agencies have used in this new era of evidence-based policymaking.

Gifted Program Evaluation: Catalyst for Change or Keeper of the Culture

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 196-204
Author(s):  
Janice I. Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Gifted Program ◽  
Program Evaluations ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Educational Role

This article presents a view of barriers to effective gifted program evaluation resulting from ineffective tools for measuring growth in gifted students and the human barriers confounding the evaluation process. The role of advocacy in the design, implementation, and utilization of evaluation studies is examined. Long held beliefs and biases related to gifted education are recognized as influencing program evaluations. The recognition of the strengths and challenges inherent in the educational role of specific stakeholder groups is presented. Suggestions for developing an emerging cadre of advocates for gifted education are detailed.

Policing by Numbers

2020 ◽  
pp. 17-36
Author(s):  
Sarah Brayne
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Data Use ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Predictive Algorithms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Evidence Based Policing

This chapter traces the history of quantification in policing, from pin maps to predictive algorithms. It examines the surveillance landscape, starting with the “scientific turn” in policing in the early 20th century, then moving to the rise of evidence-based policing, the Information Sharing Environment (ISE) that emerged after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and then predictive algorithms and big data analytics put to work in modern policing. Historically, the police collected most of the information they use in the course of their daily operations themselves. However, the chapter highlights the growing role of the private sector—for data collection and the provision of analytic platforms—in policing. Both the past and present of policing are highly racialized, so it also describes how data is positioned as an antidote to racism and bias in policing. The chapter concludes with an overview of data use and technologies at work in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

scholarly journals SWAT everywhere? A response to Jenkins, Semple, Bennell, and Huey

2021 ◽  
pp. 0032258X2110025
Author(s):  
Kevin Walby
Keyword(s):  
Social Control ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Conflict Of Interest ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Police Agencies ◽  
The Future ◽  
Evidence Based Policing

This paper is a response to an article on public police special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams written by Jenkins and colleagues (2020). Jenkins and colleagues are responding to a study showing that tactical units and members are being used more in Canadian policing. For Jenkins and colleagues, not only are SWAT teams being used properly, but drawing from interviews with tactical members they suggest SWAT teams should be used more in the future. This response focuses on conceptual, methodological, and empirical deficiencies in the work of Jenkins and colleagues. This response shows that Jenkins and colleagues ignore social theory, ignore relevant contrary data, are ignorant of the harms of policing, and are ignorant of the violence that Black and Indigenous peoples face from Canadian police. Relatedly, this response offers a criticism of what is called evidence-based policing scholarship. Using the work of Jenkins and colleagues as an example, the argument here is that evidence-based policing scholars are in a conflict of interest because of how closely they work with police and due to the funding they receive from police agencies and justice ministries. This conflict of interest decreases the credibility and trustworthiness of the claims of evidence-based policing scholars. Overall, this response draws attention not only to the harms of public policing and criminalization, but also to how evidence-based policing scholarship is supporting the expansion of violent, harmful, and regressive forms of social control.

From Research Partner to Embedded Criminologist: A Synthesized Taxonomy and Reflections From the Field

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob T Guerette ◽  
Joelle Lee-Silcox ◽  
Kimberly Przeszlowski
Keyword(s):  
Police Department ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Scientific Evaluation ◽  
Specific Nature ◽  
Data Repositories ◽  
Usable Knowledge ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Police Agencies ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Advanced Knowledge

Abstract Perhaps never before has the need for collaboration between academic researchers and police agencies been more salient. Technological advances have brought advanced hardware systems into daily policing operations, and analytical software and information systems have assembled massive volumes of data repositories. To produce usable knowledge from these information troves, advanced analytical knowledge has become necessary. At the same time, the evidence-based policy movement requires that police agencies equip themselves with the ability to interpret and produce evaluations of new policing initiatives using sound scientific evaluation methods, something which also requires specialized and advanced knowledge not usually housed within policing organizations. In response to these demands, researcher–police collaborations have become more prevalent. Yet, the specific nature of these researcher–police relationships can take many forms. This article synthesizes previous literature and develops a taxonomy for classifying researcher–police partnerships and discusses the experiences of moving from an external research partner to an embedded criminological ‘unit’ within the Miami Police Department.

Cops, Cameras, and Crisis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. White ◽  
Aili Malm
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovations ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
The Past ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Core Mission ◽  
Why Questions ◽  
Evidence Based Policing

This book serves as the go-to resource for those who are interested in police body-worn cameras. The first part of the book (chapters 2 and 3) delves deeply into the claims made about BWCs by both advocates and critics, coupled with an exhaustive examination of the research base on each of those claims. Moreover, throughout the book, there are quotes and vignettes from experts in the field who have hands-on experience with police BWCs to illustrate important points. The authors also offer insights on the potential reasons for variation in research findings. In chapter 4, they examine the past, present, and future of police BWCs through two different, complementary lenses. The first is the diffusion of innovations framework. The second lens is the evidence-based policing framework. Both the diffusion of innovation and evidence-based policing frameworks provide insights on the “how and why” questions regarding current rates of BWC adoption, and just as important, they provide an informed position to consider the prospects for BWCs in the future. There are two objectives in chapter 5. The first is a forward-looking review of the next set of challenges for BWC adopters. These challenge center on both human and technological elements of a BWC program. The second objective centers on the importance of planning and implementation. The book ends with a few important takeaway messages on the role of BWCs in policing and how the technology can help police to achieve their core mission.

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