Director's Corner: Translational Criminology

Laub describes NIJ's unique mission to produce rigorous scientific research on one hand; and on the other hand, to make that research relevant to criminal justice policymakers and practitioners at the local and State levels. Under this concept of translational criminology, NIJ is developing ways to communicate research to policymakers and practitioners more effectively by reducing academic research jargon, as well as to make research results more accessible in one place. Translational criminology also emphasizes researcher-practitioner partnerships, in which research methodology and the application of findings are translated into reforms. Some questions that guide NIJ's focus on translational criminology are who are the users of NIJ research? How do people find out about NIJ research?