Establishing and Sustaining Law Enforcement - Researcher Partnerships: Guide for Researchers

• NCJ Number: 251873
• Author(s): Ronal Serpas; Charles Wellford
• Date Published: January 2007
• Length: 32 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2005-IJ-CX-0060
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Reference Material; Instructional Material (Programmed)
• Award: Unresolved Problems and Powerful Potentials: Improving Partnerships Between Law Enforcement Leaders and University Based Researchers - Phase II

Annotation

After discussing the rationale for law enforcement research and why a police-researcher partnership is needed in this endeavor, major sections of this guide advise researchers in such a partnership on the initiation, organizing, implementation, and assessment of such a partnership, followed by an action agenda that outlines key steps that researchers can take in ensuring the success of a police-researcher partnership.

Abstract

The rationale for researchers to enter into a partnership with a police agency in conducting research related to law enforcement is to assist the agency in improving knowledge about what works and does not work in achieving law enforcement goals. A partnership enables researchers to assist police in collecting essential baseline data before changes are initiated and work with police leaders in developing evaluation strategies and tools. The section on initiating police-researcher partnerships provides advice on selecting compatible partners and building working relationships. The section on organizing partnerships addresses types of partnerships and defining roles and responsibilities. Guidance on implementing partnerships pertains to the following topics: engaging police personnel in research; setting the research agenda; defining research goals ad objectives; establishing a research action plan and timeline; safeguarding objectivity and credibility of research; attending to political and organizational factors; fostering ongoing communication; and planning for sustainability. The section on assessing partnerships advises that researchers should assist in the early development of mechanisms for recording the establishment, development, and achievements of the partnership. The "Action Agenda" outlines key steps that researchers can take in ensuring the success of the partnership. Listings are provided of personnel on the Research Advisory Committee for this guide, the Roundtable participants, and project staff and consultant.