Police Practitioner - Academic Researcher Partnerships: A Complex Relationship in Need of Nurturing

• In Event: Changing Practice in Policing through Organizational Learning and Partnerships

Abstract

Consistent with the current models of governance in public sector organizations, there are an increasing number of advocates within law enforcement community calling for partnerships with academic researchers. The purpose of these partnerships is to link the skilled researcher with agency personnel and data which can lead to improvement in services provided by the police. Despite this support from the police organizations, little is known about the prevalence or quality of police practitioner-researcher partnerships. Research suggests that many agencies do not participate in partnerships because of a lack of funding and mistrust of academic researchers. The relationship between academic and practitioner can be complex and needs nurturing. The present paper discusses how different types of research influence the partnership, and the uptake of the research findings.

Authors

• Jeff Rojek, University of South Carolina

• Geoffrey P. Alpert, Griffith University