A Statewide Assessment of Police Recruitment and Retention in Ohio

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

Recruiting and retaining police officers has been a challenge for police agencies across the U.S. and internationally. Though prior research has examined factors that influence recruiting practices, trends in retention, and officer perceptions of their organizations, considerable questions remain about effective strategies to maintain adequate staffing levels in law enforcement agencies. This thematic panel presents the results of a comprehensive statewide assessment of police recruitment and retention in Ohio undertaken by the Institute of Crime Science at the University of Cincinnati. The multimethod evaluation includes an assessment of statewide police staffing trends, organization-level surveys assessing recruitment and retention policies and practices, and officer-level surveys examining retention intentions and perceptions of organizational culture from fifteen agencies. The findings provide a comprehensive view of current organizational recruitment and retention efforts, staffing dynamics, and officer perspectives of these initiatives. The results offer recommendations to address ongoing police staffing challenges.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 40. Police Organization and Training

Individual Presentations

• Introduction to the Ohio Law Enforcement Retention & Recruitment Study - Cory P. Haberman, University of Cincinnati; Jessica Huff, University of Cincinnati; Bradley O'Guinn, University of Cincinnati; Brenna Dunlap, University of Cincinnati; Trey Bussey, University of Cincinnati

• The State of Retention Efforts Among Law Enforcement Organizations in Ohio - Trey Bussey, University of Cincinnati; Bradley O'Guinn, University of Cincinnati; Cory P. Haberman, University of Cincinnati; Jessica Huff, University of Cincinnati; Brenna Dunlap, University of Cincinnati

• Assessing Officer Retention Intentions in a Sample of Ohio Agencies - Brenna Dunlap, University of Cincinnati; Jessica Huff, University of Cincinnati; Cory P. Haberman, University of Cincinnati; Bradley O'Guinn, University of Cincinnati; Trey Bussey, University of Cincinnati

• An Experimental Assessment of Bonuses on Police Officer Retention Intentions - Jessica Huff, University of Cincinnati; Cory P. Haberman, University of Cincinnati; Brenna Dunlap, University of Cincinnati; Trey Bussey, University of Cincinnati; Bradley O'Guinn, University of Cincinnati

Chair

• Cory P. Haberman, University of Cincinnati

Organized by a Division or external group?

Division of Policing