Criminal Justice Policy Reform Through Researcher–Practitioner/Policymaker Partnerships

Abstract

This chapter describes how researcher-practitioner/policymaker partnerships (RPPs) can effectively contribute to criminal justice policy reform. We begin by providing an overview of RPPs that have resulted in criminal justice system reforms. We then describe a unique partnership between researchers and a state legislature. The chronology of the initiation, implementation, and outcomes of the RPP with the legislature are included in our description as well as the lessons learned and implications for future RPPs. This chapter concludes with recommendations regarding how RPPs with legislatures and practitioners can contribute to more effective criminal justice reform. This chapter contributes to the literature on criminal justice policy reform by describing an RPP with a legislative organization, which has been notably absent in prior relevant literature. Importantly, RPPs with policymakers can contribute to criminal justice policy reform by providing policymakers with evidence-based options and likely outcomes of legislation. Specifically, through RPPs, researchers and policymakers can proactively assess the potential impacts of various policy options prior to the drafting of legislation.