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Translational Criminology: Toward Best Practice

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Abstract

Over the past two decades, criminologists have attempted to better understand the process through which research is used by practitioners and policymakers to identify the conditions that facilitate its policy and practice use. As part of this effort, the current study examines the translational research process and the use of researcher-practitioner partnerships (RPPs) in two state correctional agencies. The methods include interviews with leading national researchers, Florida legislative personnel, and state-level decision makers in adult and juvenile corrections. The findings document barriers, facilitators, and mechanisms involved in the translation process and reveal the effectiveness of RPPs to translate research into policy and practice.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the Florida Department of Corrections, the researchers and scholars that agreed to be interviewed, and Dr. Julie Brancale for her assistance.

Funding

This project was supported by Award No. 2014-IJ-CX-0035, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.

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Correspondence to George B. Pesta.

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Pesta, G.B., Blomberg, T.G., Ramos, J. et al. Translational Criminology: Toward Best Practice. Am J Crim Just 44, 499–518 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-018-9467-1

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