UC Partners to Create Revolutionary New Center Focused on Addressing Important Policing Issues

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), University of Cincinnati (UC), and Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF) today announced the creation of the IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy. The center, funded by a $3.3 million grant from LJAF, will engage in rigorous research that has practical implications for the field and is intended to serve as a national model for the way law enforcement agencies and researchers work together to help protect communities, safeguard citizens’ rights, and ensure the fair treatment of all individuals.

“The goal of the IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy is to provide a path for law enforcement and researchers to work together on evidence-based research studies that will drive future practices and policies,” said IACP President Terrence M. Cunningham, chief of the Wellesley, Massachusetts, police department.  “Academic researchers often don’t have access to data police departments collect. Additionally, research does not provide actionable recommendations that can be easily translated into specific policies and practices that could enhance policing.”

Led by Robin S. Engel, UC’s vice president for safety and reform, the center will have staff at both UC and the IACP headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The center will build an experienced, credentialed team to rigorously evaluate policing practices in order to identify those that are effective and fair, and will facilitate the exchange of data and research between the policing community and academia.

“The IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy will bring high-caliber academic researchers and police practitioners together to conduct cutting-edge research and share findings with law enforcement leaders around the world,” said Engel. “This innovative collaboration will enable us to develop evidence-based policies and practices that are focused on addressing critical policing issues, creating a ground-breaking model for police-academic partnerships.”

“The Laura and John Arnold Foundation is excited to fund this innovative partnership between the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the University of Cincinnati. We believe that the IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy has the potential to transform contemporary policing by helping to create a dynamic two-way collaboration between research and practice that is unprecedented in the field,” LJAF Vice President of Criminal Justice Matt Alsdorf explained. “This partnership has the potential to address some of policing’s most pressing and persistent challenges with an evidence-based approach that is academically tested and practical.”

During the first three years of operation the IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy will

• Create and disseminate a national policy for conducting police research and police/researcher collaborations.

• Launch at least three research projects, such as randomized controlled trials, targeting urgent policing issues.

• Translate research reports written for an academic audience into sets of actionable items that practitioners can easily implement.

The University of Cincinnati will provide state-of-the art facilities to host trainings, convene workshops, and offer hands-on learning opportunities as it models police-academic partnerships in action and disseminates findings through e-learning modules.

About the University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati, Ohio’s premier urban research university, is classified as a Research University (Very High Research Activity) by the Carnegie Commission. The university’s faculty members are distinguished worldwide for their creative teaching and research, especially in problem-solving and the application of their discoveries. In fiscal year 2014, UC and its affiliates earned more than $390 million in external grants and contracts. The National Science Foundation places UC in the top 30 among America’s public research universities, while U.S. News ranks the university among the top tier of America’s best colleges, and The Chronicle of Higher Education calls UC a “research heavyweight.” The university serves a diverse enrollment of more than 44,000 students.

UC’s School of Criminal Justice, housed within the College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services, holds a No. 1 ranking for research productivity and is recognized by U.S.  News & World Report as one of the top three doctoral programs in the nation.

About the International Association of Chiefs of Police

The International Association of Chiefs of Police is the world’s largest association of law enforcement executives. With over 27,000 members in more than 130 countries, the IACP serves as the professional voice of law enforcement. The IACP addresses cutting edge issues confronting law enforcement through advocacy, education, outreach and programs. IACP is a professional organization that supports the law enforcement leaders of today and develops the leaders of tomorrow. Visit

www.iacp.org

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About the Laura and John Arnold Foundation

LJAF is a private foundation that is working to address our nation’s most pressing and persistent challenges using evidence-based, multi-disciplinary approaches. Its strategic investments are currently focused on criminal justice, education, evidence-based policy and innovation, research integrity, and science and technology.  LJAF has offices in Houston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Visit

www.arnoldfoundation.org.