Winter 2017 Researcher Practitioner Fellows Academy

To enhance the effectiveness of the Smart Suite programs and to bring more “science” to the field, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has partnered with a team from the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University (MSU) to build an academy that will researchers and practitioners work more effectively and efficiently on crime reduction strategies. The BJA/MSU Smart Suite Researcher Practitioner Fellows Academy (also known as the Fellows Academy) is a multi-day experience focusing on the importance of using science and data to:

(a) Support criminal justice planning and programming;

(b) Develop the capacity to translate research into practice;

(c) Support the implementation of evidence-based practice; and

(d) Enhance public safety and improve the delivery of fair and cost effective justice.

The Fellows Academy builds on MSU’s experience with PSN and similar data-driven initiatives, as well as the Research Partner Orientation Course (RPOC) that was originally developed for PSN research partners. The Academy will perpetuate a “community of practice” and develop “Fellows,” by providing training in action research, linkage to proven processes and strategies, and support for the Fellows and the partnerships through ongoing training and technical assistance (TTA). This will include a resource and communication network for continuous learning, support, and sharing of best practices. The objectives include the creation of a network of researchers and organizations actively engaged in practitioner-researcher partnerships. The goal is to build capacity for identifying and responding to emerging and chronic crime problems, analyzing these problems, linking strategies to research-based practice, and developing a culture of experimentation to further develop and sustain evidence-based practice.