Liberty University Evidence Based Policing Discussion

Please respond to the following discussion post with 150 words or more, 1 reference, and a biblical perspective EACH.

Original post: Read Chapter 2 of the Bachman textbook, Chapter 2 of the Mosher textbook, and the website article “Evidence-Based Policing” before discussing the following prompts:

• Describe the major elements of evidence-based policing.
• How do the elements relate to research in criminal justice?
• In what areas is evidence-based policing already being used?
• What are the steps you would take to convince a department not using evidence-based policing to use it
  1. The major elements to evidence-based policing are scientific results and how they can be implemented into policing and organization practices and how it can be validated. It must be shown to be useful to policing and easily implemented by those in administrative roles which will later roll down the chain of command to lower-level front line supervisors. When we look at evidence-based policing we should ensure that officers are given the right information they need to work efficiently. Resistance often comes because people are unaware of changes and do not understand the full extent of the changes. Key features of evidence-based policing include an openness to experimentation and testing of both new and old tactics, partnerships between police practitioners and academic researchers (Cherney, Et Al, 2019). These elements impact and relate to research in criminal justice because they influence funding to departments and can help predict crime trends. Evidence-based policing is already being used in multiple areas, we see this across the country today. Departments implement different experimental designs with their officers to see how their departments operate with something in place and how it impacts the community for example, one department may have officers use body cameras as a way to see if it reduces the amount of excessive force complaints they receive, or a department may increase their community oriented policing efforts in a combination with evidence-based policing to combat crime. Leadership is critical because the implementation of evidence-based policing is most successful when established at the operational level (Potts, 2017). If I were trying to convince a department not already using evidence-based policing I would explain that like other policing techniques it could bring together the department and improve their overall functioning. I would also add that police work has evolved and requires a revitalized approach from officers. It takes a blended response of old and new tactics. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” When we trust in the Lord and we trust in a process such as evidence-based policing we can gain knowledge.
• 2. The major elements to evidence-based policing are scientific results and how they can be implemented into policing and organization practices and how it can be validated. It must be shown to be useful to policing and easily implemented by those in administrative roles which will later roll down the chain of command to lower-level front line supervisors. When we look at evidence-based policing we should ensure that officers are given the right information they need to work efficiently. Resistance often comes because people are unaware of changes and do not understand the full extent of the changes. Key features of evidence-based policing include an openness to experimentation and testing of both new and old tactics, partnerships between police practitioners and academic researchers (Cherney, Et Al, 2019). These elements impact and relate to research in criminal justice because they influence funding to departments and can help predict crime trends. Evidence-based policing is already being used in multiple areas, we see this across the country today. Departments implement different experimental designs with their officers to see how their departments operate with something in place and how it impacts the community for example, one department may have officers use body cameras as a way to see if it reduces the amount of excessive force complaints they receive, or a department may increase their community oriented policing efforts in a combination with evidence-based policing to combat crime. Leadership is critical because the implementation of evidence-based policing is most successful when established at the operational level (Potts, 2017). If I were trying to convince a department not already using evidence-based policing I would explain that like other policing techniques it could bring together the department and improve their overall functioning. I would also add that police work has evolved and requires a revitalized approach from officers. It takes a blended response of old and new tactics. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” When we trust in the Lord and we trust in a process such as evidence-based policing we can gain knowledge.