Reducing Crime

Martin Bouchard, criminology professor, discusses social network analysis in understanding gangs and organized crime. He explains concepts like dyads and brokers and how police can strategically target criminal activity. Bouchard emphasizes the importance of combining social network analysis with contextual knowledge. He also discusses the role of social and human capital in criminal organizations and the potential for disruption and informant recruitment.

In this episode of the Reducing Crime Podcast, host Jerry Ratcliffe interviews Detective Superintendent Dave Cowan of Australia's Victoria Police. They discuss Cowan's journey into evidence-based policing (EBP) and the experiments he has conducted, including a focused deterrence trial and a trial using behavioral science to reduce failure to appear at court. They also discuss the importance of rigorous testing and evaluation in policing strategies, the need for better communication and application of research in policing, and the challenges and progress in implementing EBP within police organizations. Cowan emphasizes the importance of leadership, curiosity, and innovation in driving change and improving policing practices.

In this episode of Reducing Crime, host Jerry Ratcliffe interviews Seth Williams, the former Philadelphia District Attorney who was convicted and incarcerated on charges related to the receipt of undisclosed gifts. Williams discusses his time in prison and the role of the District Attorney. He talks about his background and experiences as a prosecutor, as well as his efforts to implement community-based prosecution and reduce gun violence in Philadelphia. Williams also shares his views on holding people accountable for illegal firearms possession and addressing the drug crisis through a combination of harm reduction and social services. He emphasizes the importance of treating trauma and providing interventions at an early age to prevent crime and reduce recidivism. Williams also discusses his current work in helping individuals with reentry and officiating weddings.

In this episode of "Reducing Crime," host Jerry Ratcliffe sits down with criminology legend Ron Clarke to discuss his career and contributions to the field. Clarke is known for his development of situational crime prevention and the rational choice perspective on crime. He emphasizes the importance of practical application in criminology and the need for targeted interventions based on careful analysis of micro-environments associated with crime. Clarke also discusses his frustration with mainstream criminology's lack of focus on practical solutions and the challenges of getting his ideas recognized in academia. Despite this, he was awarded the prestigious Stockholm Prize in Criminology in 2015. Clarke also touches on his collaborations with Derek Cornish and his current work on successful case studies of situational prevention of suicide. Overall, Clarke's work has had a significant impact on crime prevention and has highlighted the importance of considering environmental factors in understanding and preventing crime .

In this episode of the ReducingCrime Podcast, host Jerry Ratcliffe interviews Terry Cherry, a recruiting officer with the Charleston South Carolina Police Department. Cherry discusses her evidence-based approach to police recruitment and retention, as well as her work with academic colleagues. She emphasizes the importance of treating recruitment like a business, understanding the competition, and systematizing the recruitment process. Cherry also highlights the need for police departments to provide good customer service, care about the well-being of applicants, and create an inspirational aspect to recruitment. She shares her experience in creating evidence-based recruitment videos and the importance of focusing on social impact in attracting potential candidates. Cherry also discusses the changing expectations of recruits, the need for police departments to adapt to societal changes, and the potential consequences of failing to do so.

Andrew Lemieux manages the Problem-Oriented Wildlife Protection program for LEAD Ranger – an organization that supports wildlife park rangers around the world. Dr. Lemieux is also the editor-in-chief of the Wilderness Problems Resource Portal, an open-source collection of guides and manuals specifically written for field teams and hosted by the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. We talk about poaching, wildlife crime, habitat management and problem-solving in these unique and diverse wilderness places.

Mark Evans, OBE is the Executive Lead for Future Policing with the New Zealand Police (NZP), and Vice President of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Evidence Based Policing. He is the chair of the independent advisory board at the Royal New Zealand Police College and has an operational portfolio focused on fair and equitable policing outcomes, evidence-based policing, and the future use of new technologies. In a previous career, he reinvigorated crime and intelligence analysis in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. We discuss what he has learned about change and innovation in policing in large agencies.

Dr. Steve James is now an assistant professor in the Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology at Washington State University, having previously served for over 20 years in the British military. He has since become one of the US’s foremost experts on the effects of fatigue and sleep deprivation on law enforcement. He outlines a range of practical ways police officers can manage their sleep, coffee and stimulant intake, overtime, and seasonal changes.

Ken Pease, OBE is a British crime prevention legend, and the pioneer who directed the Kirkholt repeat burglary prevention project. He is currently a visiting professor at University College London, the University of Manchester, and Huddersfield University. We discuss the Kirkholt project, as well as his time teaching in Canada, having his class bombed by the provisional IRA, repeat victimization, and misleading government graphics.

Vera Bumpers is the police chief for the Houston Metro Transit Authority Police Department. She has served as the president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and is this year’s winner of the Woman Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award. We talk about mentorship, community outreach, and her role encouraging other women in policing.