Reducing Crime

In this episode of the Reducing Crime podcast, host Jerry Ratcliffe interviews Dr. Ella Cockbain, an Associate Professor in the Department of Security and Crime Science at University College London. They discuss the challenges of tackling human trafficking, labor exploitation, and sexual exploitation. Dr. Cockbain highlights the complexities and misconceptions surrounding trafficking, emphasizing the need for accurate definitions and evidence-based responses. She also discusses the unintended consequences of legislation and policies aimed at combating trafficking, which can inadvertently harm vulnerable populations. The conversation touches on the role of law enforcement, the importance of engaging with sex worker organizations, and the need for comprehensive research to inform effective strategies.

Sir Denis O'Connor has been in British policing for over 50 years and a leader for nearly two decades. Across a variety of roles, he has been at the center of a number of significant high-profile reviews. We discuss police careerists, the growth of oversight regimes, and the need for a plan to win. There's also some reflection on the former prevalence of violence at weddings in the east end of London.

Dr. Renee Mitchell is a sergeant in the Sacramento police department, California, and a co-founder and current president of the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing. In a wide-ranging chat, we explore the myriad ways research can help 21st century policing. We also cover her Sacramento Hot Spots Experiment, how policing research is like following the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and its lack of evidence base, "Make it stop" policing, and the lack of science around police-involved shootings.

In this episode of the Reducing Crime podcast, host Jerry Ratcliffe interviews Dr. Ian Hesketh, the Wellbeing Lead at the UK College of Policing and the Senior Responsible Owner for the National Police Wellbeing Service in the UK. They discuss the importance of officer wellness and resiliency in the face of mounting challenges in the police service. They also touch on the concept of "leaveism," where officers use their personal vacation time instead of taking sick leave, and the need for line managers to be central to officer wellbeing. The episode highlights the need for organizations to support and prioritize the mental and physical health of their officers.

Rob Briner is Professor of Organizational Psychology in the School of Business and Management at Queen Mary University of London. He tells me about the vital role of accountability in pushing evidence-based practice, the appeal of apparent simplicity and good intentions that can trap people in harmful responses, the three words managers can't seem to say, and the idea of watchful waiting.

Jerry Ratcliffe interviews Geoff Barnes, the director of criminology for the Western Australia police force. They discuss the importance of evidence-based policing and the role of senior leadership in making it sustainable. Barnes shares his experiences working with police departments and highlights the challenges of implementing evidence-based practices. He emphasizes the need for police-led experiments and the involvement of academics in supporting these initiatives. The conversation also touches on the difficulties of accessing research literature and the importance of critical thinking when reviewing studies.

Jerry Ratcliffe interviews Charis Kubrin, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, about her research on California Proposition 47. Proposition 47 is a law that reduces some non-violent, non-serious crimes to misdemeanors. Kubrin's research found that Proposition 47 had no significant impact on violent crime and may have had a small impact on motor vehicle theft and larceny. However, she emphasizes the need for further research and analysis to fully understand the effects of the law. Kubrin also discusses the controversy and criticism her research has received, particularly from law enforcement organizations and political opponents of criminal justice reform.

John Eck is a professor at the University of Cincinnati and the originator of the SARA model of problem-oriented policing. We discuss his work around investigation management, the nonsense and unreliability of clearance rates, the true value of detective work, the failings of community policing, and what he learned about place management from a cemetery.

I catch up with Geoff Alpert, professor of criminal justice at the University of South Carolina, and a stalwart of the policing research field for over 30 years. We discuss how to get research into the hands of police officers, and what are the essential skills for a new policing researcher coming out of a graduate program.

In this episode of the Reducing Crime podcast, host Jerry Ratcliffe interviews Major Wendy Stiver, a commander in the Dayton Ohio Police Department and a practitioner in residence for the National Institute of Justice's LEADS scholar program. Stiver discusses the challenges of implementing evidence-based policing and overcoming resistance within police departments. She also talks about her research on infant mortality cases, patrol officer exposure to secondary trauma, and foot patrol evaluations. Stiver emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between practitioners and researchers in order to advance public safety.