Implementation science (IS)—A game changer for criminology and criminal justice

Abstract

Research summary

Implementation science (IS) is an emerging field that is infrequently used in criminology and criminal justice. IS offers criminology and criminal justice new methods to describe and measure innovations, and new and rigorous research designs that include measuring the implementation of innovations, examining implementation or change strategies, and pursuing a myriad of implementation outcomes. Most important is that the emphasis is on the organizations and/or systems themselves, instead of a focus on individuals. A science of implementation will help to advance reform efforts in justice/legal organizations, whether the reforms are at the policy or practice level. Criminologists’ use of IS methods and techniques should enlarge our knowledge about “what works” to include answers to contextual questions regarding “what works under what circumstances” or “how does it works.” Further, IS can help identify the processes needed to ensure reform efforts are successful and to build capacity for long-term change.

Policy implications

IS is a field that is growing in importance in medicine and health-related disciplines and is relevant to criminology/criminal justice. Receptivity to reforming police, judicial, prosecutorial, institutional corrections, and community corrections organizations is typically met with a bit of a cold shoulder, often because researchers do not understand or address the operational issues that affect reform. Of particular importance is understanding which change procedures are useful for what types of reforms—an understudied and underappreciated feature of the implementation conundrum. Policy makers and practitioners will benefit from more information on effective change procedures. IS can be used to understand strategies to define innovations, to master change processes, to study implementation, and to expand outcomes to include organizational and system measures to benefit all stakeholders.