Research Brought to Life

Conducting Research that Informs Policy

A branch of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the FSU Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research expands the influence of scholarship in the public policy arena and promotes evidence-based policy-making and practice at the state and national levels.

The Center's primary goal is to support data collection and research initiatives with application to crime and justice policy that promotes social justice. It works to achieve the following objectives:

• Conduct rigorous, policy-relevant empirical research.
• Disseminate knowledge to policymakers, practitioners, and citizens.
• Contribute to the field of criminology with theoretically relevant and methodologically sound research published in leading academic journals.

Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships

The Center staff has advanced degrees in many disciplines, including criminology, criminal justice, statistics, sociology, political science, public administration, and education. They collaborate with researchers, practitioners, and policymakers across the state and nation. Additionally, the Center maintains relationships with several federal and state agencies as well as local-level stakeholders in the prevention, juvenile justice education, and criminal justice communities. Through its data-sharing agreements, the Center has created a library of rich data files and a methodology for linking those files with Center-collected data to answer a multitude of research and policy questions.

Creating Unique Learning Opportunities

As an interdisciplinary academic institution engaged in real-world research, the FSU Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research fosters a unique intellectual and collaborative environment in which Center staff bring their practical project experience into the classroom and College faculty bring their theoretical perspectives and expertise to the research activities of the Center.

The Center provides excellent opportunities for graduate students to gain a diverse array of experience and perspectives while training to be tomorrow's leaders in academia, policymaking, and criminal justice practice.