Evidence-Based Practices

CPE serves to bridge the gap between research and practice by offering public safety training on the application and value of evidence-based practices and developing resources such as the Oregon Knowledge Bank, a public safety resource in partnership with the Criminal Justice Commission. Beyond training and resources, CPE encourages the implementation of evidence-based practices by assisting with studies related to statewide issues or dynamics and providing public safety agencies with assistance in translating contemporary research. For its efforts regarding evidence-based practices, CPE was named as one of the National Institute of Justice's 2017 LEADS Agencies.

To request research assistance, click here.

Evidence-based Practices

To broaden a recent definition, evidence-based practices (EBP) “use data, analysis, and research to supplement experience and professional judgment…in order to most effectively…provide the best possible [service] to the public." (Cordner, G., 2017) The concept of EBP has long been in use in other fields such as medicine and, more recently, corrections. It is an effective framework for determining what works for our agencies and communities.

CPE promotes the use of EBP by offering practitioners the tools and resources to enable them to implement effective programs and practices. Our researchers act as bridges between academics and practitioners, by offering specialized research and translation skills.

For an introduction to EBP, check out this BJA article.

Current Projects & Programs

Oregon Knowledge Bank

The Oregon Knowledge Bank (OKB) is a collaboration between CPE and the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. It is a resource for and created by the public safety community in Oregon. The OKB focuses on Oregon: its innovative policing, corrections, and community supervision programs; and research conducted on criminal justice initiatives.

Programs - The OKB program section provides the ability to submit, share, and search for public safety programs from around Oregon.

Research - The OKB research section provides summaries of topics and research studies relevant to the needs of Oregon agencies and the communities they serve. From here, research assistance can also be requested.

Follow the OKB on Facebook!

Choosing to Serve Study

In addition to bridging the gap between practitioners and academics, we are beginning to contribute our own work to the larger body of research. Currently, we are working on the Choosing to Serve project. This project came about due to significant shifts affecting police-community relationships, as well as the culture of policing itself. The purpose of this survey is to better understand the perceptions within groups associated with policing - potential applicants, police recruits, current and former officers, and civilian personnel. This survey-based project includes questions about perceptions of the drivers and barriers to a career in law enforcement.

If you are currently an OREGON college student, a police academy recruit, a current police officer, a current law enforcement civilian employee, or a former/retired police officer, please consider taking five minutes to complete our survey at Survey Monkey - Choosing to Serve

Tools & Resources

21st Century Policing

In 2014, President Obama established the Task Force on 21st Century Policing in response to numerous events that negatively affected trust between police agencies and the communities they serve. With the insight of numerous stakeholder groups, the Task Force developed recommendations for "how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust."

The recommendations, and associated action items, are divided into six pillars:

Building Trust and Legitimacy
Policy & Oversight
Technology & Social Media
Community Policing & Crime Reduction
Officer Training & Education
Officer Safety & Wellness

The Task Force's Final Report provides further details on the recommendations themselves.

For information on research associated with the six pillars, check out IACP's An Evidence-Assessment of the Recommendations of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing developed in partnership with George Mason University's Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy.

For a quick read on the six pillars and program ideas, check out IACP's Starting With What Works Using Evidence-Based Strategies.

Problem-Solving & EBP Resources

There are numerous resources available online. Check out our Research Resources document for a one-stop list of helpful links!
We love Google too, so here are some handy search tips for getting the most out of it.
Everyone problem solves every day, but having a framework makes large scale problem-solving much more straight forward.

Try the S.A.R.A. or P.A.N.D.A. models as a starting point.
The COPS Office Problem-Solving Guide offers insight on how to use these concepts in your agencies.

Communication Tools

Effective communication with stakeholders is a key component to implementing EBPs successfully. Here are some basic tips and tricks for presenting and writing about your big ideas.

Academic Partnerships

In an effort to contribute to evidence-based practices, DPSST has partnered with academic institutions such as Washington State University and Pacific University, as well as research groups including the National Institute of Justice and Force Science.

We are excited to continue participating in partnerships with academics. Please email our Research Coordinator if you are interested in exploring partnership opportunities.

Just as important, we want to cultivate partnerships between law enforcement practitioners and academics. If you are an academic seeking an agency OR an agency seeking an academic, email our Research Coordinator and let us help connect you!