Center for Criminology & Public Policy Research

Real Lives. Real Problems. Real Solutions.

The Florida State University College of Criminology & Criminal Justice’s Center for Criminology & Public Policy Research (the Center) expands the influence of scholarship in the public policy arena. The Center promotes the use of evidence-based criminological research in policy and practice at the local, state, and national levels. The Center’s primary goal is to promote evidence-informed criminal justice policymaking and practice at the local, state, and national levels. The Center facilitates and supports data collection and research initiatives that both advance the academic discipline of criminology and inform juvenile and criminal justice policy and practice. The Center pursues these goals through the following research institutes:

Each institute produces rigorous, policy-relevant research in close partnership with local, state, and national criminal justice agencies. Some of the Center’s partner agencies include the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission. Through partnering agencies and other outlets, research findings are disseminated to policymakers, practitioners, and citizens to guide policy and practice. Finally, each research institute contributes to the discipline of criminology with theoretically relevant and methodologically sound research published in leading academic journals.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE

The College of Criminology & Criminal Justice has built nationally ranked programs around three overlapping principles: Research, Education, and Service. Combined, these principles are the foundation from which the College achieves its top priorities of creating future leaders in the field who will ultimately reduce the pain and suffering associated with crime through the creation of evidence-based criminal justice policy.

As a branch of the College of Criminology & Criminal Justice, the Center works closely with college faculty and graduate students. Several of the Center’s institutes are directed by college faculty or have faculty affiliates, and the College’s faculty members lead most of the Center’s projects. In addition, master's and doctoral students gain valuable experience working as research assistants on externally funded projects. Through the Center, graduate students are provided excellent opportunities to gain a wide array of experiences and diverse perspectives while training to be tomorrow’s leaders in criminal justice academia, policy, and practice.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Thomas G. Blomberg, Ph.D.

DIRECTOR | George B. Pesta, Ph.D.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information on the Center for Criminology & Public Policy Research, contact George B. Pesta, Ph.D., Director, (850) 645-6101; gpesta@fsu.edu.

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