In this engaging conversation, criminologist Jerry Ratcliffe shares his unique journey from a police officer to an academic specializing in policing. He discusses the importance of evidence-based policing, the challenges of communicating research to practitioners, and the evolving perceptions of crime trends in the U.S. Ratcliffe also highlights significant studies, including the Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment and his own Philadelphia Foot Patrol Experiment, which have shaped modern policing strategies.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why Jerry Ratcliffe transitioned from policing to academia.
- How evidence-based policing is important to modern law enforcement.
- The challenge of communicating research findings to practitioners.
- Key revelations from the Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment.
- Crime reduction data points from the Foot Patrols in Philadelphia.
- Why year-to-date crime comparisons can be misleading and should be avoided in early months.
- How the public's perception of crime trends is often influenced by media narratives.
- Reasons why short-form video content is an effective way to engage with the public about crime research.
- Ways academics need to improve their communication skills to reach non-academic audiences.
- Why the future of policing relies on collaboration between researchers and practitioners.
Jerry Ratcliffe is a former British police officer, college professor, and host of the Reducing Crime podcast. He works with police agencies around the world on crime reduction, leadership, and criminal intelligence strategy. After an ice-climbing accident ended a decade-long career with London’s Metropolitan Police, he earned a first class honors degree and a PhD from the University of Nottingham. He has published over 100 research articles and eleven books, including “Reducing Crime: A Companion for Police Leaders” and "Evidence-Based Policing: The Basics". Ratcliffe has been a research adviser to the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Commissioner, an instructor for the ATF intelligence academy, and he is a scientific advisor to the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a Professor of Practice and the Faculty Director of the Master of Applied Criminology and Police Leadership in the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Resources:
- Learn More: Jerry Ratcliffe's Website
Follow the Jeff-alytics Podcast:
- Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndex
- LinkedIn: Real-Time Crime Index
Website: The Jeff-alytics Podcast
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