NCJ Number
92454
Date Published
1983
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The essay explores the possibility of shifts in Canada's criminological research in the direction of a more unitary focus.
Abstract
Canada funds and carries out its social science research via several different mechanisms. The Federal government is involved through its granting council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Ministry of the Solicitor General, and Department of Justice. Each Province has at least one ministry involved in criminal justice matters. The Federal government and Provinces also support criminological research through their funding of universities. Two important trends in SSHRC funding have had an impact on criminological research: an erosion of available funds; and a higher degree of centralized decision making in priority areas. Provincially funded criminological research is carried out within the provincial government departments and through contracts with external organizations. A mixture of public and private organizations conduct Canada's criminology research. About six criminology research centers have direct and continuing financial contact with the federal government through a 'contributions' system. The private sector is involved through large and small consulting firms. The issue, and a source of strain between the government funding agencies and university research, is how to create an appropriate mix between timely research and research with a longer term approach that enables a better understanding of underlying problems. Possibly, the future of criminal justice research funding in Canada will involve two trends simultaneously; a shift in some research toward more central control; and a shift in other areas toward a more decentralized model.