NCJ Number
188135
Journal
Criminolgy Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2001 Pages: 1-8
Editor(s)
Robert J. Bursik Jr.
Date Published
February 2001
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the impact of federally funded research in the realm of drug enforcement policy and the need for an increase in independent research agendas.
Abstract
This article addresses the current use of Federal funds to support research on what is perceived as politically feasible solutions. This is discussed in reference to the war on drugs. Drug laws are viewed as excessively costly and yet, they continue to grow and use up the resources of the justice system. By concentrating on what is politically feasible, researchers avoid consideration of approaches that might be more successful. A prominent reason given for this situation is that a large number of criminologists are employees of Federal, State, or local government agencies and another large set of criminologists are working with funds supplied by government agencies or seeking funds from the same agencies. It is noted that under these circumstances, their focus will be of necessity on reaching politically feasible solutions. The article notes that problems that are not politically viable are studied and discussed by criminologists, but some aspects are almost never funded by government agencies and such studies have little or no impact on government policy. Federal agencies are seen as having studied or funded studies of every aspect of drug use and drug distribution except the problems created by the drug laws and tactics required in attempts to enforce such laws. The study states that as long as Federal agencies set the research agenda, they are not likely to list research on the impact of increased social and economic support on crime as areas of study. Given built in limitations of Federal research agendas, a need is discussed for the development of independent research agendas. The study recommends that the American Society of Criminology and its National Policy Committee identify important areas of research that may or may not be politically viable and that Federal agencies may or may not fund. The Society would provide direction and focus for its members. The study further suggests that with sets of agendas that are independent of the political influences of the party in power and independent of conventional wisdom, there is a possibility to develop theoretical perspectives, research programs, and criminal justice practices that are better than those of the last half-century.