Publications

Changing demands on research : a perspective from the Australian Institute of Criminology

Toni Makkai

Published in:
Crime and justice international : worldwide news and trends 21(89), November/December 2006.

Abstract

Crime research, like crime, is global. This article, by the Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), presents the AIC's perspective on demands on crime research and trends in this. The article highlights the delicate balancing act between maintaining and deriving the benefits from long term investments in research and responding to short term imperatives. Using examples from the AIC's data collections, the author argues the need for governments to see data as basic infrastructure requiring the same investments and commitments as are given to maintaining transport and telecommunications systems. The article also describes an example of a working partnership between researchers and state police forces, in the drugs and crime area, and the AIC's recent practice of 'embedding' an analyst in a policy or practitioner environment, as in its partnership with the Australian High Tech Crime Centre. In addition the AIC has embarked on some longer term arrangements with crime prevention agencies to assist in improving the effectiveness of crime prevention interventions. The AIC also produces a range of publications which aim to disseminate useful information to policy makers and practitioners. In October 2005 the AIC celebrated over 30 years of achievements in a highly competitive and changing market place.