When the politically charged issue of racial profiling by police departments came to light, it became a hot topic for criminology researchers. The conspicuous role of the American police touches a nerve, often putting politics in the driver's seat of research in this area.

However, researching the effectiveness of American police departments is important from both a political and a scientific aspect. As the political environment changes and new technologies as well as new investigative and crime prevention techniques emerge, it remains critical to understand what kind of impact these external influences have in determining the efficiency of police organizations.

One of the most comprehensive reports of research on police departments was released in 2003 – the National Research Council's report Fairness and Effectiveness in Policing: The Evidence. Summarizing four decades of research, the report keeps a watchful eye toward policy significance.

This volume of The Annals touches on many of the themes included in the National Research Council's report. Yet it goes well beyond restating the initial topics as the contributors to this special issue drive those themes toward daring new directions and offer innovative perspectives on determining the condition of American police departments.

Scrutinizing the role of existing research in the field of police studies, this issue goes on to cover important topics such as current trends in police organizations; how the public's perception of the police restraint and fairness shape police image; the effectiveness of tailored responses versus a one-size-fits-all approach; the role of public support in determining the success of a department; issues surrounding police supervision and self-management, and more.

With a balanced look at both policy and practice, this issue will help social scientists and policy makers alike gain a clearer view of the police landscape. It elevates the research in this field to a new level and provides a sturdy foundation for future studies and new policies.

View the May 2004 table of contents or download a pdf of the quick read synopsis.