Knowledge dissemination in translational criminology: a case study in corrections

This study aims to identify effective strategies for disseminating scholarly evidence to corrections practitioners within the framework of translational criminology.

In this experimental study, corrections practitioners were randomly assigned to receive weekly executive summaries, full-text articles, or corrections news for five months. Data were collected through a pre-survey, a 2-month midpoint survey, and a post-survey to evaluate engagement and knowledge uptake.

Participants receiving executive summaries showed the highest engagement but did not demonstrate enhanced comprehension compared to those receiving corrections news, who exhibited higher comprehension. Those accessing full-text articles reported the least comprehension and lower engagement, despite finding the information highly useful.

Given the mixed effectiveness of executive summaries and full-text articles, future research should develop tailored dissemination strategies to better meet the needs of corrections practitioners. The study highlights the critical roles of partnerships and pracademics in translating complex research for practical application.