The U.S. corrections system is at a crossroads, grappling with high recidivism rates and the growing need for a shift from punitive approaches to more rehabilitative and supportive measures. By integrating data-driven applications and fostering relationships between inmates and corrections staff, there’s potential to reform how jails and prisons operate. This not only aims to better assess risks but also to ensure the safety of both correctional officers and incarcerated individuals, preparing them for a successful reintegration into society.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley welcomes Dr. Brian Lovins, a criminology expert and principal at Justice System Partners, and past president of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA). Dr. Lovins discusses the application of data-driven technologies in corrections and emphasizes the importance of relationship-building in rehabilitation. The conversation delves into how corrections agencies can use these tools to ensure safety, facilitate rehabilitation and prepare inmates for life after release.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Every day, law enforcement officers put themselves in harm's way to ensure public safety and are often severely injured in that process. The repercussions of on-duty injuries can extend far beyond the physical. The aftermath often brings a cascade of challenges that affect not only the injured officers but also their families and colleagues.

In this episode of the "Policing Matters" podcast host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Patricia Kay Reyna about her family's ordeal following a devastating on-duty accident that left her husband, Humberto Reyna, a North Carolina State Highway Patrol Master Trooper, with a traumatic brain injury.

Currently working with the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training at the University of Oregon, Dr. Reyna discusses her transformative journey from a finance professional to a traumatic brain injury expert and advocate. Her story sheds light on the physical, emotional and bureaucratic struggles that ensue following such injuries in the line of duty.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In recent years, law enforcement agencies across the United States have navigated through tumultuous waters, marked by heightened scrutiny and significant shifts in operational norms. This complex landscape has given rise to a phenomenon known as de-policing, where officers may exhibit reluctance to engage proactively due to various external and internal pressures.

Doctoral candidate Jacob Foster from Arizona State University, alongside Dr. Michael Rossler at Illinois State University and Dr. Charles Scheer at the University of Southern Mississippi, embarked on a rigorous investigation into the nuances of de-policing. Their research, born out of the desire to empirically examine the anecdotal experiences surrounding modern law enforcement challenges, provides an empirical foundation to understand how external events like the Ferguson effect and the George Floyd incident, coupled with internal departmental dynamics, influence police behavior.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Foster, Rossler and Scheer about their findings, which were recently published in Police Practice and Research, and how they illuminate the complexities of policing in an era of unprecedented scrutiny.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.