Police agencies have increasingly partnered with researchers and academics in recent years, but such relationships across the country still need to grow and strengthen

Enhancing the ability of police agencies to collect their own data, analyze and interpret IT, and then apply IT to help solve problems is the goal of the national institute of justices law enforcement advancing data and science (leads) scholars program. The national policing institute (the institute), an independent and nonpartisan organization dedicated to encouraging excellence in policing, stands ready to support NIJ in its efforts. While the value of the leads scholars program is indisputable, the institute believes that the program is now well positioned to expand its national reach, enhance the experiences of participants and participating agencies, and better leverage the research and experiences of alumni, ultimately to improve the safety and well-being of communities. The institutes proposed approach to supporting nijs leads scholars program is organized around four activities: (1) implement a revised leads scholars application and review process, (2) support training, education, and professional development opportunities for leads scholars and their agencies, (3) facilitate professional connections, information sharing, and work dissemination, and (4) expand the visibility of the program in the field. To accomplish the programs goals and ensure that participation is fulfilling and valuable to scholars and agencies, the institute will rely on: the strength of its research capacity and nationally regarded science staff; decades of experience establishing and managing national programs that involve and impact research and practice; and the institutes long-standing professional networks in the realms of research and practice. The institutes plans include a core component: the creation and nurturing of a virtual community of practice for leads scholars. The breadth and depth of research experience of institute staff and affiliates will be leveraged to connect leads scholars to the latest research, innovative practices, and thought leaders across the country. Collectively, the national policing institute proposes a vision for the next generation of leads scholars. The institute seeks to elevate the nijs leads scholars program supporting the professional development of individual practitioners and academics and agency-wide adoption of evidence-based policing to diffuse the programs impact on the field. CA/NCF