When I was a little kid, I had an irrational fear of and fascination with crime. Maybe it was because I grew up an hour outside of New York City in the 1980s. Since then my fear has subsided despite the fact that I actually live in downtown Chicago, but my fascination has continued—I love reading research based articles and books on crime. I’m always amazed at how much research is done on criminals, but I guess it makes sense. There is a ton of data collected by the government on crime, and once criminals are incarcerated, they’re pretty easy to get a hold of for research purposes. The tough thing is that the sensational news always gets the attention. Local news stations don’t look to research to see what they should warn viewers about. They find the most shocking story and play it up as much as they can (this sounds similar to the problem Just Vision is facing with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process). National Council on Crime and Delinquency is an Oakland, CA based non-profit organization that “has been applying research to policy and practice in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and child welfare” since 1907. They’re trying to fight crime by taking a scientific approach, not by doing what’s publicly or politically popular.

Don’t Be Delinquent

There aren’t a lot of non-profits that have been around as long as the NCCD. Yet the National Council on Crime and Delinquency continues to passionately and effectively pursue its initiatives. I actually really like what they have to say about themselves, so here’s an excerpt from the NCCD About page:

Crime control policies must be based on data and best practices, not media sensation or political rhetoric.

The correctional system can only have a limited impact on crime rates. Our prisons must be used sparingly for those offenders who are a threat to public safety and cannot be safely managed in the community. Incarceration is expensive and often leads to increased criminality. Prevention strategies and well-planned alternatives to incarceration can reduce the fiscal and social costs of current policies.

We are entering a new era of opportunity, one which promises to renew obsolete policies and bring about reform. Only a comprehensive planning approach that includes all sectors of American life-business, charitable organizations, religious groups, individual citizens, and government-can bring about a more just society.

If you agree with that quote, then you should check out jobs at the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Right now they’re looking for entry level Research Associates who have “a Bachelors degree in criminal justice, social science, public policy, or other related fields” and “prior experience in research-based work and statistical analysis software packages.” If that’s you, you can apply by sending a résumé and cover letter to iarifuku@sf.nccd-crc.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

• NCCD-CRC.org
• Jobs at the National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• About the National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• NCCD’s History
• Staff at NCCD
• NCCD’s Initiatives
• NCCD News
• NCCD’s Blog

What do you know about the National Council on Crime and Delinquency?

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