Research Division

The task of the Research Division is to promote the evaluation of crime prevention measures and the compilation of evaluation data and to strengthen the knowledge base for crime prevention on the basis of criminological research data. A special focus lies on strengthening the infrastructure for evaluation research on crime prevention and the status of the research.

Database on evaluation research

The Research Division supports the dissemination of research data and compilation of research findings by developing a database on Finnish evaluation research on crime prevention together with the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy at the University of Helsinki. The database helps create an overview of the crime situation and crime prevention in Finland to be utilised on the website crimeprevention.fi.

Focus on research infrastructure

In its work, the Division focuses on developing the infrastructure and other preconditions for crime prevention evaluation research and on initiatives supporting this aim. The Division pays special attention to the expertise and training in the field of evaluation research, funding for crime prevention evaluation research, promotion of evaluation culture and experimental culture, issues concerning publication forums, and promotion of the principle of open data. In addition, to ensure the availability of sufficient and research-based information on the development of the crime rate, the Division pays attention to the national systems for monitoring crime and safety. The Division may also take initiatives on specific research subjects.

Status of evaluation research

The Research Division aims to increase the appreciation of concrete evaluation research and to strengthen its status in societal decision-making. One of the ways to promote this aim is the prize for crime prevention evaluation research, established on the Division’s initiative, that is awarded every four years to a distinguished evaluation study and a thesis representing evaluation research. In its activities, the Division also emphasises the fact that applied evaluation research and criminological basic research do not contradict but rather support each other.