Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The Criminologist

Publication Date

2024

Comments

Published in: The Criminologist, vol. 50, issue 2, 2024.

Abstract

This article is a story about privilege. The recognition that as an academic, it is a privilege to have a seat at the policymaking table. It is a privilege to be heard, to be valued, and to contribute in ways that impact the lives of real people, in real communities, related to real problems. Researchers who’ve had the opportunity to participate in community-based collaborations know well that such partnerships are built on trust, patience, commitment, and thick skin (Drawbridge, Taheri, & Frost, 2018). When someone allows us in the door it can come with perceived risk. They sometimes open their doors to strangers who are given the opportunity to ‘look under the curtains,’ to see potential blemishes. It’s also important to recognize that this is something we rarely do in higher education. How often do we, for example, invite individuals from outside our own industry to observe what we do, offer critical insight into our operations, and change our operations based on those insights? This is exceedingly rare in higher education. With this irony in mind, we should not forget how generous practitioners are when they open their doors and allow us, as outsiders, to be part of their worlds.

Volume

50

Issue

2

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