Introduction

Abstract

The problems of crime and criminal justice are among the most pressing in contemporary society that call for evidence-based solutions. Police relationships with minority communities and mass incarceration are two of the most visible manifestations of these problems. Such challenges argue for a criminology that is responsive to the issues facing society. The medical community has realized the importance of translating basic research findings into knowledge that can inform clinical practice. Under the banner of translational research, this movement has spread beyond medicine to public health, nursing, social work, and other disciplines. Translational criminology has been slower to develop, but a cadre of champions have given the movement some momentum. There remains a lot of potential for meaningful translation in criminology and criminal justice.