INTEGRATING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE IN FEDERAL-LAW ENFORCEMENT - SECRETSERVICE APPLICATIONS OF BEHAVIORAL-SCIENCE EXPERTISE TO PROTECT THE PRESIDENT

This paper discusses specific behavioral research needs by law enforce ment and justice systems to guide forensic decision-making in areas of targeted violence. Continuing incidents of stalking, workplace violen ce, and threats to public figures underscore the importance of develop ing empirically based risk assessment and intervention strategies. Rev iewing briefly the relevant literatures in these areas, this paper des cribes deficits in these literatures and the absence of a model for in tegrating research and practice in applied settings. The U.S. Secret S ervice Behavioral Research Program is explored as one example of how b ehavioral science expertise may be integrated with law enforcement res ponsibilities. Considerations associated with building behavioral rese arch capacities in applied settings are examined in the context of dif ferences in professional orientation, values, and access to informatio n. Specific research directions to improve understanding of targeted v iolence are recommended along with suggestions for ways in which the p sychology-law field may facilitate integration of research into practi ce. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.