Jail Leaders’ Receptivity to Empirical Research

Jail leaders play a critical role in managing local facilities, making their perspectives on research essential for understanding the balance between empirical evidence and the practical demands of jail operations. Using a survey of 87 self-selected jail leaders across the United States, this study explores administrators’ per­ceptions of research and partnerships. Findings reveal that while few agencies employ full-time data analysts or maintain active researcher-practitioner partnerships, most leaders view these collaborations as beneficial. Personal experience remains the dominant factor in decision-making, but research is recognized as an important tool, particularly in policy development. These findings highlight opportunities to strengthen the use of empirical research in jail management and inform future strategies to bridge research and practice.