Leadership and Reform: How Law Enforcement Leaders View Rehabilitation and the Reduction of Collateral Harms

Although reform efforts increasingly emphasize cross-system collaboration and less punitive responses to crime, little is known about how police leaders view punishment and their role in front-end and back-end criminal justice reforms, particularly in a global context. Because police supervisors play critical roles in shaping organizational culture and translating policy into practice, their perspectives are essential for understanding the system’s receptivity to reform. This study examines how law enforcement leaders’ background characteristics, professional experiences, and attitudes are associated with support for front-end criminal justice reforms, such as diversion programs, and back-end reforms aimed at reducing collateral consequences for individuals involved in the justice system. Results from a series of OLS regression models suggest moderate overall support for reforms. Leaders who hold conservative, punitive views have less support for change, while those with stronger beliefs in redeemability are more likely to support reform. This study adds to existing literature highlighting the need for cross-system collaboration and strong leadership to promote meaningful criminal justice reform.