The challenge of collaboration: Information sharing between law enforcement and medical communities

With the proliferation of community policing and public health initiatives, law enforcement and medical professions are increasingly converging on the common goal of prevention. Information sharing between these communities is seen as beneficial to that goal. Actual information exchange and collaboration between the communities, however, is rare. This paper examines barriers to collaboration drawing on current issues of law, technology, and culture. Successful examples of collaboration as well as prescriptions for further collaborative efforts are offered.