Law Enforcement Innovation and Diffusion: A Network Analysis of Police Accreditation

<p>This study seeks to identify network structures capable of predicting innovation uptake among law enforcement organizations. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, diffusion is studied through the lens of a single innovation, state law enforcement accreditation. Quantitative data culled from a variety of social artifacts in two New England states are used as a basis for the study. Relational data extracted from meetings held by a private police chief's association over an 11 year period were used to construct an affiliation matrix. Social network analysis demonstrates that actors with high levels of centrality are more likely to self-select state accreditation enrollment than their less embedded counterparts. However, network position had no significant effect on whether or not the innovation was adopted successfully. Policy documents obtained from 22 law enforcement organizations that had recently enrolled in a state accreditation program were subjected to text network analysis in order to measure organizational responses to innovation uptake. Patterns of organizational language, including pronounced structural shifts by agencies that adopted accreditation, are indicative of mimetic and normative isomorphism. Study findings and their attendant implications are approached through an institutional theory perspective. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Criminal Justice

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Johnson, Jeremiah Paul

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jon M. Shane

• Criminology
• Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Public Administration
• diffusion; innovation; institutional theory; police organizations; social network analysis; text network analysis

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/991

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-2005