The Center

Shaping India’s Response to Crime

The Center for Criminology & Public Policy (CCPP) is an Indian think tank devoted to research on crime related public policies and practices. It was established under the stewardship of senior police officers and practicing criminologists to bridge the gap between research and policy-makers in India.

The founding premise behind the center is this: if criminology is to survive and thrive, it can only do so by contributing to a better politics of crime. This means, expanding the influence of criminological knowledge in the policy-making spheres, and reclaiming criminology’s purpose ‘for’ public.

A main goal of the Center is to enhance the understanding of costs, benefits and consequences of criminal justice policies among those responsible for governmental actions aimed at preventing crimes, assisting crime victims, and rehabilitating offenders. Our scholarship is driven by empirical, evidence-based evaluation of crime and its control.

We aim to become one of the most resourceful outlets of crime and public safety, and the first point of reference on progressive ideas affecting India. This is not a statement of sentiment but intent.

The Center’s three streams of activity are:

Undertaking Research on Current Topics

The Center conducts empirically based, policy focused research to influence public opinion and public policy. The topics are generally selected based on relevance of the problem, and sometimes through our conversation with communities.

We also offer short-term fellowships to candidates who are passionate about making a change in the modern political sphere, by conducting research to solve current problems of crime and justice. This program allows the fellows to build their skills, networks, and a professional portfolio, besides involving in the publication of the Center’s scholarship.

A distinguished panel of advisors consisting of leading scholars and public intellectuals help the Center to select the fellows.

Promoting Dialogue and Debate

The Center provides a platform for debate and exchange of ideas by:

  • Conducting summer schools, workshops and seminars on controversial issues of policy debate such as rehabilitation versus incarceration, decriminalization of sex work, religious profiling and biased policing.
  • Holding lectures by distinguished political leaders, ministers and bureaucrats for the public.
  • Organising high profile events such as summits on relevant themes with international and national speakers.
Holding Policy Round Tables

The Center conducts round table meetings from time to time. This exercise provides a unique opportunity for CCPP’s working groups as well as external participants to exchange views and analysis on contemporary problems of crime and public safety. The proceedings from the discussions, including actionable recommendations of the experts, are published on our website.

Outreach

The Center’s research, community engagement and educational activities are disseminated via newsletters, publications, events, data sources, podcasts, videos, and links to informational resources that are shared via our website and other social media channels. The major outcomes of our research projects are announced through press conferences or by issuing press releases.

We also seek opportunities for special journal issues to enhance our scholarly visibility across the global research community.


Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships

We establish collaborative partnerships with key agencies and stakeholders at the state and national levels. Such partnerships allow us to exchange knowledge across organizations in different field of expertise, to secure additional resources for conducting and disseminating research findings, and to strengthen advocacy for evidence-based policy-making and practice.

If your organization requires assistance with data analysis and program evaluation, or is interested in developing research partnerships with the Center, please contact R Rochin Chandra, Director, Center for Criminology and Public Policy.