Overview
The collaboration of police agencies and police researchers has been an essential component of professional policing, from the development of police tactics to advancements in investigative techniques to the improvement of agency policy. As a top-tier research institution, the University of South Carolina is uniquely positioned to provide access to experts across a range of disciplines—in law, criminology, criminal justice, political science, public health, communications, and more.
The EPPS Program is a resource for the Law Enforcement Training Council, the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, and law enforcement agencies across the state to obtain reliable, evidence-based information about the issues that matter to them. Technical assistance, as well as assistance in securing additional resources (i.e. state and federal grant funding) based on agency needs is also available.
First Major Initiative
Our first major initiative will be give South Carolina agencies access to employee surveys, including morale and retention surveys. These surveys, which will incorporate empirically-validated questions, be provided at no cost, and can be modified for each agency, will empower South Carolina law enforcement leaders with critical insight about staff perspectives, priorities, and needs. These surveys will be launched in late-summer or early fall of 2023.
The EPPS Program is also the new home of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Census, a legislatively mandated, state-wide survey that can provide policy makers with important information about policing across the palmetto state.
The EPPS Program works closely with the Law Enforcement Training Council, the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, and stakeholders such as the state Sheriffs’ Association and Police Chiefs Association to identify, gather, and analyze actionable information about South Carolina law enforcement.