A note to researchers: Communicating science to policy makers and practitioners

This paper provides commentary from a policy maker's perspective to researchers seeking to inform public policy and practice. It points to a number of issues that limit the usefulness of researchers' work. These issues are grouped into the two broad areas: format and forum. Format issues include the manner in which research reports are presented, their often equivocal nature, and their failure to take into account the cycles and calendars of executive or legislative policy makers. Forum issues involve, among other things, undertaking a systematic response to substance abuse, and related problems, among adult and juvenile offenders-so as to guide systemic action. The paper ends with some practical steps researchers can take to make their work more accessible, and useful, to policy makers and practitioners.