“Knowledge utilization” is a complex process that aims to produce social impact. In criminal justice organizations, the process has three primary applications. The first one is symbolic and can be defined as the usage of information to support specific policies or decisions. Stojkovic et al. exemplify this type of “knowledge utilization” by creating a budget where it serves to justify decisions made. The second use is conceptual – information’s primary function in this type is to inform and instruct, but unlike symbolic, it is not involved in decision making. Lastly, instrumental usage signifies that research data directly influences decisions, but this type is considered to be rather uncommon. Therefore, there are three essential ways knowledge is used in criminal justice organizations – primarily to justify decisions and to inform.
The importance of “knowledge utilization” partially lies in its instrumental usage, its ability to impact policies, and the development of procedures to bring organizational and social change through informed decisions. Research data can change policies or help implement necessary procedures. Still, due to the complexity of the processes, knowledge, and research are among the numerous factors considered in policymaking. Possible lack of clarity and contradictions in values that research brings lessen its importance in policy and procedures development. However, this suggestion does not imply that “knowledge utilization” has an inferior position to other factors. Although research data needs to be scrutinized before being taken into consideration in public policy development, the same critical examination applies to the policy development process as a consequence. Reason and thorough investigation may be significant influences of knowledge utilization in policy and procedures development as they have the potential to remove preference and prejudice from it.