Policing without a badge: a scoping review of civilian personnel experience and impact in law enforcement agencies

Purpose This study reviews 25 years of scientific literature on civilian personnel in law enforcement agencies, examining their experiences and impacts on policing activities while mapping knowledge gaps. Design/methodology/approach It draws on a scoping review of sixty peer-reviewed studies analyzed through both AI-assisted and manual methods to examine the methodological characteristics of existing research and provide a thematic analysis of findings and practical recommendations across key areas. Findings Results reveal five key themes: police-civilian integration, personnel policies, well-being, policing impact and diversity. Despite significant expansion of civilianization, integration faces challenges from police culture, employment conditions and training gaps. Civilian staff experience comparable or higher stress levels than officers. Though promoted for cost-effectiveness, enhanced capabilities and potential to increase diversity, civilianization’s impact on policing remains unclear. Practical implications Recommendations identified through the scoping review include improving civilian training, enhancing recognition of civilian roles, reforming personnel policies, and fostering collaboration between sworn and civilian staff to maximize their contributions to policing. Social implications Addressing workplace inequalities and ensuring the psychological well-being of civilian staff are critical to achieving these goals, if any upsides are to be registered. Originality/value This is the first systematic scoping review to consolidate research on police civilianization, offering a comprehensive overview of civilian experiences and contributions to law enforcement.