2026

The drug landscape has changed. Drug use is more dangerous than ever before with the advent of fentanyl and the deceptive tactics used by drug organizations to drive dependency which can eventually lead to addiction. Several states are warning of pink cocaine – a powdered mixture of substances which is dyed pink; may have a sweet smell; and typically produces mind-altering, hallucinogenic effects. DEA laboratory testing has identified pink powders containing ketamine, MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and xylazine. Effects of…

Children, teens and young adults often enter the justice system because their health, education and safety needs aren’t met. As a result, justice systems are dealing with challenges they were never designed to address. The CSG Justice Center’s new research-based guide can help states prevent violence, expand opportunities and keep youth out of the justice system. The Youth Safety Playbook for States includes: a community-based service continuum; strategies for financing, infrastructure, policy, service, and workforce; and a checklist for implementing each strategy. The playbook…

The Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, released Health and Wellness Resources Available to Law Enforcement, 2022 recently. This report details specific types of formal wellness programs offered to Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) sworn law enforcement personnel and practices adopted by general-purpose law enforcement agencies (municipal, county and regional police departments; most sheriffs’ offices; and primary state and highway patrol agencies). The findings are from BJS’s 2022 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS)…

This publication illustrates elements of the police staffing challenge and explores how they form a broader ecosystem which agencies should consider when assessing staffing issues, contemplating goals and strategies, and implementing solutions. It presents a six-step approach for police workforce planning and managing workload demand and addresses planning for three common staffing scenarios. To download a copy of this publication, visit https://tinyurl.com/mpmpmwyt