Articles

Behind every sexual assault case is a person whose life has been irrevocably altered. The first responders, law enforcement investigators, forensic nurse examiners, laboratory analysts, victim advocates, and attorneys who support and interact with victims in different ways can work together to positively impact a victim’s post-assault experience and improve healing and recovery. The Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) Act is focused on the accurate, timely and effective collection and processing of DNA evidence in sexual assault investigations. In…

Funded by the Office for Violence Against Women (OVW), the National Violence Against Women Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Consortium (LETTAC) Resource Center was developed for criminal justice colleagues in the field. LETTAC is a streamlined, comprehensive program for OVW grantees (and potential grantees) to request law enforcement related technical assistance tailored to their communities and priorities; access online materials and training 24/7; and stay up to date on the latest funding and other opportunities from OVW, stakeholders, and…

Published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), this guidebook provides the law enforcement field with information about existing resources for promoting workforce diversity through a variety of staffing mechanisms. It is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to promote awareness of research and professional publications which may not have been visible or accessible to practitioners. Though limited, the number of resources on this issue is growing and…

Through the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the US government launched a new Web site to help public and private organizations defend against the rise in ransomware cases. This Web site is a whole government approach which gives one central location for ransomware resources and alerts. Organizations are encouraged to use this new Web site to understand the threat of ransomware; mitigate risk; and, in the event of an attack, know what steps to take next. Visit the Web…

Published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Office of Community Oriented Policing, and the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative, Law Enforcement Intelligence – A Guide for State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies, Third Edition builds on the first two editions which primarily focused on terrorism in illustration and application.  With changes in intelligence practices and threats to the community, a deliberate effort has been made in this edition…

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in partnership with the BJA, has released the Officer Health and Wellness Agency Assessment and Action Planning Roadmap. A comprehensive strategy to promote officer safety and wellness requires a multifaceted approach addressing a variety of essential topics. The information contained in this resource is intended to serve as a guide for law enforcement executives or wellness program personnel who seek to establish or enhance an officer wellness program. A copy of the…

Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and published in partnership between the National Police Foundation (NPF) and the Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) Program, Staying Healthy in the Fray – The Impact of Crowd Management on Officers in the Context of Civil Unrest discusses the challenges of high stress police operations like crowd management. Crowd management often challenges officers to push their bodies beyond normal limits, leading to poor performance, fatigue, insomnia,…