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Scenes from a mass shooting showing people in distress

Training & Education October 10, 2024

Integrated Management of Intentional Mass Casualty Incidents

Eugene Nielsen The Hartford Consensus represents a significant shift in the approach to handling mass casualty events. By compressing the zones of care and integrating the roles of different responders, it aims to save more lives in the critical moments following such events. The Hartford Consensus is a set of lifesaving recommendations developed in response to the increasing frequency of active shooter and intentional mass casualty events. Initiated by the American College of Surgeons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,…

Cover of publication

News October 7, 2024

Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator, 2024

The NIJ and its multidisciplinary partners have released an updated technical guide for conducting collaborative death scene investigations. The 2024 guide accounts for key changes in the field, including advances in DNA technology, communication and documentation technology; procedures for drug, child and infant death investigations; and collaboration between investigators and professional partners, families and the media.  This revised edition is a collaborative effort to update the content to ensure the best possible outcome for both death and criminal investigations today. Download…

Police standing outside at night

Training & Education October 4, 2024

Has Technology Eclipsed Training?

Mike Boyle Those of us who have been in the law enforcement field for 30 or more years continue to marvel at the tools readily available to today’s line officers. This is particularly true of firearms and related gear. Back in the day, I was issued a six-shot revolver and my Sam Browne belt contained a pair of dump pouches, a hickory stick and a set of handcuffs. Body armor was not an issued item and our shoulder weapons –…

News October 1, 2024

Collaborative Reform Initiative Critical Response Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police: Independent Review of Use of Force Policies, Procedures and Protocols

The COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative – Critical Response program provides targeted technical assistance to law enforcement agencies experiencing high profile events, major incidents, or sensitive issues of varying need. Following a series of organizational and leadership changes at the Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police (CDP), Jensen Hughes conducted a thorough, independent review and analysis of the CDP’s policies, procedures and training and operational protocols pertaining to use of force. This publication presents the findings of that review and analysis…

Robot using a laptop

Technology September 27, 2024

Artificial Intelligence for Public Safety Trainers and Educators

John G. Peters, Jr., PSDS, CTC, Ph.D. ©2024. A.R.R. Most people are familiar with Artificial Intelligence (AI) through tools like Alexa, Siri or ChatGPT, but many still feel apprehensive. It is vital that public safety trainers and educators understand AI and how to use it to enhance training, making it more creative, efficient, effective, and productive. Like immigrants arriving in a new country or culture, we, too, are immigrants to the AI culture and need to assimilate its cultural norms…

Handcuffs on a prisoner

Technology September 23, 2024

America’s Law Enforcement Agents Need a National Narcotics Monitoring and Analysis Database

Michael Brown Officers currently use various databases for narcotics intelligence, including information on trafficking groups, their distributors, movements, and communications. However, a centralized database which can track and share the identification of existing and new illicit substances in real time as officers discover them could revolutionize their work. The collaboration and coordination among law enforcement departments across America play a pivotal role in addressing the pervasive opioid crisis gripping the nation. Despite concerted efforts to work together, coordinate activities and…

Rifle

Legal Update September 17, 2024

Legal Update September/October 2024

Ban on “Bump Stocks” Overturned Larry E. Holtz, Esq. Bump fire stocks are gun stocks specifically engineered to facilitate bump firing without converting the firearm into an automatic weapon. They enable rapid firing by allowing the trigger to “bump” against the shooter’s finger instead of the finger pulling the trigger. This is achieved by utilizing the firearm’s recoil and applying constant forward pressure with the non-shooting arm to actuate the trigger. On June 14, 2024, the United States Supreme Court,…

A woman holding a sign that says Not Today

Busted September 13, 2024

Busted! Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity September/October 2024

James L. McClinton, Ph.D. This thief didn’t exactly nail it… An intellectually challenged thief targeted a nail salon in Atlanta, Georgia, because he apparently thought it would be a prime location for a fast and easy holdup. Surveillance camera footage shows him entering the salon, his hand in a bag and shouting, “Everybody get down! Give me all your money.” Nail salon patrons and employees were not impressed and no one hit the floor. In fact, they simply stared at…

Sketch of a police officer in blue uniform

....and nothing but the truth September 12, 2024

… AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH September/October 2024

Ramesh Nyberg Standing Tall(er) While the rest of the world seems to be losing their sense of decency and decorum – even competence – there’s one aspect of our society which is actually getting better. What might that be? It’s us…the police. Allow me to explain. At the risk of sounding like an old grouch, I submit to you, reader, that in almost every area of society, we are seeing decline. I’m not talking about your favorite stocks or the…

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News August 22, 2024

Unconventional Wisdom: Research Shakes Up Assumptions About Sex Trafficking Clues in Online Escort Ads

A new study found that many widely assumed indicators of trafficking in online escort ads are likely not reliable – but some are.   The research builds on our knowledge about how traffickers construct and use advertising when trafficking victims and helps differentiate between those for consensual sex work.  In addition to key findings, researchers developed a practice guide to help law enforcement and other practitioners uncover more victims; build trafficking cases; and train investigators, prosecutors, judges, and victim service…