News

Published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), this annual report for 2021 outlines information related to the 847,376 complaints of suspected cybercrime, with reported losses at $6.9 billion, which were received throughout 2021. According to IC3 data, phishing scams, nonpayment/nondelivery scams, and personal data breaches were the top three reported crimes in 2021, and victims lost the most money to business E-mail compromise scams, investment fraud, and romance and confidence schemes. People in the…

Published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), this is the ninth edition of the Global Terrorism Index. Trends suggest that, out of the 163 countries included in this study, approximately two-thirds reported no deaths or attacks from terrorism between 2020–2021. The majority of terrorist activity has been concentrated in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa – a major shift from the conflict in Syria. Terrorism-related incidents in the West have continued a downward pattern since 2018 with a decrease…

Published by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the “Summary of Resources for State, Local, Tribal, Territorial, and Campus Law Enforcement Partners” highlights many of the resources available to law enforcement partners, including training and grant opportunities, to increase nationwide resilience to evolving threats. This includes key tips and information related to human trafficking, forced labor, cybersecurity, information and intelligence sharing, preparedness and prevention, school safety, and critical infrastructure protection. A copy of the guide can be viewed and/or…

Published by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), this NIJ supported study focused on the work of researchers from Pennsylvania State and Syracuse Universities to find novel ways to characterize and, ultimately inhibit, opioid distribution networks through data-driven network analysis and the use of citizen intelligence. The work focuses on six Pennsylvania counties well-known for drug trafficking along the interstate highway system. The goals of the study were to (1) define the structure of opioid distribution networks based on observed…

Published by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, this new report details the attacks by Russia-based ransomware group REvil on three American companies and the experiences of those companies during the incident response. The goal of this report is to provide information which companies and agencies can use to prepare for, and respond to, ransomware attacks.  A pdf copy of the report can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/49k9rb37

What does it mean to lead an elite team? Is greatness born through tending to the culture of the team, or does it stem from how individuals are trained to behave under pressure? What strategies allow law enforcement and tactical unit commanders to remain collected and in control in some of the world’s most dangerous situations? And how can we learn from them in order to become better leaders ourselves? These are just some of the questions Jon Becker and…

Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the official launch of the LESDC which took place on January 1, 2022. The LESDC provides a mechanism for law enforcement agencies to report suicides and attempted suicides of law enforcement personnel, as defined within the LESDC Act, for the purpose of compiling national statistics on these tragedies. As of January 1, 2022, law enforcement agencies can submit data to the LESDC about their current or former officers who died by suicide…

Hosted by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and presented by Utah State Parks rangers, this podcast discusses a critical incident involving Ranger Brody Young. Ranger Young was shot nine times, was left to die in a remote location and is back on the job today. Ranger Young speaks candidly about the incident, his recovery, lessons the incident taught him about resilience, and how the experience has changed his life. To listen to the podcast, visit https://tinyurl.com/yp6kwnuv

Published by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), this overview reviews the Law Enforcement-Mental Health Learning Site program developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center which offers national resources to law enforcement and behavioral health agencies seeking to tailor response models and implementation strategies to their individual communities’ needs. Comprising sheriffs’ offices, metropolitan police departments, rural justice and mental health coalitions, and university police departments, the 14 learning sites deliver customized training and technical assistance to local…

Published by the Council of Criminal Justice (CCJ), this report discusses updates on criminal activity throughout 2021. In this year-end update, 27 American cities are examined for criminal activity involving violent crimes, property and drug offenses. Key findings include the following: The 2020–2021 rate of homicide increased by five percent;2021 aggravated and gun assault rates increased by four percent and eight percent, respectively (based on a subset of just 12 cities);Domestic violence incidents in 11 cities increased by almost four…