News

Published by the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), in collaboration with the Police Executive Research Forum, this publication aims to help law enforcement agencies manage the risks of conducting and not conducting vehicular pursuits. The guide uses findings from NHTSA research and other credible institutions on crashes and collisions involving police pursuits, as well as focusing group discussions and review of 48 agencies’ policies to provide safety information and model…

Published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics, this report provides summary statistics to inform the nation about current aspects of crime and safety in schools. The report includes the most recent available data at the time of its development, compiled from a number of statistical data sources supported by the federal government. To read the full report, go to https://tinyurl.com/fyp8che4

Earlier this year, at a convening hosted by the Office for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance and funded by the US Attorney General, more than 35 participants met in Washington, DC, to review the current state of law enforcement recruitment and retention and explore ways these activities can be modernized to meet the needs of today’s agencies, communities and workforce. The group pinpointed practices which may be contributing to hiring and retention difficulties in…

With women only comprising 12 percent of officers in the field, and just three percent of leadership roles, law enforcement agencies are struggling to meet recruitment goals in terms of diversity and community representation.  Research shows women officers engage more frequently in de-escalation; are effective in responding to crimes involving violence against women; and foster the cooperation and trust required to implement community policing.  To address the need for more women in policing, NIJ funded researchers explored if women-focused recruiting strategies could improve engagement, perceptions and motivation to apply to law enforcement jobs. A copy of the findings can…

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), along with the Global Advisory Committee (GAC) and the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC), is pleased to announce the release of the Tips and Leads and Threats to Life resource documents. The GAC through the CICC’s Tips and Leads and Threat to Life (TL-TTL) task teams developed resources to support the efficient and timely sharing of TL and TTL information originating from tip lines and social media platforms. These resources highlight the importance of…

Change management has long been studied in the business community and many models of organizational change have been proposed with applicability to public sector organizations such as law enforcement agencies. This publication, Implementing Change in an Ever-Evolving World: Law Enforcement’s Innovative Responses to a Constantly Changing Landscape, provides brief case studies of 13 US law enforcement agencies, large and small, which have successfully managed changes in their policies, practices and goals. Each case study considers the actions of leadership in…

The world’s strongest fiber™ just got stronger, thanks to next generation material developments Dyneema (owned by Avient Corporation) has announced the launch of a next generation UniDirectional (UD) material innovation based on its third-generation fiber, Dyneema SB301, a cutting-edge development poised to enhance the safety and mobility of law enforcement officers. As the only backwards integrated UltraHigh Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) manufacturer, Dyneema was able to innovate its third-generation fiber at the molecular level. This development has enabled a higher…

Published by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), this report outlines the urgent staffing crisis which many law enforcement agencies across the country are experiencing. When PERF began examining this issue in 2018, a clear and worrying trend had already emerged in police recruitment and retention. That trend continued and the challenges increased over the tumultuous 2020-2022 period, as the findings from PERF member questionnaires show:  Officer retirements and resignations have increased. Sixty-five percent of agencies reported an increase in…

Published by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, this database contains a compilation of global hate and extremist symbols. Extremist groups collaborate with each other across countries, sharing hateful narratives, tactical playbooks and symbols to represent their cause. This database is a tool for identifying the whereabouts, narratives and violent acts of these extremist groups and is intended to be used by law enforcement, tech companies, policymakers, media, advocates, as well as the general public. Various information is listed…

Published by the Office for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), this article discusses how young people may be particularly vulnerable to human trafficking simply because they are young and may be less equipped to make informed and sound decisions. This is why School Resource Officers (SROs) are in a unique position to recognize and respond to potential victims. As an SRO, you may be able to notice signs that something is wrong in a student’s life during your daily job…