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Law enforcement have long used online escort advertisements to identify sex trafficking victims and investigate cases. Investigators have used and shared several indicators with each other in practice over the years, but these indicators have not been empirically tested for predictive power to support investigative decisions or the use of ads as evidence in court. This study has two objectives: Examine whether there are indicators which can differentiate escort ads related to sex trafficking from ads for consensual, non-trafficking sex…

Alien Gear Holsters® offers customers a chance to support law enforcement charities by rounding up their purchase at checkout. Alien Gear  Holsters®, designers and manufacturers of American-made holsters and firearms accessories, and the Rapid Force™ line of Level 2 and Level 3 Duty Holsters, announce that in honor of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Alien Gear Holsters have launched a new way to support law enforcement on their website. “At Alien Gear Holsters, we want to show our deep appreciation for…

Published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), this article discusses an analysis of data collected from 2017 to 2019 on law enforcement suicide deaths. The analysis revealed ten risk factors present in many cases. Of these, five were noted as significant among police and corrections officers: interpersonal relationships, substance abuse and addiction, sleep and related disorders, physical and mental health, and access to firearms. Careful examination of these issues will help reduce negative outcomes. In addition, changing the paradigm…

Published through support from the US Department of Homeland Security, the Best Practices Leveraging Computer-Aided Dispatch to Enhance Suspicious Activity Reporting resource was developed to provide law enforcement and fusion centers with promising practices and recommendations on how to develop or enhance the process of querying Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) data to derive or develop information, tips and leads, or suspicious activity. This includes Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) meeting the requirements outlined in the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative. The guidance…

The Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) have released a new training module on privately made firearms, commonly known as ghost guns, as part of the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) Virtual Academy. Working collaboratively, ATF and BJA developed the PSP Virtual Academy Ghost Guns course to provide law enforcement with a readily accessible, on-demand, and no-cost way to gain insight into what constitutes privately made firearms and how they may be…

Published by the National Institute of Justice, this report examines the impacts of School Resource Officers (SROs) on outcomes related to school climate and student suspension rates, with a focus on racial differences and the role of school context. This study also examines how SROs perceive their roles and how these roles may be shaped by school contexts. A copy of the report can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/yucxa3an

Published by the National Institute of Justice, this brief discusses evidence for detecting, preventing and responding to school shootings through NIJ-sponsored research. Preventing mass shootings in the United States, particularly those occurring in school settings, is an important priority for families, government leaders and officials, public safety agencies, mental health professionals, educators, and local communities. The brief provides potential solutions for preventing these shootings, as well as additional NIJ reports related to school shootings. A copy of the brief can…

Published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this toolkit helps government agencies promote the new National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Number, 988. SAMHSA recognizes the need for governments, states, territories, tribes, crisis centers, and partners to speak with one voice to ensure that there is a clear understanding about what 988 is and how it will work. They encourage you to use these communication outreach materials and build on them with your community coalitions to meet…

Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and published by the VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Program, this series of resources focus on four leading killers of law enforcement to help you prepare for the greatest challenges you may face. By highlighting physical health, vehicle safety, mental wellness, and tactical safety, VALOR can equip you with tools to protect yourself and others on your watch. Each VALOR Spotlight on Safety campaign contains research-based articles written by law enforcement experts, related…

Published by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, this report highlights FCSS recommendations made after the shooting which occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. Three of the FCSS’s most important recommendations included the need for: Effective multidisciplinary threat-assessment teams which work together to assess reports of potential threats.A free flow of information regarding threats and threatening behavior among various stakeholders of schools.A hands-on role by professional law enforcement in evaluating and responding…