News

Technology has advanced to the point that automatic or autonomous vehicles – self-driving cars – are a meaningful possibility for the near future. Rather than waiting until a significant number of vehicles are operating without direct human control to assess the public safety implications of such a circumstance, this publication discusses the potential benefits and drawbacks of the increasing use of this type of technology and outlines the anticipated differences in the ways law enforcement will be called upon to…

Missing persons cases can consume a lot of police and other resources – more than is commonly realized. Moreover, in high-profile cases, police executives can feel a great deal of pressure to authorize those resources to maximize the chances of locating the person and to be seen as doing all that they can. Missing Persons (part of the Problem-Oriented Guides for Police series) describes the problem of missing persons, reviews risk factors and poses a series of questions to help…

An FBI database established in 2021 to help prevent law enforcement suicides and increase awareness and understanding of the occurrences is now online. The Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection (LESDC) was recently added to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer platform, a dynamic online clearinghouse of FBI statistics and research. The collection displays the most current information about suicides and suicide attempts from participating law enforcement agencies. Data includes circumstances surrounding law enforcement suicides and suicide attempts, general locations, demographics, occupations, and the methods used….

Forensic data often remains archived in state and local labs which is only used to solve and prosecute individual crimes. Using a forensic intelligence approach instead, agencies can use datasets to link and track crime patterns, helping to solve, disrupt and prevent crime.   The NIJ Forensic Intelligence Framework provides guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies and their forensic laboratories to develop or enhance a forensic intelligence program.   The benefits of forensic intelligence practices include:  Early identification and elimination…

Bloodstain pattern analysis is a forensic science discipline which reconstructs a blood shedding event and can provide crucial evidence in some legal cases.   Several reports have questioned the validity of bloodstain pattern analysis, including a 2009 National Research Council report and one in 2016 by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. These reports called for more objective methods in forensic science and a better understanding of the error rates of current practices.   In response, the…

The Bureau of Justice Statistics has recently released, “State and Local Law Enforcement Training Academies and Recruits, 2022 – Statistical Tables.” The report describes the number and types of law enforcement training academies in the United States in 2022 and it presents findings on the characteristics of recruits and training outcomes. Findings in the report are based primarily on the 2022 Census of Law Enforcement Training Academies (CLETA), the fifth iteration of the data collection. Conducted periodically since 2002, CLETA collects…

In this series, CNA studied the use of emerging technologies by law enforcement agencies. Case studies examine the Chula Vista (California) Police Department’s program of using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), more commonly known as drones; the Fairfax County (Virginia) Department of Public Safety Communications Next Generation 911 equipped communications center; the Las Vegas (Nevada) Metropolitan Police Department’s Fusion Watch center and its cameras and monitoring equipment; the Pinal County (Arizona) Attorney’s Office’s new digital case management software for its adult…

One necessary component of planning and preparation for an active assailant and mass violence incident is giving personnel the necessary skills and equipment to manage their roles and responsibilities effectively – skills in areas such as incident command, leadership and active assailant response. The 12 Tenets of Training checklist is meant to provide leaders and training personnel with key considerations to help select training which has been vetted; has proven to be effective; and is taught by qualified, certified, and…

“The Debrief with Jon Becker,” the acclaimed podcast that takes an in-depth look at incidents, practices, and lessons learned of elite tactical units, announces the launch of its highly anticipated fifth season. Featured episodes this season include critical incident reviews of the Greater Victoria ERT Police Ambush, the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, and the Uvalde school shooting, among others.  This season will also include the well-received Decision-Making Exercises (DMEs) that began in Season 4, allowing Debrief listeners and…

Promoting Democracy and Advancing Community and Officer Safety The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) released a new resource, 21st Century Protest Response: Promoting Democracy and Advancing Community and Officer Safety on College Campuses. This practical reference guide for managing protests; promoting democracy; and advancing student, community and officer safety is based on recommendations from the 2022 report 21st Century Protest Response: Promoting Democracy and Advancing Community and Officer Safety. It provides a checklist which…