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The first chapter of this publication discusses the key concepts for strengthening trust and collaboration between police executives and labor leaders. These key principles focus on finding common ground, engaging in open communication and seek input from one another, handling disagreements with respect and professionalism, understanding and respecting each other's roles and responsibilities, and… (read more)

This training program, developed by noted campus safety and threat assessment experts, is the first ever national curriculum that focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to threat assessment. It has been specifically designed for higher education administrators involved in threat assessment on their campuses, including campus public safety and local law enforcement; faculty; staff; student… (read more)

This training program, developed by noted campus safety and threat assessment experts, is the first ever national curriculum that focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to threat assessment. It has been specifically designed for higher education administrators involved in threat assessment on their campuses, including campus public safety and local law enforcement; faculty; staff; student… (read more)

This guide will allow threat assessment team members to explore and practice threat assessment through small and large group exercises using pre-developed case studies. This guide will also strengthen team members' comprehension and application of the threat assessment principles proscribed in "Campus Threat Assessment Training: A Multidisciplinary Approach for Institutions of Higher Education,"… (read more)

This document provides information about the BCOT initiative; highlights outreach efforts; and provides resources to include guidance documents for community leaders and law enforcement, and the If You See Something, Say Something campaign.

Law enforcement agencies around the country are recognizing the importance of monitoring and tending to employees physical and mental health and wellness. This publication discusses the establishment and operation of a dedicated unit at the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) with the goal of promoting a department-wide culture of wellness. Working toward this goal will also help the department… (read more)

On December 2, 2015, at 10:59 AM, the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, came under attack. Many of the lessons learned during the response to the attack tie into the principles of community policing and continue to build on the body of knowledge that exists to assist law enforcement agencies in their mission to protect and strengthen relationships with their community. This… (read more)

In the wake of increasing racial tensions and intolerance at college campuses across the country, building trust between law enforcement and community members is as vital as ever. The Not In Our Town short film,A Bowling Green Legacy, shows how communities can come together to respond to incidents of hate, as well as to strengthen trust between community stakeholders to prevent hate from… (read more)

The 2011 Electronic Control Weapon Guidelines is based on information gathered from workshops, interviews, and a national survey that examined the use of Electronic Control Weapons (ECW). In August 2010, an executive session comprising police, medical, and legal professionals convened in Philadelphia to focus on ECW policy and practice. Afterward, a concentrated working group spent a second day… (read more)

Alcohol-related riots among university students pose a significant problem for police agencies that serve college communities. The intensity of the disturbances may vary. However, the possible outcomes include property destruction and physical violence—a serious threat to community and officer safety. This guide provides a framework for understanding student gatherings. You can use this framework… (read more)

Drug-impaired driving demands police, legislative, and community attention because of the harms it may cause. Many of the problems associated with drug-impaired driving are similar to those associated with drunk driving. However, recent evidence suggests that the prevalence of drug-impaired driving may be equal to, or perhaps higher than, that of drunk driving. This guide begins by describing the… (read more)

This publication is part of a series of reports on emerging issues that are being examined by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) with support from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The goal of this project is to examine social media in policing from two tactical points of view: 1) The use of social media by criminal offenders to organize or facilitate… (read more)

This survey is one piece of the broader Building Relationships of Trust Toolkit. A police department should distribute this survey to community members pre- and post-implementation of a building relationships of trust initiative.

This in-service orientation course assists officers in building relationships of trust. The approximate teaching time is three hours. This module incorporates three general learning goals: 1) educating students on the concepts of building relationships of trust and their importance for police legitimacy and crime reduction in the community, 2) informing students about best practices for building… (read more)

A key component of successful policing is building collaborative, trusting relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, particularly immigrant and minority communities. Developing these relationships allows law enforcement to more successfully address the challenges of crime control and terrorism prevention. The knowledge and insight that come from trust-based… (read more)

The Building Relationships of Trust Toolkit includes detailed information police officers and community members should consider when trying to build trusting relationships between the two. Components of the toolkit include: moving to implementation, recommended steps for chief executives, an interactive video overview, commonly used terms, community perception survey, and curriculum training… (read more)

This publication provides guidance to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies; fusion centers; community members; civic groups; and other interested parties on developing relationships of trust, particularly with minority and immigrant communities. It also expands on the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) publication,… (read more)

This report provides a brief overview of trends in vehicle ramming incidents. It also includes results from the 2016 Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Best Practices Compliance Survey. The results of the survey provide information on the implementation rates (%) of perimeter protections. Specifically, this paper investigates the rise in vehicular-ramming attacks in large public… (read more)

In this New Perspectives in Policing paper, Anthony A. Braga and Rod K. Brunson explain that while the term black-on-black violence is statistically correct, it is a simplistic view of urban violence. They explain how media coverage sometimes distorts racial issues and argue that a more careful analysis can reveal urban violence patterns that can support police executives in communicating the… (read more)

Sexual assault has a substantial impact on both victims and society. Victims of sexual assault may suffer both immediate and long-term physical and mental health consequences, including injury, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy. This technical research report explores the prevalence, context, response, reactions and reporting of various forms of sexual violence on historically black… (read more)

This report contains the results of a comprehensive assessment of the challenges and promise of this strategic approach to preventing violent extremism. It is based on a nationwide survey of law enforcement agencies and hundreds of hours of interviews and site visits with police departments and community members around the country. Challenges and promising practices are included.

The RAND Center on Quality Policing convened a national summit on police recruitment and retention in the contemporary urban environment in June 2008. This summit, supported by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and the National Institute of Justice, brought nearly 60 participants to the RAND Washington Office to discuss the challenges of recruiting and retention of officers.… (read more)

This study looked at injuries that occur to law enforcement officers and citizens during use-of-force events. This NIJ-sponsored study included six police departments and evaluated the results of 962 real world CED uses. Policymakers and law enforcement officials want to know whether Tasers are safe and effective, and how (if at all) they should be used to match police use-of-force choices with… (read more)

"The report describes a victim-centered response to sexual assault cases that positively impacts sexual assault response, the experiences of victims, and ultimately results in safer communities. An NIJ working group consisting of victims, victim advocates, sexual assault nurse and medical examiners, prosecutors, forensic scientists, and law enforcement officials, created the report in response… (read more)

This study analyzed the hiring and retention of police officers and found that many police recruiters and managers would need to assess the effectiveness of their recruiting methods and find ways to make working in their agencies more attractive. Strategies might include improving pay and benefits, recruiting officers with the right skills for community policing, changing job roles to enhance… (read more)

This report provides background context for body-worn cameras (BWCs); methodology for developing the market survey; compiled results from the market survey; and a summary of the information found in A Market Survey on Body Worn Camera Technologies. It also includes policy, training, and other considerations for implementing BWCs.

This guide is designed to provide a comprehensive view of less-lethal technologies, their evolutionary role in criminal justice, and considerations when acquiring such devices to meet operational needs. It is segregated into six self-contained chapters which provide information and insight into specific areas of inquiry. The first three chapters provide background information on less-lethal… (read more)

"The National Institutes of Justice (NIJ) sought to collect information on existing body-worn camera (BWC) technologies. This paper provides the methodology for developing the market survey and results from the market survey. From this market survey, the following was uncovered: 1) there are many more vendors now that sell BWC products as compared to a previous market survey from 2014; 2) the… (read more)

At the core of the NLECTC System is the notion of "translational technology," or linking research with practice. As a program of the National Institute of Justice, the NLECTC System is the conduit between researchers and criminal justice professionals in the field for technology issues. NLECTC works with criminal justice professionals to identify urgent and emerging technology needs. NIJ sponsors… (read more)

Developed by the NIJ-funded NLECTC Sensor, Surveillance and Biometric Technologies Center of Excellence, A Primer on Body-Worn Cameras for Law Enforcement provides an introduction to body-worn camera systems. The 2012 report discusses the functions and features of body-worn camera systems and highlights issues and factors that law enforcement organizations should consider before and during… (read more)

In an effort to address ways in which law enforcement can successfully combat violent crime, the MCCA and BJA have released the Violent Crime Reduction Operations Guide. When it comes to crime, no one just lives in the United States everyone lives in a specific city, in a specific neighborhood. How violent crime is felt in communities, and how the policing executive is challenged to… (read more)

"In 2010, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) VALOR Program was created in response to the startling increase in felonious assaults that have taken the lives of many law enforcement officers. VALOR provides all levels of law enforcement with tools to help prevent violence against law enforcement officers and enhance officer safety, wellness, and resiliency.

VALOR is a comprehensive… (read more)

The site features multimedia products focused on the role of policing and police leaders in the changing landscape of 21st century public safety. Taking a long view and a new approach, the Executive Session (2010-2014) brought together leaders from policing, local government, associations, and academia. These principals led teams who took on topics that included organization of the future,… (read more)

Formerly known as the Smart Policing Initiative, Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) is a collaborative effort among BJA, CNA, state and local law enforcement agencies, and researchers. It is designed to assist agencies with identifying innovative and evidence-based solutions to effectively and efficiently tackle chronic crime problems in their jurisdictions. In October 2017, SPI launched a… (read more)

This publication is one in a series that was developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to address how law enforcement responds to people with mental illnesses. Specialized Policing Responses (SPR) to people with mental illnesses, which prioritize treatment… (read more)

This VALOR webinar was held on August 16, 2016. Participants learned about active shooter events and considerations that law enforcement officers should be aware of when responding to an active shooter event. Leading experts from the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Program discussed: statistics of active shooter events; risks associated with response to active shooter… (read more)

This guide is intended to help law enforcement officers build stronger community-police relations. Building strong police-community relations requires a sustained effort over time, yet maintaining these relationships is exceedingly difficult during and in the aftermath of a high-profile incident or civil unrest. Professional law enforcement departments and effective operations require training… (read more)

A report on the future challenges and realities of policing and police leadership communications.

This report examines the prevalence, circumstance, and characteristics of incidents in which police threatened or used nonfatal force and whether these factors varied across resident race and Hispanic origin. It also describes the type of force threatened or used and the perceptions that force was excessive or the police behaved properly during the contact. Finally, it examines trends in the… (read more)

"The National Criminal Intelligence Resource Center (NCIRC) provides criminal justice professionals with a multitude of resources that are primarily concerned with law enforcement intelligence operations and practices. The NCIRC maintains two resource websites:

• A public site that provides criminal justice professionals with easy access to a multitude of resources that are primarily… (read more)

The Bureau of Justice Assistance's Law Enforcement Naloxone Toolkit is a clearinghouse of resources to support law enforcement agencies in establishing a naloxone program. The Law Enforcement Naloxone Toolkit was developed at the urging of the Attorney General in response to the growing opioid overdose epidemic. In the toolkit, you will find answers to frequent questions about naloxone and sample… (read more)

Carefully planned security operations and multi-agency coordination before, during, and after a large-scale security event are paramount to local law enforcement's ability to maintain a safe environment and to conduct a successful event. With this Planning Primer, law enforcement departments and agencies nationwide can benefit from the lessons learned and proven practices of other agencies. The… (read more)

In 2012 college and university law enforcement executives convened as part of a focus group to discuss the challenges and promising practices for managing public order events on campus. This report offers an array of proven concepts, ideas, and resources identified and discussed during the focus group meeting that campus law enforcement executives may choose from to maintain safety and security… (read more)

This Toolkit was designed with input from many law enforcement officers, deputies, and troopers, as well as subject-matter experts to help you present suicide prevention training within your department, reduce the stigma associated with seeking help, and to encourage your officers to support each other.

This Toolkit was designed with input from many law enforcement officers, deputies, and troopers, as well as subject-matter experts to help you present suicide prevention training within your department, reduce the stigma associated with seeking help, and to encourage your officers to roll backup for each other.

This publication is one in a series that was developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to address how law enforcement responds to people with mental illnesses. This report serves as the centerpiece of this series. It articulates 10 essential elements for… (read more)

This publication is one in a series that was developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to address how law enforcement responds to people with mental illnesses. This study explores the program design process for a variety of Specialized Policing Responses (… (read more)

This publication is one in a series that was developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to address how law enforcement responds to people with mental illnesses. This training resource guide is written for law enforcement personnel and staff at other agencies… (read more)

This monograph examines four aspects of the problem of bias, prejudice, and hate crimes on college and university campuses. First, the monograph examines the prevalence of hate crimes on campuses, who is targeted, what kinds of crime are committed, and the frequency and impact of bias incidents. Second, the monograph identifies common problems college communities have experienced in responding to… (read more)

This guidance document describes the challenges that must be addressed by fusion centers, local law enforcement agencies, and communities in developing relationships of trust.