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OnPolicing Blog: Fourth Amendment Limitations on DNA Collection, Procurement, and Retention

DNA has been a powerful tool for law enforcement agencies in solving crimes and pursuing new leads for cold cases. With CODIS providing agencies access to profiles obtained under federal, state, and local systems, the courts have weighed in on where individual rights and the public's interest stand.

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9th Annual American Society of Evidence-Based Policing Conference

The University of Arizona will host the 9th Annual Evidence-Based Policing Conference from April 30 - May 2, 2025. This event brings together law enforcement leaders, researchers, and policing professionals to explore data-driven strategies that shape the future of public safety.

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Webinar: Strategic Improvements in Non-Fatal Shooting Investigations

Justice Clearinghouse is hosting an upcoming webinar, Reversing the Trend: Strategic Improvements in Non-Fatal Shooting Investigations, on April 10, 2025 at 3:00pm (eastern). This webinar aims to enhance non-fatal shooting investigations by featuring a panel of subject matter experts with extensive experience and knowledge in law enforcement practices and criminal justice research. The NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, along with its partners, has been at the forefront of implementing and researching structured investigative protocols, strategic partnerships, and resource management practices focused on improving case clearance rates and successful prosecutions. The panel includes collaborators from the John Finn Institute for Public Safety and DCJS. They will share insights from the research conducted in Utica and Newburgh, highlighting the methods used, such as police data analysis, stakeholder interviews, and crime analyst reviews. These efforts have led to marked improvements in clearance rates and the effective use of grand juries, specialized checklists, and targeted resource management. Additionally, this panel will discuss the larger-scale implementation of this Non-Fatal Shooting strategy through the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative, including ongoing evaluations in Rochester and Troy, focusing on refining and expanding these approaches for broader adoption. 

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New RAND Resource on Critical Incidents

RAND recently released a commentary piece discussing strategies to protect against mass critical incidents. The commentary highlights the importance of having a layered defense system, which makes it harder for attackers to succeed. Additionally, it touches on the role of the community and the importance of them not only being informed on key signs of potential threats, but also on knowing where to report them.

Read the Commentary

GunStat Toolkit: A Data-Driven Strategy to Address Violent Crime

The NPI-operated Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) initiative released a new resource titled GunStat Toolkit. This toolkit provides agencies with guidance to support the implementation of a successful GunStat model, a data-driven management strategy focused on reducing violent crime through the identification, prosecution, and monitoring of gun offenders. This valuable resource includes model elements and processes and informs readers how GunStat can complement a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC). The toolkit also includes aids to help facilitate GunStat implementation.

Access the GunStat Toolkit

Prioritizing Cold-Case Murders: What Law Enforcement Executives Can Do

The United States is facing a cold-case homicide crisis which represents a direct threat to public safety in communities across the country. Many law enforcement agencies do not have the resources to continue funding cold-case units, which furthers the issue. Read the National Policing Institute's latest addition to its OnPolicing blog, which covers what law enforcement executives can do to prioritize and resolve cold-case murders with the limited budgets they have.

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Leading Without A Badge: Summit for Civilian Leaders in Law Enforcement

Registration is now open for the Leading Without A Badge Summit for Civilian Leaders in Law Enforcement. The Summit will be held in Charlottesville, Virginia April 12-15, 2025. Early bird registration ends January 31st, 2025.

Join fellow public safety professionals for a summit designed to highlight the role of non-sworn leaders in law enforcement and serve as a unique networking event to exchange best practices and recommendations to navigate organizational culture and make an impact within your jurisdiction. This event will provide actionable insights, practical tools, and invaluable networking opportunities to help civilian leaders navigate the evolving challenges of public safety - designed for and by those serving in executive law enforcement capacities, but in a non-uniformed capacity. Open to all Professional staff/civilian/non-uniformed public safety leaders.

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New Report on Promotions in Law Enforcement

A new report from RAND, “Promotions in Law Enforcement - High-Priority Needs for Improving the Process to Identify and Select the Next Generation of Police Leaders,” presents 47 high-priority expert-identified needs to inform the development and implementation of valid, reliable, and fair promotion processes in police agencies. The report identifies needs and offers recommendations developed through a convening and conversations with police practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders, to discuss how police agencies currently promote mid-level police leaders.

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National Law Enforcement Accountability Database, 2018-2023

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), U.S. Department of Justice, has released its inaugural report on the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), covering events from 2018 to 2023 that involve federal law enforcement officers and agencies. Established on December 18, 2023, under Executive Order 14074, NLEAD serves as a centralized repository documenting qualifying incidents involving federal law enforcement officers, including criminal convictions, suspension of an officer’s enforcement authorities related to misconduct, terminations related to misconduct, resignations or retirements while under investigation for serious misconduct, and sustained complaints or records of disciplinary action based on findings of serious misconduct. All federal law enforcement agencies reported during the period, with 57% reporting qualifying incidents to the NLEAD, and 43% submitted documentation that they had zero qualifying incidents for 2018–2023.

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Pursuit Management Online Training for Executives Announced

A new 3-hour eLearning course, "Vehicular Pursuit Management: Balancing Risks and Enhancing Safety," developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has been made available on the Office on Community Oriented Policing Services' (COPS) Training Portal. This free resource is designed for law enforcement executives, decision-makers, and policymakers and addresses the challenges of managing vehicular pursuits effectively. The course emphasizes decision-making strategies, risk assessment, and public safety, providing tools to minimize dangers to officers and communities. Through practical insights and expert guidance, this training supports agencies in refining their pursuit policies and practices. Accessible online, it reflects the commitment to enhancing safety and accountability in law enforcement operations.

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Latest Resources

Visit the Knowledge Lab's full resource index

Guidebook/Tool | 2024

Preparing Law Enforcement Agencies for Embedded Clinicians

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Report | 2023

Dispatching Community Responders to 911 Calls

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Responding to Mass Critical Incidents

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

911 Dispatch Call Processing Protocols: Key Tools for Coordinating Effective Call Triage

  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Guidebook/Tool, Webpage | 2023

Community-Driven Crisis Response: A Workbook for Coordinators

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

Law Enforcement Response to People with Developmental Disabilities: Steps for Deflection or Pre-Arrest Diversion

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

Rethinking the Police Response to Mental Health-Related Calls: Promising Models

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Report | 2023

Evaluating the Utility of Sobering Centers: Analyses of Police and Sobering Centers Across Five Jurisdictions

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests

Guidebook/Tool, Report, Research Brief | 2023

Assessing the Impact of Crisis Intervention Teams

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Use of Force

Empowering Law Enforcement Excellence

A Beacon of Guidance at the National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab

Explore targeted areas such as crime and violence reduction, use of force accountability and early intervention, and recruitment and retention. Elevate your agency's performance with our guidance and support.