Stops, searches, and arrests are guided by legal standards and decision-making frameworks through objective reasoning when interacting with members of the public without undue harm or risk to the community or officers.

These police actions require comprehensive policies, procedures, accountability monitoring procedures, training programs, supervision, and public transparency.

focused view of a police car light while a blurred background shows an officer speaking with a car driver

Resources Related to Stops, Searches, and Arrests

  • Reset

A Law Enforcement Officer's Duty Belt

Research Brief | 2020

A Multi-Method Investigation of Officer Decision-Making and Force Used or Avoided in Arrest Situations: Tulsa, Oklahoma and Cincinnati, Ohio Police Use of Force Narrative Data Analysis Report

  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests
  • Use of Force

Policy | 2019

Arrests and Investigatory Stops

  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests

Article | 2019

Research Will Shape the Future of Proactive Policing

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

After Action Report | 2018

2017 Presidential Inauguration First Amendment Independent Law Enforcement Review

  • Response to Mass Demonstrations
  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests
  • Use of Force
A Law Enforcement Officer's Duty Belt

Research Brief | 2018

Body-worn Cameras: What the Evidence Tells Us

  • Public Transparency

Report | 2018

Deconstructing the Power to Arrest: Lessons from Research

  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests

Report | 2018

Policing the Connected World: Using Social Network Analysis in Police-Community Partnerships

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

Guidebook/Tool | 2017

5 Things You Need to Know About Stop-Question-Frisk

  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests

The information provided within these modules has been gathered from various sources, including legal reviews, research, and practitioner and department-developed resources. These webpage modules are intended to be a guide for departments to use to improve their policing practices. Additional information and resources may be needed to implement the recommendations successfully. This resource is intended to be dynamic, and the Knowledge Lab will continue to update and add to these modules to provide additional and current guidance for departments.

Explore the Complete Resources Library

Access the complete Resources Library to explore a wide range of strategies, tools, and best practices that support agencies, practitioners, and communities.