Public transparency in law enforcement reflects the degree to which an agency engages with members of their community about strategies and daily operations through publicly available information. This includes sharing information or engaging with the community about policy changes, responses to crime and other public safety priorities, use of new technology, and protocols for responding to and communicating with the public during and after critical incidents.

Cropped view of a woman's hand holding a microphone towards a person in police uniform, with a blurry group of seated children in the background.

Resources Related to Public Transparency

Visit the Knowledge Lab’s full resource index here.

  • Implementation Tools

  • Type of product

  • Audience

  • Reset

Guidebook/Tool | 2020

BWC Community Engagement Guidance: Engaging the Community in BWC Policy Development and Reviews of BWC Operations

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Public Transparency

Report | 2019

The National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice: Key Process and Outcome Evaluation Findings

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Public Transparency

Training | 2018

Collaborative Reform Initiative 

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Response to Mass Demonstrations
  • Public Transparency

Research Brief | 2017

How Do People in High-Crime, Low-Income Communities View the Police?

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Public Transparency

Guidebook/Tool | 2017

Law Enforcement Executive’s Guide to Open Data: Supporting the Community in the Co-Production of Public Safety

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Public Transparency
A Law Enforcement Officer's Duty Belt

Report | 2016

An Evidence-Assessment of the Recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Response to Mass Demonstrations
  • Use of Force
  • Officer Safety and Wellness
  • Public Transparency
  • Recruitment and Retention

Article | 2016

Managing Police Departments Post-Ferguson

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Public Transparency

Guidebook/Tool | 2016

Guidebook for the Implementation of New or Revitalized Police Oversight

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Public Transparency

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.

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