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Guide for the Selection of Commercial Explosives Detection Systems for Law Enforcement Applications
This guide provides law enforcement agencies with information to be used in the selection and utilization of explosives detection equipment and techniques. This NIJ guide considers a wide array of important factors that should be considered by purchasers, including cost, sensitivity, portability, and ease of use. Advice about what technologies are likely to work best in various applications and a market survey of trace and x-ray-based commercial detection systems known to the authors as of October 1998 are also included.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Parmeter, John E.; Rhykerd, Charles L. (Charles Loren), 1963-; Hannum, David W. . . .
1999-12
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Guide for the Selection of Communication Equipment for Emergency First Responders: Volume II
This 2-volume NIJ Guide provides emergency first responders with information they can assess when selecting communication equipment for use with chemical and biological protective clothing and respiratory equipment. Volume I presents an overview of communications systems and discusses equipment characteristics and performance parameters. Volume II lists manufacturer-supplied details for the 181 items referenced in the first volume.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Fatah, Alim Ahmed; Barrett, John A.; Arcilesi, Richard D., Jr. . . .
2002-02
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Guide for the Selection of Communication Equipment for Emergency First Responders: Volume I
This 2-volume NIJ Guide provides emergency first responders with information they can assess when selecting communication equipment for use with chemical and biological protective clothing and respiratory equipment. Volume I presents an overview of communications systems and discusses equipment characteristics and performance parameters. Volume II lists manufacturer-supplied details for the 181 items referenced in the first volume.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Fatah, Alim Ahmed; Barrett, John A.; Arcilesi, Richard D., Jr. . . .
2002-02
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Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First Responders (Percutaneous Protection-Garments): Volume IIb
This guide includes information intended to be useful to the emergency first responder community in the selection of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes chemical and biological protective clothing and respiratory equipment for different applications. This Volume, IIb, of the Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First Responders, includes details on the 180 personal protective equipment items that are referenced in Volume I. The Guide for the Selection of Personal Protection Equipment for Emergency First Responders includes information intended to be useful to the emergency first responder community in the selection of PPE (percutaneous and respiratory). Due to the large number of PPE items identified for the guide, the guide is separated into four volumes. Volume I serves as the selection tool for all PPE, while Volume IIa serves as a repository for the respiratory protective data sheets, Volume IIb serves as a repository for the percutaneous protective equipment (garments) data sheets, and Volume IIc serves as a repository for the percutaneous protective equipment (apparel) data sheets.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Fatah, Alim Ahmed; Barrett, John A.; Arcilesi, Richard D., Jr. . . .
2002-11
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Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First Responders (Respiratory Protection): Volume IIa
This guide includes information intended to be useful to the emergency first responder community in the selection of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes chemical and biological protective clothing and respiratory equipment for different applications. This Volume, IIa, of the Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First
Responders, includes details on the 69 respiratory protective items referenced in Volume I. The Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First Responders includes information intended to be useful to the emergency first responder community in the selection of PPE. Due to the large number of personal protective equipment items identified for
the guide, the guide is separated into four volumes. Volume I serves as the selection tool for all PPE items while Volume IIa serves as a repository for the respiratory PPE data sheets; Volume IIb serves as a repository for the percutaneous (garments) PPE data sheets; and Volume IIc serves as a repository for the percutaneous (apparel other than garments) PPE data sheets.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Fatah, Alim Ahmed; Barrett, John A.; Arcilesi, Richard D., Jr. . . .
2002-11
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Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First Responders (Percutaneous Protection--Apparel): Volume IIc
This guide includes information intended to be useful to the emergency first responder community in the selection of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes chemical and biological protective clothing and respiratory equipment for different applications. This Volume, IIc, of the Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First
Responders, includes details on the 74 percutaneous protective items (apparel other than garments) that are referenced in Volume I. The Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First Responders includes information intended to be useful to the emergency first responder community in the selection of PPE (percutaneous and respiratory). Due to the large number of PPE items identified for the guide, the guide is separated into four volumes. Volume I serves as the selection tool for all PPE, while Volume IIa serves as a repository for the respiratory protective data sheets; Volume IIb serves as a repository for the percutaneous protective equipment (garments) data sheets, and Volume IIc serves as a repository for the percutaneous protective equipment (apparel) data sheets.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Fatah, Alim Ahmed; Barrett, John A.; Arcilesi, Richard D., Jr. . . .
2002-11
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Guide for the Selection of Chemical and Biological Decontamination Equipment for Emergency First Responders: Volume I
The guides will focus on chemical and biological equipment in areas of
detection, personal protection, decontamination, and communication. This document focuses specifically on chemical and biological decontamination equipment and was developed to assist the emergency first responder community in the evaluation and purchase of decontamination equipment. It should also be noted that the purpose
of this guide is not to provide recommendations but rather to serve as a means to provide information to the reader to compare and contrast commercially available decontamination
equipment.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Fatah, Alim Ahmed; Barrett, John A.; Arcilesi, Richard D., Jr. . . .
2001-10
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Evaluation of a Test Protocol for Explosives Trace Detectors Using a Representative Commercial Analyzer
This report describes a study of a test protocol for evaluating trace explosives detectors. The purpose of the study was to determine whether law enforcement personnel who lack special training in explosives detection could use the test protocol and obtain meaningful results. The report includes a discussion of experimental methods used by the researchers, test results, and conclusions.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Eiceman, Gary Alan; Boyett, Cecily M.; Parmeter, John E.
1999-09
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Inventory of State and Local Law Enforcement Technology Needs to Combat Terrorism
Recent acts of terrorism within the United States, such as the bombings of the World Trade Center in New York City and Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, have focused attention on the ability of law enforcement to manage these incidents and investigate individuals and groups suspected of planning or executing terrorist acts. Of particular concern is the gap between technologies available to and used by law enforcement, especially State and local agencies, and the advanced technologies used by persons and groups planning terrorist acts. To improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism, Congress enacted the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. The Act charged the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) with the task of determining what technologies are needed by State and local law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism. To fulfill this task, NIJ sponsored a survey of State and local law enforcement officials and representatives of other groups that could be involved in preventing and managing terrorist attacks. The project was to be carried out in two phases: Phase one involved an inventory of the technology needs of State and local law enforcement, with respondents from all 50 States and the District of Columbia, while Phase two will involve analyses of those needs to determine whether existing or developing technology can fulfill them or whether new technologies are required. This Research in Brief presents findings from Phase I of the project, identifying the most frequently mentioned needs as well as issues related to fulfilling them.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
1999-01
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Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation: Research Report
"The principal purpose of this Guide is to provide an investigative outline of the tasks that should be considered at every explosion scene. They will ensure that proper procedures are used to locate, identify, collect, and preserve valuable evidence so that it can be examined to produce the most useful and effective information--best practices. This Guide was designed to apply to explosion and bombing scene investigations, from highly complex and visible cases, such as the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, to those that attract less attention and fewer resources but may be just as complex for the investigator. Any guide addressing investigative procedures must ensure that each contributor of evidence to the forensic laboratory system is served by the guide and that quality examinations will be rendered. Consistent collection of quality evidence in bombing cases will result in more successful investigations and prosecutions of bombing cases. While this Guide can be useful to agencies in developing their own procedures, the procedures included here may not be deemed applicable in every circumstance or jurisdiction, nor are they intended to be all-inclusive. The most common types of explosive/incendiary devices encountered by fire service and law enforcement personnel in the United States are traditionally pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails, and other improvised explosive/incendiary devices. The most common explosive materials used in these devices are flammable liquids and black and smokeless powder. This guide contains: a principle citing the rationale for performing the task; a procedure for performing the task; and a summary outlining the principle and procedure."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
2000-06
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Why Can't We Talk? Working Together to Bridge the Communications Gap to Save Lives: A Guide for Public Officials
This guide "was developed as a result of the ongoing dialogue among State and local elected and appointed officials and public safety officials. []This guide is designed to provide public officials with easy-to comprehend information on interoperability. 'Why Cant Public Safety Agencies Talk?,' discusses the definition of interoperability, the importance of interoperability to public officials, and the role public officials play in interoperability. 'Five Key Reasons Why Public Safety Agencies Cant Talk,' discusses the barriers to interoperability"incompatible and aging communications equipment, limited and fragmented planning and funding, a lack of coordination and cooperation, and limited and fragmented radio communications spectrum. 'Are You Prepared?', discusses evaluation and assessment of public safety radio communication systems and financial resources and provides interim technology strategies to achieve interoperability. 'How Can You Achieve Interoperability?', discusses planning for interoperability, and the role of Elected and Appointed Officials in the planning process. 'Governance Structures for Improving Interoperability', discusses what a Governance Structure is and why it is necessary, examples of mechanisms for creating governance structures and the key element of leadership. 'Funding Strategies for Achieving Interoperability', discusses developing a funding strategy, cost-cutting measures, presenting a case, presenting the case for funding interoperability and financing methods. 'Why Radio Spectrum Matters to You', provides a historical perspective of spectrum, a discussion of the additional spectrum that has been allocated but not yet made available to public safety, and technologies that can increase the efficient use of spectrum."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
2003-02
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Can We Talk?: Public Safety and the Interoperability Challenge
In their routine day-to-day operations, many public safety agencies can transmit mug shots, fingerprints, and videos of crime scenes to their communications centers. But when agencies from multiple jurisdictions need to mount a coordinated response (for example, during a high-speed pursuit across geographic boundaries), they may not be able to talk to each other via their radios in real time because their separate radio equipment is incompatible. When disaster strikes--a bombing, plane crash, or natural disaster--they even may be forced to use hand signals or runners to relay messages. In an era when news, data, and pictures can be sent instantaneously to the farthest reaches of the earth, it is hard to believe that police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel may not be able to talk to each other by radio. Both the fairly common incident as well as the rare headline-grabbing event (such as the Oklahoma City bombing or Columbine shootings) test the ability of public safety agencies to coordinate and respond immediately. But in many cases, precious seconds can be lost while dispatchers translate and relay emergency communications. The ability to share information in real time between agencies is called interoperability. The basic idea is this: Persons who need to exchange information should be able to do so, even when they are using different technologies from different manufacturers, without the need for custom hardware or software to integrate them all. It's a little like the incompatibilities between various computer operating systems (e.g., Windows, Macintosh, Unix)--but a lot more complicated. Broadly defined, interoperability refers to the ability to transmit all types of communications electronically, including voice, data, and images. This article focuses on one aspect: The ability of public safety agencies to talk to each other via radios.
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Smith, Brenna; Tolman, Thomas K.
2000-04
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Primer on Body Worn Camera Technologies
"There has been a dramatic increase in the criminal justice use of body worn cameras (BWCs) in the last few years. As a result of governmental and news media scrutiny of law enforcement interactions with the public, many think that BWCs have the potential benefit of increased legitimacy and accountability for both citizens and the law enforcement community. Since then, commercially available BWCs have flooded the market. There are now over 60 different body worn cameras produced specifically for law enforcement use. BWCs are cameras with a microphone and internal data storage, and allow audio/video footage to be stored and analyzed with compatible software. The cameras are typically located on the police officer's chest or head. The National Institutes of Justice (NIJ) is interested in learning about existing BWC technologies and other considerations for integrating BWC into current systems. Commercial BWC information is aggregated and summarized to aid law enforcement officers and public safety practitioners in the planning, acquisition, and implementation of this technology. This paper provides background context for BWC, methodology for developing the market survey, compiled results from the market survey, and considerations for implementing BWCs. For more technical specifications on each BWC, please refer to the accompanying NIJ BWC Market Survey document."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Hung, Vivian; Babin, Steven M.; Coberly, Jacqueline
2016-11
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How to Encourage a Culture of Officer Safety [video]
From the NIJ [National Institute of Justice] summary of the video: "Jeff Rojek, Associate Director for the Center for Law and Behavior at the University of Texas, explains what the research shows about why law enforcement officers are more or less likely to use seat belts. Rojek describes how training, improved policy and accountability, and organizational justice create a more comprehensive approach to officer safety. Hank Stawinski, Chief of Prince George's (MD) County Police Department, discusses how law enforcement agencies can reinforce a culture of officer safety using subtle messages such as radio broadcasts to remind officers to avoid rushing to resolve a situation."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
2017-07-12
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Law Enforcement Guidance Concerning Suspected Unauthorized UAS Operations
"Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones by the media and public at large, are becoming more common in the skies above the U.S. and around the world. While initial awareness of this technology concentrated mostly on U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) operations in various war theaters, public concerns for the use of UAS has steadily increased over the past decade. Today, the public's concerns have sharply focused on domestic UAS operations by the government, including federal, state and local law enforcement agencies around the country. At the same time, the agency responsible for ensuring the safety of U.S. air transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has become increasingly concerned about the rapid proliferation of small UAS throughout most communities. There is evidence of a significant increase in civilian use of small, inexpensive UAS by people and businesses that traditionally did not comply with FAA requirements."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
2016-01
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Optimizing Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs to Support Law Enforcement Activities
"Reduced diversion (e.g., doctor shopping, theft, prescription forgery, illegal sale by physicians, patients, or pharmacists) and abuse of prescription drugs are goals for all prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). However, there is variability in how individual states implement and operationalize these programs, including policies and mechanisms for law enforcement access and utilization. This project used qualitative and quantitative methods to examine law enforcement use and perceptions of PDMPs. Findings suggest that training in how to access the PDMP and interpret PDMP reports are important factors in how law enforcement personnel perceive the utility and effectiveness of PDMPs. In addition, law enforcement personnel view lack of access to PDMP data from surrounding states as a hindrance to investigations. The variability in how states permit law enforcement access to PDMP data should be further studied to clarify the impact of various access designs on PDMP goals, including reductions in abuse, diversion, morbidity and mortality related to illicit prescription drug use."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Freeman, Patricia; Blumenschein, Karen; Goodin, Amie . . .
2015-09
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Empirical Assessment of Domestic Radicalization [video]
From the video's description page: "[This is an] interview with Gary Ackerman, Director for Special Projects, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, University of Maryland[.] Mr. Ackerman is conducting an empirical assessment of domestic radicalization, with an emphasis on the process of radicalization. In this interview, Ackerman explains how he is using large empirical analysis and small scale life study analysis to discover which factors might cause an individual to make the leap from illegal terrorist behavior to violent terrorist behavior."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Ackerman, Gary, 1973-
2013-02-08?
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Community Policing Strategies for Countering Violent Extremism [video]
From the video's description page: "[This is an] interview with David Schanzer, J.D., Associate Professor, Duke University and Director, Triangle Center of Terrorism and Homeland Security[.] Mr. Schanzer discusses his study of community policing strategies for countering violent extremism. Schanzer points out that there is a wide variety of terrorist ideologies from religious, to environmental, to economic. He is hoping to discover if particular community policing strategies are more effective in countering certain types of terrorism and building resilience against extremism."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Schanzer, David H.
2013-02-08?
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Lone Wolf Terrorism in America [video]
From the video's description page: "[This is an] interview with Mark Hamm, Ph.D., Indiana State University[.] Dr. Hamm is studying lone wolf terrorism in the United States and how such terrorists become radicalized. In this interview, Hamm explains the difference between mass violence and terrorism and discusses the ways in which many lone wolf terrorists use public forums to broadcast their intent to commit terrorist acts."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Hamm, Mark S.
2013-02-08?
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Market Survey on Contraband Detection Technologies
"Contraband is a significant problem for correctional facilities across the United States. Loosely defined as anything inmates are prohibited from possessing, contraband poses a threat to the safety of individuals both inside and outside the correctional system. While weapons, tools, and narcotics are the most obvious risks within the community, items such as money, electronic devices, food, and tobacco products all pose both a prevalent threat and unique detection challenge. Due to the system wide contraband problem, the National Institutes of Justice (NIJ) requested the execution of a market survey regarding commercial contraband detection technologies currently available. This document is the collective summary of that market survey. Organized into three primary sections (person-borne, vehicle-borne, and environmental), each contraband detection system's information is grouped and summarized to aid correctional officials in planning the potential acquisition and implementation of these technologies. Additionally, this document provides a summary of the background research and methods used for performing this survey."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Hung, Vivian; Babin, Steven M.; Mills, Amber . . .
2017-04
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Exploring Elder Financial Exploitation Victimization: Identifying Unique Risk Profiles and Factors to Enhance Detection, Prevention and Intervention
The purpose of this report is to "explore risk factors across the socioecological framework (i.e. individual, perpetrator and community-levels) to identify the most important factors that differentiate elder
financial exploitation (FE) from other forms of abuse as well as pure FE from hybrid FE." According to the results and conclusion in the abstract, "financially-based variables are the best predictors of FE versus other forms of abuse, but apparent injury appears to be the most important indicator of other forms of abuse even in the presence of FE. [...] Different factors across the socioecological context are needed to reliably differentiate between elder FE and other forms of abuse as well as pure versus hybrid FE. These factors will also vary depending on the perspective one takes regarding the linearity of the interactions between the different factors. The findings provide support for the need to differentiate between types of abuse and subtypes of elder FE and the need for frontline workers and social service agencies and researchers to account for variables across the socioecological context when developing surveillance, intervention and prevention programs."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Burnett, Jason; Xia, Rui; Suchting, Robert . . .
2017-05
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Correctional Officer Safety and Wellness Literature Synthesis
"Correctional officers (COs) play a pivotal role within the wider prison system as they are tasked with numerous responsibilities designed to ensure that their respective facilities are operating efficiently. As the front-line bureaucrats of the prison institution (Lipsky, 2010), COs are charged with supervising the activities of inmates, enforcing rules and regulations, affording offenders access to social services, and perhaps most importantly, maintaining order (Crawley, 2004; Kauffmann, 1989). They are also tasked with responding to administrative demands; searching cells for drugs, weapons, and other contraband; and intervening to resolve potentially violent disputes among inmates (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). COs play such a fundamental role in the functioning of any prison system that Archambeault and Archambeault (1982) remarked that officers 'represent the single most important resource available to any correctional agency' (p. 72). Recent scholarship has suggested that COs work under dangerous conditions that can threaten their general safety and wellness. Following several legislative reforms that started in the 1970s and included 'get tough on crime' policies such as mandatory minimum sentences and habitual offender laws (Mackenzie, 2001), correctional institutions experienced dramatic changes in the composition of the inmate population. Not only did the total number of incarcerated offenders skyrocket from roughly 300,000 to more than 1.5 million between 1975 and 2013, but the percentage of offenders imprisoned for violent crimes increased from about 40 percent in 1985 to more than 60 percent by 2013 (Walmsley, 2013). Although incarceration rates have declined in recent years, the modern-day CO is still required to interact with and supervise individuals in a dangerous environment (Glaze & Kaeble, 2014)."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Ferdik, Frank Valentino; Smith, Hayden P.
2017-07
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States' Roles in Keeping Schools Safe: Opportunities and Challenges for State School Safety Centers and Other Actors
"In almost every state, a state agency or organization is charged with playing a little known but important role in keeping schools safe. In some states, there are organizations whose entire responsibility is related to school safety. These are typically referred to as state school safety centers (SSSC). In other states, staff within state agencies (including departments of education, public safety, state police, and others) are responsible for state school safety efforts. Their work reflects the highest safety priorities faced by schools across the nation and parallels some of the weightiest issues facing the criminal justice system today, including the relationship between law enforcement and the community, concerns about firearms violence, procedural justice, and appropriate responses to misbehavior that may be related to trauma or behavioral health. These organizations have the potential to transform how we approach our responsibilities to keep schools and students safe. In February 2016, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) assembled representatives from 20 states for a meeting on state school safety issues in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The purpose of the meeting was to better understand the role of state school safety representatives and learn about their priorities and the challenges they face in doing this work. NIJ is using this information to help shape the activities of the Comprehensive School Safety Initiative (CSSI) -- a research-focused initiative with the goal of producing practical knowledge on a wide range of school safety topics in K-12 public and charter schools."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Carlton, Mary Poulin; Wyrick, Phelan A.; Frederique, Nadine . . .
2017-07
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Summary of School Safety Statistics
"Several high-profile incidents of violence at U.S. schools have, understandably, raised concerns about the safety of students while at school. Just one incident of violence causes significant harm. In light of this, it is important to examine commonly held beliefs about school safety and violence because they sometimes reflect a misperception or misunderstanding of what is actually happening. The following questions examine several common beliefs pertaining to school safety statistics and provide evidence to support or dispel each of them. Though improved understanding alone will not allay fears about school violence, hopefully this examination will facilitate informed discussions about school safety. Data collected by federal agencies, including the Department of Education and Department of Justice, as well as research by school safety experts, can be used to address common school safety beliefs and explore several myths."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Carlton, Mary Poulin
2017-07
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Policing: Strategic Research Plan 2017-2022
From the introduction: "The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) - the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice - is dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science. NIJ provides objective and independent knowledge and tools to reduce crime and promote justice, particularly at the state and local levels. [...] NIJ's mission for policing is dedicated to the development of knowledge and tools that will advance policing operations and practices to deliver policing services to communities more effectively and efficiently. The National Institute of Justice has been a leader in developing and advancing the research agenda for policing. This issue is at the core of NIJ's history: its own charter grew out of the 1968 President's Commission and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to address crime and unrest in American cities and develop tools for law enforcement to target these issues in a way that enhances police-community partnerships. [...] NIJ has developed the Policing Strategic Research Plan to describe the current and projected efforts of NIJ to advance policing practices in the United States. The strategic goals outlined in the plan should be viewed as both interrelated and vital to better understanding and finding solutions to the challenges of policing. This document should be of interest to researchers (academic, governmental, and industrial); federal, state, local, and international government partners; and justice policymakers and practitioner communities. Findings from the activities that fall within this strategic plan will be disseminated among these constituents and partners in ways designed to achieve the greatest impact."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
2017-07
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Impact of Forensic Evidence on Arrest and Prosecution
"The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant solicitation, 'Social Science Research on Forensic Science' (NIJ-2011-2822), was heavily reliant on the NIJ study, 'The Role and Impact of Forensic Evidence in the Criminal Justice Process' (Peterson, Sommers, Baskin, and Johnson, 2010). The objectives of Peterson et al., (2010) were to 1) 'Estimate the percentage of crime scenes from which one or more types of forensic evidence is collected;' 2) 'Describe and catalog the kinds of forensic evidence collected at crime scenes;' 3) 'Track the use and attrition of forensic evidence in the criminal justice system from crime scenes through laboratory analysis, and then through subsequent criminal justice processes;' 4) 'Identify which forms of forensic evidence contribute most frequently (relative to their availability at a crime scene) to successful case outcomes' (Peterson et al. 2010, Pg. 11-12). Peterson, et al. (2010) analyzed crime lab, investigative, and prosecutorial case file information of crimes that fit into one of five crime categories: assault; burglary; homicide; rape; and robbery. Peterson et al. (2010) concluded their analysis by making ten recommendations regarding future research on the utility of forensic evidence. The current study, 'The Impact of Forensic Evidence on Arrest and Prosecution', addressed several of these recommendations via a methodology that informs the four research objectives listed above."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Schroeder, David A.; Elink-Schuurman-Laura, Kristin
2017-08
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Crime Gun Risk Factors: Buyer, Seller, Firearm, and Transaction Characteristics Associated with Gun Trafficking and Criminal Gun Use
"Controlling gun crime continues to be a difficult challenge for policymakers and practitioners in the United States_ With an estimated 258 million guns in private hands and millions more produced each year, there are many sources and means through which offenders can obtain firearms despite legal restrictions on gun purchasing and ownership by convicted felons, juveniles, and other high-risk groups. In order to better understand the workings of illicit gun markets-and particularly the rapid diversion of guns from the retail market into criminal channels-this study utilizes a decade's worth of data on handgun sales in the state of Maryland and subsequent recoveries of those guns by police in order to identify the characteristics of firearms, sellers, buyers, and sales transactions that predict whether a gun is used in crime subsequent to purchase. The study provides some of the most sophisticated evidence to date on crime use risks associated with highrisk buyers, problem gun dealers, preferred crime guns, purchases involving multiple guns, and other suspected trafficking indicators."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Koper, Christopher S.
2007
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Why Can't We Talk? Working Together to Bridge the Communications Gap to Save Lives: A Guide for Public Officials [Updated February 2005]
"In an era where technology can bring news, current events, and entertainment to the farthest reaches of the world, many law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel working in the same jurisdiction cannot communicate with one another. The inability of our public safety officials to readily communicate with one another threatens the public's safety and often results in unnecessary loss of lives and property. Recognizing that solutions to this national issue can only be achieved through cooperation between all levels of government, 18 national associations representing State and local elected and appointed officials and public safety officials formed a task force to address this issue. This guide is the result of the significant commitment by members of this task force who shared their knowledge, experience, and wisdom."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
2005-02
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Perspectives on Policing: Police and Public Discourse on 'Black-on-Black' Violence
"Police executives, politicians and political commentators need to refrain from using overly simplistic descriptions -- such as 'black-on-black' violence -- when describing outbreaks of serious criminal violence in black neighborhoods. Because the police represent the most visible face of government and have primary responsibility for maintaining public safety in all neighborhoods, police executives in particular should avoid framing urban violence problems in this way. Inappropriate use of such phrases can inadvertently promote inappropriate policing activities in black neighborhoods, which in turn erode the community's trust and confidence in the police and inhibit cooperation with them. Disadvantaged neighborhoods that suffer from serious violence need and benefit from focused police attention. […]Inappropriate framing of urban criminal violence problems, and the policies and practices that result, constitute substantial obstacles for police departments and for minority communities struggling to solve these critical issues. We believe the key to progress lies with careful analysis of the specific dynamics that generate patterns of violence and a broader appreciation of the value of carefully tailored police interventions."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Braga, Anthony Allan, 1969-; Brunson, Rod K.
2015-05
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New Perspectives in Policing: Race and Policing: An Agenda for Action
"American police confront issues of race, daily, in
almost everything they do. They confront race
in the geographic distribution of criminality
and the fear of crime as well as in assumptions
about what criminals look like. They confront
race in the suspicion and hostility of many
young African American men they encounter
on the street. They confront race in complaints
from ethnic communities about being either
over- or under-policed. They confront race in
charges of racial profiling and unequal justice.
And they confront race in decisions about hiring,
promoting and assigning police officers. In short,
race remains an "American dilemma," as Gunnar
Myrdal famously observed in 1944 (Myrdal, 1944),
especially and inescapably for today's police.
The importance of race in policing has been
demonstrated in discussions held since 2008 at
the Second Executive Session on Policing and
Public Safety at Harvard University. At almost
every session, race emerged as a troubling
preoccupation for police executives. Although
many suggestions for dealing with the issue
were discussed, the Executive Session did not
try to formulate policies to deal with the various issues involving race. Concern about race
seemed to become stalled in discussion rather
than advancing to action. So, the authors of this
article suggested to the Session members that
we try to cull an agenda for action from the years
of frank, insightful and sometimes passionate
conversation. The Session readily agreed. These
are the ideas we think are most promising in
terms of what police executives might do to
alleviate the problems of race in contemporary
policing. They reflect what we have learned that
might help the most. We alone are responsible for this agenda."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Bayley, David H.; Davis, Michael A.; Davis, Ronald
2015-06
