The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) released a toolkit designed to help law enforcement officers lead the public health campaign against COVID-19. The COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the Law Enforcement Community consists of fact sheets about COVID-19 and vaccinations, based on scientific data and research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These resources can be customized to reach out to sworn officers who may be reluctant to take this life-saving measure.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) continues to focus its resources on the critical question regarding how police respond to those experiencing a mental health crisis. In pursuit of supporting law enforcement in prioritizing their mental health and well-being, BJA is proud to be able to provide no-cost technical assistance to departments through the Law Enforcement-Mental Health Collaboration Support Center.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recently collaborated to launch the Mass Violence Advisory Initiative (MVAI). The initiative aims to equip law enforcement leaders and their communities with expert assistance, guidance, and rapid response resources in the event of targeted acts of mass violence.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Northern and Middle State Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Program is currently accepting funding applications for small, rural, and tribal law enforcement agencies who seek technical and training assistance. This initiative is designed to provide resources to small, rural, and tribal law enforcement agencies located in the northern and middle states of the United States (see website for a full list).
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the National Gang Center (NCG) have published a guide for law enforcement officials to developing a framework to address youth gang problems in their communities. A Law Enforcement Official’s Guide to the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model aims to provide law enforcement leaders with an overview of the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model, which is an evidence-based framework for the coordination of multiple data-driven, anti-gang and violence-reduction strategies to address youth gang problems.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is continuing to prioritize the safety and wellness of law enforcement officers, their families, and professional support staff. BJA has compiled, updated, and expanded various resources associated with enhancing officer safety. In a recent blog post, titled Ensuring Officer Health and Wellness During Difficult Times, BJA outlines the various resources to help bolster efforts to ensure officers are physically and mentally prepared to carry out their daily work.
The Council of State Governments recently published a brief titled Addressing Misconceptions about Mental Health and Violence. This brief discusses the misconceptions that can lead to a perception that people with mental illness are more likely to be violent. Through understanding and dispelling these misconceptions, criminal justice professionals can further their goals of protecting public safety.
On August 18, 2021, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Education, and the White House Domestic Policy Council, hosted the third webinar in the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Webinar Series. During the webinar, titled “CVI Webinar Series Part 3: CVI in Practice,” leading CVI experts shared their on-the-ground experiences on how to implement CVI strategies within communities.
The Council of State Governments, in partnership with the Center for Effective Public Policy’s National Resource Center on Justice Involved Women and with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, has developed Adopting a Gender-Responsive Approach for Women in the Justice System: A Resource Guide. The guide presents data on how women’s experiences in the criminal justice system differ from men’s, and strategies for incorporating gender-responsive strategies into criminogenic risk and needs assessment, case management, and correctional and community programming.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police, in association with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, has developed the Officer Health and Wellness Agency Assessment Tool and Action Planning Roadmap as a resource for law enforcement agencies who seek to establish or enhance officer wellness programming.