The Police Executive Research Forum, with support from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, has released a new report entitled Promising Strategies for Strengthening Police Department Wellness Programs: Findings and Recommendations from the Officer Safety and Wellness Technical Assistance Project. While research data continues to evidence the benefits of comprehensive officer safety and wellness initiatives, many police departments continue to remain unsure of where to begin to establish such a program.
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has developed a comprehensive toolkit to support professionals in the field of trauma services who are consistently exposed to the traumatic experiences of others – known as vicarious trauma. The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit includes tools and resources to support organizations in addressing vicarious trauma within their organizations and occupations.
In 2019, the Orlando (FL) Police Department (OPD) engaged in a three-year process to realign, redesign, and launch a centralized Crime Center to support intelligence-led policing strategies. Through support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) Crime Analysis on Demand Initiative, OPD worked with IDEA Analytics’ CEO, Dr. Jessica Herbert, to implement evidence-based practices and build OPD’s analytical capabilities.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has developed a toolkit to help tribal justice system practitioners create or enhance reentry programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives returning from jail or prison. The Planning a Reentry program: A Toolkit for Tribal Communities offers resources and insights on forming a planning team and navigating through all the key steps of developing a reentry program, including developing partnerships, refining your reentry program, measuring program impact, and planning for sustainability.
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.