Law Enforcement

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 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.

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to support communities seeking to implement or expand community violence intervention efforts, 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, has hosted a webinar series on Community Violence Intervention (CVI).

The recently published third edition of Law Enforcement Intelligence – A Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies (Law Enforcement Intelligence Guide) aims to spark a policy-oriented discussion of current initiatives, national standards, and best practices for law enforcement agencies aiming to enhance intelligence capabilities. The guide builds upon the previous two editions by describing changes in intelligence practices in the context emerging threats and criminal extremism beyond international terrorism.

The Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program, with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, supports local, state, federal, and tribal criminal justice entities by offering various resources to enhance law enforcement efforts. For example, RISS helps facilitate cross-agency collaboration through the RISSLeads Investigative website. Through this platform, law enforcement officers can interact with one another across jurisdictions to share investigative leads, information, or other issues.

The National Center for School Safety (NCSS) is a Bureau of Justice Assistance Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Program national training and technical assistance provider focused on improving school safety and preventing violence. NCSS aims to support STOP grantees and the nationwide school safety community as they work to address school safety challenges.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police created the Home Safe Library of Resources as part of their work supporting Kevin and Avonte Program grant sites through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities program. This library is a free, publicly available, searchable online catalog that includes articles, webinars, tools, and other resources on wandering, elopement, missing persons, and law enforcement response to individuals with dementia and other developmental disabilities.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Program. The Medal of Valor is the highest honor for public safety officers, and it was created when Congress passed The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001. The President or Vice President award the medals annually to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.

In collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), AEquitas recently released the Prosecutors’ Guide for Reducing Violence and Building Safer Communities.