Eyewitness identification remains one of the most powerful—and most scrutinized—forms of evidence in the criminal justice system. From photo arrays to live showups, identification procedures play a pivotal role in investigations, prosecutions, and court outcomes. Yet despite decades of scientific research, law enforcement policies and field practices, and courts have not always been aligned with…

In recent years, ghost guns (also known as privately made or unserialized firearms) have become a significant concern to law enforcement and public safety. The term “ghost gun” encompasses a variety of firearms produced from components that are not currently regulated by federal firearm laws. Most commonly, ghost guns are produced from components purchased (generally…

Law enforcement agencies across the United States are more and more involved in responding to homelessness. Calls for service involving people who are unhoused, especially those who are chronically homeless, take up a great deal of officer time and agency resources. But being homeless is not a crime. This fact means homelessness is not, at…

Why reducing organizational stress—and limiting its harm—takes action at every level Stress is widely recognized as inherent in law enforcement work. Traditionally, the dangers and traumatic exposures associated with policing have been viewed as the primary threats to officer health and performance. However, a growing body of research demonstrates that chronic organizational stressors often exert…

Despite many technological innovations in policing over the past three decades, the profession remains rooted in face-to-face interactions between officers and community members. The mainstay of policing is still officers responding in person to a call for service and interacting with a community member. These interactions, occurring every day in communities large and small across…

In recent decades, police scholars and practitioners have focused on the concentration of crime in specific locations, known as “hot spots.” Among police researchers, Weisburd (2015) has claimed that a “law of crime concentration” should become a key focus of research and inform crime reduction efforts. Many practitioners, in turn, have long sought to put…

Measuring What Matters: Why Public Confidence Is the New Bottom Line in Policing Public agencies do not measure success the same way private companies do. There is no profit margin or stock price that determines whether a law enforcement agency or city government has succeeded. Instead, as Harvard’s Mark Moore argues in Recognizing Public Value (2013),…

We’re heading into 2026 with a public safety landscape that feels anything but predictable. While these times may feel unsettled, the dedication of law enforcement to serve and protect their communities endures. This is a time-tested truth that we cannot overlook. Crime rates have continued to decline nationally, but communities and their residents don’t necessarily…

In December 2020, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General launched one of the most ambitious police use of force reform efforts in the nation. The goal: reduce use of force, enhance accountability, and promote professionalism in policing statewide. The Use of Force Reduction Initiative included: Overhauling the statewide use of force policy, Standardizing…

When someone in crisis calls for help, law enforcement is often the first to arrive. These situations require compassionate and coordinated intervention to ensure the safety of officers and community members, while supporting individuals’ connections to services.   Across the country, agencies are enhancing their response capabilities by implementing specialized training (e.g., Crisis Response and Intervention…