Law Enforcement

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.

The National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) recently released a how to guide for state administering agencies (SAAs) titled “How and Why to Engage with Local Criminal Justice Planning Boards.” This guide provides case studies for four states on effective approaches to include stakeholder groups in planning processes by engaging their Local Criminal Justice Planning Boards, often referred to as Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils.

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.

Many agencies are looking for alternative ways to respond to calls for low-level incidences. To help address this, the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program held the webinar “Alternative Response to Calls for Service—Denver STAR Program” in March 2021. During this webinar, Dr.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The U.S. Department of Justice has many programs and resources dedicated to officer safety and wellness, including addressing mental health and preventing suicide. These are a few of them: