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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 9:52 pm
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Results for police policies and procedures
20 results foundAuthor: Queensland. Crime and Misconduct Commission Title: An Alternative To Pursuit: A Review of the Evade Police Provisions Summary: The ‘evade police’ provisions introduced into the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act in 2006 were designed to reduce the number of police pursuits and the associated risks to community safety in Queensland. They do this by giving police the option to allow a fleeing vehicle to ‘escape’, knowing that they have the power and investigative tools to identify the offending driver at a later stage. Under the Act, the CMC is required to review how police are using these powers. The evade police provisions have improved community safety — they are among a range of factors that have contributed to a substantial and sustained decline in police pursuits since 2006. Because the provisions rely on the police being able to serve a notice on the registered owner of a vehicle, they are not effective in all situations where drivers flee police (e.g. if the offender is driving a stolen or unregistered vehicle). Police are under-using the powers. In most cases, they choose to commence a pursuit if this is permitted by the policy. Factors contributing to this include weaknesses in the legislation, and police dissatisfaction with court outcomes. The CMC’s 13 recommendations aim to make the provisions a more effective investigation and prosecution tool in situations where they can be applied. Coupled with improvements to the police policy and training framework, this will go some way to ensuring that the provisions are more often used instead of pursuits. Details: Brisbane: Crime and Misconduct Commission, 2011. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2011 at: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/data/portal/00000005/content/72918001309240925348.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/data/portal/00000005/content/72918001309240925348.pdf Shelf Number: 121953 Keywords: Police Policies and ProceduresPolice Pursuit Driving(Australia) |
Author: Jones-Brown, Delores Title: An Exploratory Study of the Use of Confidential Informants in New Jersey Summary: Confidential informants (CIs) currently occupy a central role in law enforcement, particularly in the enforcement of drug laws, where officers, agents and prosecutors consider them indispensable to undercover and other operations. In virtually all types of criminal cases, state and federal sentencing schemes authorize reduced punishment for offenders who provide “substantial assistance” in the prosecution of others. The focus of the current study was drug enforcement. The findings suggest that despite judicial and legislative support for the practice, the use of CIs during the investigation and prosecution of such cases needs substantial review, revision, auditing, and oversight. While it has long been recognized that the use of criminal suspects to help enforce the law has the potential for significant benefit and abuse, the current findings confirm that innocent civilians may also find themselves under immense pressure to give federal, state, or local authorities information about the criminal activities of their neighbors, friends, or family members. The findings indicate that fear of criminal prosecution, monetary incentives and other inducements may motivate both criminal suspects and non-criminals to provide information that is not totally accurate. Inaccurate information can lead to false accusations and wrongful convictions. And, whether accurate or not, the provision of information may expose informants or their families to a substantial risk of bodily harm. In some law enforcement agencies, the research revealed a substantial use of information from CIs, rather than independent police work, as part of the routine investigation of drug activity. Reports of this heavy reliance on the use of CIs were coupled with allegations of questionable ethics associated with that use, some of them quite serious. The more serious cases led to diminished confidence in the justice system, and in some instances, substantial expense to taxpayers because of the monetary damages paid to those who were wrongfully accused or convicted. In one municipality (Lower Township, Cape May County), allegations that an officer engaged in the inappropriate use of CI information have led to two waves of dismissals of multiple criminal cases since this research began. This study revealed that while written policies regarding the use of CIs exist at the state, county, and municipal levels of government, at the state level, the policies are disjointed, spread throughout various documents. The counties’ policies differ from each other, sometimes substantially. And, contrary to the professional standards set by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), written policies do not exist in all of the municipal police departments. The research also revealed that even among the agencies intended to be governed by written policies, line officers are neither uniformly aware of the existence or terms of such policies, nor trained in them, leaving room for intentional and unintentional violations. Among law enforcement agents — both police and prosecutors — there was no clear agreement as to whether the written policies established by the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General are intended to be mandatory and binding on all agencies in the state or whether they are merely advisory. There also do not appear to be uniform, formal state, county, or municipal procedures for disciplining behavior among law enforcement that violates written CI policies. Based on these and other findings, the authors of this report conclude that the establishment of a mandatory uniform system of minimum standards for regulating and monitoring the use of CIs is an essential step toward improving the quality of justice within the state. In our opinion, this system can be created mainly by consolidating and modifying policies and practices that currently exist in some combination at the state, county, or municipal levels. In consultation with the ACLU, the authors have developed a set of broader recommendations. Details: Newark, NJ: American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, 2011. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2011 at: http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/other/report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/other/report.pdf Shelf Number: 121928 Keywords: Drug EnforcementInformants (New Jersey)Police InvestigationsPolice Policies and Procedures |
Author: Stewart, James K. Title: Independent Board of Inquiry into the Oakland Police Department Incident of March 21, 2009 Summary: This report presents the findings and recommendations concerning the 2009 murder of four Oakland Place Department personnel by a recently paroled prisoner. Details: Alexandria, VA: CNA Analysis & Solutions, 2009. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2011 at: http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/Independent%20Board%20of%20Inquiry%20into%20the%20Oakland%20Police%20Department.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/Independent%20Board%20of%20Inquiry%20into%20the%20Oakland%20Police%20Department.pdf Shelf Number: 122915 Keywords: Assaults on PoliceHomicidesPolice DeathsPolice OfficersPolice Policies and ProceduresPolicing (Oakland, California) |
Author: Burch, Andrea M. Title: Arrest-Related Deaths, 2003-2009 - Statistical Tables Summary: This report provides data on the circumstances of deaths that occur during, or shortly after, state or local law enforcement officers engage in an arrest or restraint process. Data from the Arrest-Related Deaths (ARD) component of the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program (DCRP) represent a national accounting of persons who have died during the process of arrest from 2003 through 2009. The ARD program includes homicides by law enforcement personnel as well as deaths attributed to suicide, intoxication, accidental injury, and natural causes. Data collected include information about the date of death, manner and cause of death, the decedent's demographic characteristics, the decedent's behavior during the events leading up to the death, and the tactics and weapons used by law enforcement personnel. Highlights include the following: A total of 4,813 deaths were reported to the Arrest-Related Deaths program from January 2003 through December 2009. Of reported arrest-related deaths, 61% (2,931) were classified as homicides by law enforcement personnel, 11% (541) were suicides, 11% (525) were due to intoxication, 6% (272) were accidental injuries, and 5% (244) were attributed to natural causes. State and local law enforcement agencies employing 100 or more full-time sworn personnel accounted for 75% of the 4,813 arrest-related deaths reported during 2003-2009. Among reported arrest-related deaths, 42% of persons were white, 32% were black, and 20% were Hispanic. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2011. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 26, 2011 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/ard0309st.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/ard0309st.pdf Shelf Number: 123453 Keywords: Arrest Statistics (U.S.)HomicidesPolice Policies and ProceduresSuicide |
Author: Boba, Rachel Title: A Police Organizational Model for Crime Reduction: Institutionalizing Problem Solving, Analysis, and Accountability Summary: A Police Organizational Model for Crime Reduction: Institutionalizing Problem Solving, Analysis, and Accountability presents a new and comprehensive organizational model for the institutionalization of effective crime reduction strategies into police agencies, called the Stratified Model of Problem Solving, Analysis, and Accountability. It describes all the components of the Stratified Model in a succinct and practical way to provide police managers and commanders with a template for improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of their agency’s crime reduction efforts. Although the objective is to implement all aspects of the Stratified Model, an agency may choose to implement parts of the model as needed or to implement the model in phases. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2011. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2012 at http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/RIC/Publications/e071126389_Police%20Organizational%20Model%20v5_09SEP11-508.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/RIC/Publications/e071126389_Police%20Organizational%20Model%20v5_09SEP11-508.pdf Shelf Number: 124100 Keywords: Crime Reduction, HandbooksPolice OrganizationPolice Policies and Procedures |
Author: Terrill, William Title: Final Technical Report Draft: Assessing Police Use of Force Policy and Outcomes Summary: While force continuum policies are frequently discussed in the policing literature by academics and practitioners alike, little is known concerning how many agencies actually use a continuum. Moreover, given potential variation in both continuum design (e.g., linear, matrix, wheel, etc.) and tactical placement (e.g., OC spray, CED, etc.), even less is known with respect to whether differences in continuum policies matter, and if so, in what way. Within this context, this project set two separate, but interrelated goals: to identify the extent of variation in use of force policies being used by police agencies throughout the country, and determine whether certain types of policies offer more beneficial outcomes to police practitioners. Stated more directly, the project sought to (1) identify existing variation in use of force policies, particularly those employing a force continuum approach and (2) determine which types of policies offer more beneficial outcomes to police practitioners, which are measured in terms of the degree to which varying policies: (a) provide officers assistance and guidance with respect to force decision-making, and (b) are associated with less force (i.e., by amount and type), injuries to suspects and officers, citizen complaints, and lawsuits levied for improper force. As one reads through this executive summary (and the 200 plus pages of the final report) undoubtedly, like ourselves, there may be a sense of letdown. Ideally, one would want to walk away from this study knowing which use of force policy (or policies) is the best and which policy (or policies) should be avoided. Unfortunately, one of the greatest strengths of the empirical approach taken (i.e., examining multiple outcomes) is also potentially its greatest weakness. As such, we cannot unanimously endorse or condemn one use of force policy over another. What is abundantly clear from the many analyses and rankings conducted is that there is no ideal (or flawed) policy approach across all outcomes. The good news is that we provide empirical evidence of various strengths and weaknesses across many important police outcomes. We leave it to police executives to consider those outcomes most important or relevant to them and their constituents, and see which policy approaches performed more favorably in those respects. As just a single example, if one is looking to reduce citizen injuries and complaints as top policing concerns, St. Petersburg’s approach may be worth considering. However, one has to also be cognizant that officers generally did not view St. Petersburg’s policy in a favorable light. A “cop’s cop” police leader may thus prioritize such officer-related concerns and dismiss St. Petersburg’s policy, and instead endorse Knoxville’s approach that received outstanding feedback from patrol officers (irrespective of the fact that Knoxville patrol officers were injured at the highest rate of all cities). Any number of other examples could be given as well with other cities. In the end, one must weigh the advantages and drawbacks of each policy approach against various desirable (or undesirable) outcomes. Of course, readers must also use caution interpreting the findings presented throughout this summary and the full report. Although this is the most comprehensive less lethal use of force study conducted to date, as one astute reviewer accurately points out - we have just begun to scratch the surface with respect to how varying types of policies may influence varying types of outcomes. Details: Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 2011. 287p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2012 at https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/237794.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/237794.pdf Shelf Number: 124306 Keywords: Evaluative ProceduresPolice BehaviorPolice Policies and ProceduresPolice Use of Force (U.S.) |
Author: The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Title: Restoring a National Consensus: The Need to End Racial Profiling in America Summary: "Restoring a National Consensus: The Need to End Racial Profiling in America" is an update of our 2003 report, "Wrong Then, Wrong Now: Racial Profiling Before and After September 11, 2001." Sadly, 10 years after 9/11, the problem of racial profiling continues to be a significant national concern that demands priority attention. In releasing this report, our goals are to examine the use of racial profiling in the street-level context in which it originally arose, in the newer context of counterterrorism, and in the most recent context of immigration; and to re-establish a national consensus against racial profiling in all its forms. Details: Washington, D.C.: The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, 2011. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2012 at http://www.civilrights.org/publications/reports/racial-profiling2011/racial_profiling2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.civilrights.org/publications/reports/racial-profiling2011/racial_profiling2011.pdf Shelf Number: 124725 Keywords: Police BehaviorPolice Policies and ProceduresRacial Profiling (U.S.) |
Author: Wiseman, Jane Title: Strategic Cutback Management: Law Enforcement Leadership for Lean Times Summary: The United States is experiencing the 10th economic decline since World War II. This document presents lessons learned from past experience and suggests approaches leaders can use to address financial crises in law enforcement agencies. Leadership is the most critical element for success. We know from the past that an organization's leaders create a shared sense of the importance of the priorities and tasks of the group. It is this inspiration that induces workers to follow along in support of the group's mission. Additional lessons learned from the past: - Avoid across-the-board cuts. They cause disproportionate harm. - Use the crisis to improve management and improve productivity. In law enforcement, examples abound of departments faced with unfortunate crises "from consent decrees to accidental shootings" where the events provided meaningful moments of reflection, learning and process improvement. Budget crises are no different. - Think long term. Research has shown that organizations capable of enduring a deep fiscal crisis had developed and were able to stick to a strategic plan with a multiyear time frame. - Do not just cut costs, look for revenue opportunities. Research on past recessions shows that increasing a tax or fee provides relief faster than cutting expenditures. Although police agencies do not have the power to levy taxes, they may be able to charge user fees for some services. - Invite innovation. During past fiscal crises, new approaches were tried that are now standard in many cities. For example, local governments have privatized certain city services and sold public facility naming rights. - Look outside for help. Law enforcement can look outside the department to other government agencies, or to suppliers, academics or other subjectmatter experts for suggestions on improving operations at reduced cost. - Targeted layoffs are more effective than hiring freezes. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, national Institute of Justice, 2011. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2012 at: https://ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/232077.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/232077.pdf Shelf Number: 124924 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticePolice AdministrationPolice Management (U.S.)Police Policies and Procedures |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Title: The Impact of the Economic Downturn on American Police Agencies Summary: The economic crisis that began in 2008 has changed America in many ways. Unemployment rates have increased sharply, the stability of the housing market has collapsed, consumer spending has slowed, and city revenues have lessened. Law enforcement agencies are some of the hardest hit by the current economic climate, and they face a new reality in American policing—one that requires a shift in the methods they use to uphold levels of service while dealing with ever shrinking budgets. The importance of maintaining and expanding community policing practices during this time of economic hardship is paramount. Drawing from reputable surveys, publications, and a variety of data sets, The Impact of the Economic Downturn on American Police Agencies outlines the ways in which law enforcement agencies have been affected, and examines the ways some have responded. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2011. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2012 at http://cops.usdoj.gov/Publications/e101113406_Economic%20Impact%20Publication%20vFIN_19APR12.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://cops.usdoj.gov/Publications/e101113406_Economic%20Impact%20Publication%20vFIN_19APR12.pdf Shelf Number: 125839 Keywords: Economics and CrimePolice Policies and ProceduresUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection Title: Police Custody - A follow-up review of inspection recommendations Summary: This is a follow-up review of inspection recommendations to our 2009 report, ‘Police Custody: The detention of persons in police custody in Northern Ireland’. The custody and care of some 27,000 detained persons represents a considerable challenge to the police. Often detainees present with challenging behaviours fuelled by alcohol and drug abuse, and many have underlying mental health issues. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes of Practice and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Guidance, and the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act all place significant responsibilities onto police custody staff, many of whom are civilians employed on a managed services contract. Of the original 12 recommendations only three have been achieved, six have been assessed as partially achieved and three have not been achieved. Custody services have, in general, been delivered to an acceptable standard, when compared to the criteria for assessment. However, the limited progress in respect of some recommendations, particularly in relation to the moving to a centralised model, and in achieving a consistency of service delivery across the custody estate, is disappointing. Inspectors also found shortcomings in relation to the storage and retention of out-of-date medication and forensic samples, both of which suggest inadequate supervision. It is essential that all of the outstanding recommendations in respect of custody provision and healthcare are fully implemented. In view of the limited progress made to date, Inspectors plan to carry out a full inspection in the next financial year. Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2013. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2013 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/a3/a3b7be9b-2f34-4f03-bcc6-966912a02ffd.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/a3/a3b7be9b-2f34-4f03-bcc6-966912a02ffd.pdf Shelf Number: 128163 Keywords: DetaineesDetention (Northern Ireland)Police CustodyPolice Policies and Procedures |
Author: PRI Management Group Title: Independent Audit of Milwaukee Police Crime Statistics and Reporting Procedure Summary: A. The first objective of this audit was to obtain sufficient and appropriate evidence to provide an expert opinion regarding the validity of the police department’s internal audit and its findings which focused on the assault category. It is not an objective of this audit to determine Milwaukee crime rates and increases or decreases thereof. B. The second objective is to assess the police department’s police reporting and records management processes, protocols and records management system (RMS), and provide an expert opinion regarding whether these elements have affected the Department’s compliance with NIBRS assault reporting standards and if so, how. C. The third objective is to provide an expert opinion regarding whether any intentional efforts were undertaken by the police department and its personnel to manipulate or misrepresent crime statistical information. V. SCOPE AND METHODOLOGIES The scope of this audit encompassed a thorough review of Milwaukee Police policy, protocol, data, and procedure including a review of a sampling of police incident reports from 2006-2012. In order to meet the objectives stated above a comprehensive review was conducted not only of police reports and statistics themselves, but also of the processes and systems used to produce them. This 360 degree approach, which enabled the audit to both reveal and rule out what has caused the inaccuracies, included analyzing the entire reporting process, employee’s knowledge of NIBRS standards, training levels, and the RMS system and its code tables. It is widely known there are errors in the statistics and the focus as such is to determine what caused them. It has been determined as a result of this audit that while it is correct there were inaccuracies in the crime statistics, the allegations inferring the Milwaukee Police Department had intentionally altered them are baseless. The Milwaukee Police Department is not hiding crimes, erasing statistics or undertaking other efforts to present a false picture of crime in the city. When someone reports a crime in Milwaukee the fact of the matter is, it gets recorded. While the crime category that the incident gets listed in has clearly been problematic, the record of the crime doesn’t disappear. In simplest terms, even when reports are misclassified they are still on the books. Police departments maintain and report statistics in 2 ways. One set of statistics gets reported to the FBI according to their reporting rules which include standardized definitions and methodologies specific to NIBRS. What the public needs to understand is that all of the police reports and their corresponding statistics are still present in the records management system and can be researched at any given time. With the exception of those records which are confidential according to public records law, anyone can request to see this information. This data remains independent of the FBI standards and definitions; definitions which do not coincide with state statutes in many cases. To truly lower crime artificially and successfully conceal the effort, reports of crimes to the police would have to be erased from the multiple places the information simultaneously resides including departmental databases, computer-aided dispatch systems, records management systems, back-up media, phone recordings and mobile computers. Details: Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, 2012. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2013 at: http://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cityFPC/Reports/MilwaukeeReportFinalwithAppend.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cityFPC/Reports/MilwaukeeReportFinalwithAppend.pdf Shelf Number: 129630 Keywords: Crime Statistics (Milwaukee, U.S.)Police Policies and ProceduresRecords ManagementUniform Crime Reports |
Author: Toronto Police Service Title: The Police and Community Engagement Review (The PACER Report); Phase II -- Internal Report and Recommendations Summary: Since March 2012, the Toronto Police Service has been undertaking a review of the way in which we engage with the community. The Police and Community Engagement Review (PACER) has considered the procedures that flow from these contacts, in particular the recording of an individual's personal information on a card or in a database after an encounter with a police officer. Chief William Blair initiated this review in response to growing concerns by individuals, public groups, and organizations in the community, that the police were unfairly targeting some people. There were also growing concerns about the nature of the information being gathered, what was being done with that information, and how that information might affect an individual. The goal of the PACER Team was to make recommendations that would improve public safety while ensuring the delivery of bias-free police services. To do this, the team analyzed data and consulted with the community, frontline officers, academics, and legal experts to arrive at a comprehensive view of the issues. The result was 31 recommendations designed to improve our systems, our training, and our public communications, to bolster the confidence and respect among all members of the community. The implementation of these recommendations will mean changes to the way we conduct and manage our operations, evaluate our performance, and communicate with the public. We invite you to learn more about the recommendations and the rationale behind them by reading the report. Highlights of the Report include: - The Service will create a Standing Community Advisory Committee that will include people from outside of the Toronto Police Service who will work continuously with the Service on the delivery of bias-free police services. - Training for all officers will be enhanced in the areas of the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms, the Ontario Human Rights Code, articulable cause, note-taking, tactical communications and strategic disengagement. - Officers' performance will include a review of the quality, not quantity, of their community engagements. - The Service will continue to consider Community Safety Note information in the recruitment and hiring process, however, a CSN does not preclude anyone from employment opportunities with the Service. Any consideration of a CSN as part of the hiring process will now include a supervisor's review and input from the original issuing officer. - The Service will explore body-worn cameras and an Intercultural Development program. - Officers will no longer complete a hard-copy Community Inquiry Report card. Officers will make notes directly into their memo books. Information that can be used to solve crimes or protect the community may be entered as a Community Safety Note into the Service's records management system. This information will be retained for seven years. - The Community Inquiry Report Receipt will be modified into a re-designed business card. Keeping our neighbourhoods safe from harm remains at the forefront of our thoughts and forms the basis for all of our actions. Nevertheless, we recognize that the community needs to understand our purpose and have confidence in our ability to understand the lived experiences of others. These recommendations will ensure we continue to improve in that regard. Details: Toronto: Toronto Police Service, 2014. 95p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/publications/files/reports/2013pacerreport.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/publications/files/reports/2013pacerreport.pdf Shelf Number: 133003 Keywords: Police LegitimacyPolice PerformancePolice Policies and ProceduresPolice-Citizen InteractionsPolice-Community Relations (Toronto, Canada) |
Author: Steblay, Nancy K. Title: Reduction of False Convictions through Improved Identification Procedures: Further Refinements for Street Practice and Public Policy Summary: The project purpose was to enhance the quality and probative value of forensic eyewitness memory evidence acquired through police lineup procedures. Specific objectives were: (1) An updated meta-analytic review of research comparing simultaneous to sequential lineup formats; an evaluation of the sequential superiority effect and articulation of factors that moderate this effect; (2) (3) Controlled laboratory testing of the impact on eyewitness accuracy of three individual lineup procedural components: relaxation of the Yes/No dichotomous response requirement of the sequential lineup procedure (to allow I'm not sure responses); an Appearance Change Instruction to eyewitnesses; and use of multiple identification tasks with the same witness; (3) Collection and analysis of data in collaboration with the Tucson (Arizona) Police Department to compare eyewitness performance on lineup identifications under double-blind simultaneous versus double-blind sequential lineup procedures. This research integrated these three informational components to generate refined recommendations for field practice and public policy. Sequential lineup superiority was established in both laboratory (meta-analysis) and a field test. In addition, the new laboratory data indicate a positive benefit on eyewitness identification accuracy of a not-sure response option for witnesses, only minimal impact of an Appearance Change Instruction, and a significant negative outcome from repeated lineups Details: Final report to the U.S. Department of Justice, 2012. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2015 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249006.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249006.pdf Shelf Number: 136567 Keywords: Eyewitness IdentificationLineupsPolice Policies and ProceduresWitnesses |
Author: New York (City). Department of Investigation Title: Police Use of Force in New York City: Findings and Recommendations on NYPD's Policies and Practices Summary: Use of force is a defining issue in modern policing. Police officers, by the very nature of their duties, are entrusted, empowered, and at times obligated by local governments to use force against citizens when appropriate. In exchange for this grant of power, communities and their police departments require that the use of force be governed by a set of standards. These standards stem from the premise that the force used must be reasonable, an idea rooted in the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Reasonable use of force and constitutional policing require equal treatment of all individuals, proper application of force, and accountability for the conduct of police officers. Following the death of Eric Garner in Staten Island in 2014 and others across the nation, there has been a public call for greater accountability when police officers use force that appears neither reasonable nor proportional. Police departments and police accountability agencies across the country have taken up the issue of use of force in an effort to improve policing and ensure that all officers are worthy of the tremendous power and trust afforded them by their communities. In January 2015, the New York City Department of Investigation's Office of the Inspector General for the New York City Police Department (OIG-NYPD) released its first report, Observations on Accountability and Transparency in Ten NYPD Chokehold Cases (Chokehold Report). In that report, OIG-NYPD found that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) disciplinary system was complex, multi-tiered, and often delivered inconsistent results in cases involving chokeholds. OIG-NYPD promised to further investigate NYPD's use of force by reviewing a larger sample of force investigations. This Report, which is a larger and more sophisticated inquiry into use of force, fulfills that promise. Many of the issues addressed in the Chokehold Report surface again in this larger data set. This Report examines five aspects of use of force within NYPD: (1) trends; (2) reporting; (3) de-escalation; (4) training; and (5) discipline. The Report begins by highlighting data and trends from excessive or unnecessary force cases substantiated by the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). CCRB substantiated 207 allegations of force in 179 cases between 2010 and 2014, a notably modest number, given the size of NYPD, and a positive indication of the NYPD's restraint. OIG-NYPD's review involved only non-deadly force cases investigated by CCRB, as no lethal force was used in the 179 substantiated cases. As discussed below, this investigation demonstrates several issues of real concern. Because accountability begins with access to reliable data, this Report describes how NYPD does and does not track use-of-force data, and how the usefulness of that information can be improved by adopting a more precise use-of-force policy coupled with standardized force reporting. This Report next presents the findings of an independent analysis of force cases where some officers not only missed the opportunity to de-escalate the incident, but took measures which affirmatively escalated the encounter. Given these findings, the Report examines policies of other law enforcement agencies regarding de-escalation tactics and reviews what NYPD is currently doing to address excessive force and de-escalation through training. The Report then suggests ways in which training and policy can be improved with respect to de-escalation tactics and other related skills. Lastly, this Report analyzes and evaluates NYPD's disciplinary system, including a close review of cases where OIG-NYPD, through independent review, determined that the use of force was not reasonable by any standard and not justified by any exigent circumstances or the need to protect an officer's or the public's safety. Historically, NYPD has frequently failed to discipline officers who use force without justification. This Report thus offers recommendations to improve the disciplinary process so that officers who use excessive force are properly held accountable. Details: New York: NYC Department of Investigation, 2015. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 28, 2016 at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/oignypd/assets/downloads/pdf/oig_nypd_use_of_force_report_-_oct_1_2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.nyc.gov/html/oignypd/assets/downloads/pdf/oig_nypd_use_of_force_report_-_oct_1_2015.pdf Shelf Number: 137708 Keywords: Complaints Against PolicePolice AccountabilityPolice BrutalityPolice DiscretionPolice LegitimacyPolice MisconductPolice Policies and ProceduresPolice TrainingPolice Use of Force |
Author: New York City Department of Investigation Title: Observations on Accountability and Transparency in Ten NYPD Chokehold Cases Summary: Section 203-11 of the Patrol Guide, which governs "Use of Force," explicitly and unequivocally prohibits members of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD") from using "chokeholds" in their interactions with the public: Members of the New York City Police Department will NOT use chokeholds. A chokehold shall include, but is not limited to, any pressure to the throat or windpipe, which may prevent or hinder breathing or reduce intake of air. Patrol Guide 203-11 (emphasis in original). The death of a Staten Island man, Eric Garner, on July 17, 2014, after he was brought to the ground by an officer's arm around his neck in the course of an arrest, cast a spotlight on the use of chokeholds by NYPD officers and the enforcement of the chokehold prohibition under Section 203-11. Mr. Garner's death generated widespread public outcry, elevated chokeholds as a major concern within the rubric of the use of force, and prompted a flurry of videos purportedly showing NYPD officers using chokeholds in a variety of encounters with members of the public. The decision by a grand jury, on December 3, 2014, not to issue an indictment in the Garner case only increases the need for independent administrative review of these issues. In response to Mr. Garner's death, the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD ("OIG-NYPD") conducted a focused review of the ten most recent cases where the Civilian Complaint Review Board ("CCRB") determined that NYPD officers used "chokeholds." What OIG-NYPD found raises questions not only about the way in which NYPD has enforced the chokehold ban in recent years, but also, far more importantly, about the disciplinary process in general and interactions between NYPD and CCRB. While no definitive conclusions regarding the use of chokeholds can or should be drawn from the finite universe of cases reviewed here, OIG-NYPD's study sheds light on areas where further careful analysis and study are warranted: how discipline is determined and imposed in use-of-force cases, gaps in inter- and intra-agency communication during the investigation of use-of-force cases, and officer training regarding communication skills, de-escalation strategies, and the use of force. This focused review, in effect, presents a road map of key policing issues with regard to the use of force that OIG-NYPD intends to explore and probe more deeply in the coming months. Details: New York NYC Department of Investigation, Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD, 2015. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 26, 2016 at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/oignypd/assets/downloads/pdf/chokehold_report_1-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.nyc.gov/html/oignypd/assets/downloads/pdf/chokehold_report_1-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 137709 Keywords: Complaints Against Police Police Accountability Police Brutality Police Discretion Police Legitimacy Police Misconduct Police Policies and Procedures Police TrainingPolice Use of Force |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Title: The Depths of Dishonour: Hidden Voices and Shameful Crimes. An inspection of the police response to honour-based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation Summary: This is the first time that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has inspected and reported upon the police service's response to crimes of honour-based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Further, it is the first time that any inspectorate within England and Wales has examined the service provided to victims2 of these crimes, actual and potential, supported by the most powerful of insights, from victims themselves. It is one of the most important reports ever produced by HMIC. Crimes committed in the name of so-called honour are despicable and damaging; they may be life-changing or life-threatening; in some cases, they end in death. Forced marriage is a specific crime that is equally serious, equally damaging. Female genital mutilation is not a requirement for any religion but it is a practice that reaches across numerous cultures to ruin the lives of many women and girls. This report provides information and analysis for the public about how police forces respond to, investigate, and protect victims of these appalling and damaging crimes. It provides a baseline on which police and other public sector agencies can build to establish effective responses to victims. It should also focus the minds of those organisations to work together to prevent others from becoming victims in future. Details: London: HMIC, 2015. 191p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/the-depths-of-dishonour.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/the-depths-of-dishonour.pdf Shelf Number: 137804 Keywords: Female CuttingFemale Genital MutilationForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceHonor-Based ViolencePolice Policies and ProceduresPolice-Community PartnershipsViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Wells, William Title: Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits in Houston, TX: Case Characteristics, Forensic Testing Results, and the Investigation of CODIS Hits, Final Report Summary: In 2011, the National Institute of Justice funded the Houston Police Department to form a multidisciplinary team to study the problem of sexual assault kits (SAK) that were collected but never submitted to a crime lab for screening and testing. The Houston Action-Research Project sought to understand the factors that produced the volume of unsubmitted SAKs, the way forensic evidence is used during criminal investigations and prosecutions of sexual assaults, and what stakeholders should expect when large numbers of previously unsubmitted SAKs get tested. The project adopted a holistic approach and considered the broader issue of responses, beyond testing the kits, to sexual assaults in the community. Houston's Action-Research Project Working Group includes representatives from the following organizations: - Houston Forensic Science Center - Harris County District Attorney's Office - Harris Health System - Houston Area Women's Center - Houston Police Department Sex Crimes Investigative Units - Memorial Hermann Health System - Sam Houston State University - Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology - University of Texas at Austin - Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault The group has been working collaboratively and collecting data that has allowed for an understanding of multiple aspects of the local response system. The organizations that have been working on this project have also been implementing and evaluating reforms that are meant to improve the response to sexual assaults. Action research entails an iterative process in which research evidence informs responses and for this reason the project has generated multiple research reports. This is one of a number of reports and presentations that will be released to help other jurisdictions learn from our experiences as they seek to better understand and improve their own practices. Details: Final report submitted to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2016. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 13, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249812.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249812.pdf Shelf Number: 139402 Keywords: Criminal EvidenceCriminal InvestigationDNA SamplingPolice Policies and ProceduresRapeSexual Assault |
Author: Robinson, Amanda Title: Establishing the efficacy of a telephone-based police response to domestic violence: Hampshire Constabulary's Resolution Centre. [Technical Report]. Summary: Capitalising on a natural experiment in Hampshire Constabulary, this research utilised police officially recorded data to directly compare a sample of grade-3 domestic abuse incidents that received a telephone-based response from the force's Resolution Centre to a similar sample of incidents dealt with by the same force one year later that received the standard provision of 'slow time' deployment. A clear pattern of findings emerged, which taken together demonstrate the efficacy of providing a telephone-based response to certain types of domestic abuse incidents. Specifically, a detailed and formalised operations protocol has been embedded into the work of the Resolution Centre and all evidence suggests this is leading to a higher quality response overall to grade-3 domestics. The initial response provided by the Resolution Centre results in more crimes being recorded and more investigations that result in formal police action. The practice of risk assessment appears to be more comprehensive and detailed, generating a higher number of disclosures and more cases classified as 'medium' and 'high' risk. Due to the robust methodological approach of the research, these positive findings can be directly attributed to the setting where the police work was performed, rather than any differences in case characteristics. Details: Cardiff: Cardiff University, 2017. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/107133/1/Robinson%20%282017%29%20Hampshire%20Resolution%20Centre_Final%20Report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/107133/1/Robinson%20%282017%29%20Hampshire%20Resolution%20Centre_Final%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 151664 Keywords: Domestic AbuseDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolencePolice Policies and ProceduresPolice ResponseRisk Assessment |
Author: McVie, Susan Title: Six month review of the Code of Practice for Stop and Search in Scotland Summary: Concerns about the use of police stop and search in Scotland were first raised in 2014 after research suggested there was a higher rate of searching in Scotland compared to other countries and that children and young people were disproportionately subject to police searches (Murray 2014). In particular, Murray's research raised legal and ethical issues about the use of non-statutory searches which were conducted on the basis of consent rather than any legislative powers. In early 2015, an audit review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) concluded that a widespread review of stop and search was necessary and recommended that a police Code of Practice be introduced. In response, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Michael Matheson MSP, established an Independent Advisory Group on Stop and Search (IAGSS) to determine what legislative and governance changes were necessary to ensure that stop and search was conducted in a fair, effective and proportionate manner and to consider the need for a Code of Practice. Following an extensive review of the evidence, the IAGSS reported its findings to the Cabinet Secretary in August 2015 and recommended that non-statutory searching should be abolished and that there should be a statutory Code of Practice for stop and search. The IAGSS also recommended that data on stop and search should be published on a regular basis by Police Scotland and that all of the changes to stop and search should be subject to a detailed implementation and training plan. The IAGSS were unable to make recommendations on the introduction of new legislation to cover searching of young people for alcohol (for which there is currently no statutory power) and recommended that further consultation be conducted on this subject. All of the IAGSS recommendations were accepted by the Cabinet Secretary and new legislative provisions governing the use of stop and search were introduced in Section 65 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. The Act included provision for a Code of Practice for Stop and Search in Scotland, which came into force on 11th May 2017. In order to evaluate the implementation of the Code of Practice and to consider whether there were any gaps in legislative provision, the IAGSS developed proposals for a review once the Code of Practice had been in force for 12 months, thus allowing it to become embedded in policing practice and to achieve the level of change within Police Scotland that is expected. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice also requested a six month interim review to provide an early indication of whether the Code of Practice had met its aims. This report sets out the findings of the interim review, covering the first full six month period from the implementation of the Code of Practice, from 1st June to 30th November 2017. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2018. 63p.(addendum) Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 20, 2019 at: https://www2.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00531218.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www2.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00531218.pdf Shelf Number: 154671 Keywords: Police Policies and ProceduresSearch and Seizure Stop and Search |
Author: New York University School of Law, Policing Project Title: Report to the Los Angeles Police Commission Summarizing Public Feedback on LAPD Video Release Policies Summary: The Los Angeles Police Commission ("Commission" or "Police Commission") serves as the "board of directors" for the Los Angeles Police Department ("LAPD" or "Department"), with the authority to establish polices for the LAPD and oversee its operations. The Commission is reviewing the LAPD's policy on releasing video footage of "critical incidents," including any incident in which an officer fires his or her gun or a person dies in police custody. As part of that process, the Commission asked the Policing Project at New York University School of Law ("Policing Project") to help gather feedback on whether, when, and how, video footage of critical incidents should be made publicly available. This report summarizes the feedback received. Members of the general public and LAPD personnel were invited to provide feedback in several ways: by completing a brief questionnaire, submitting more detailed written comments, attending community forums, and participating in officer focus groups. The questionnaire, and other materials, including a video release policy FAQ, were available in English and Spanish at www.LAPDVideo.org. The questionnaire and comment period ran for 46 days, from March 23 through May 7. The questionnaire asked demographic questions including the respondents' race, age, and income, as well as whether the respondent was a member of law enforcement. There were not sharp divergences among respondents along demographic lines. The one exception-evident both in the questionnaire responses and in other sources of input - was that significant disagreement emerged in general between law enforcement and members of the general public. We note these differences where pertinent. The Policing Project ultimately received 3,199 questionnaire responses from individuals who lived, worked, or attended school in Los Angeles, including 532 responses from individuals self-identifying as law enforcement officers. The Policing Project also received 20 sets of written comments from individuals and organizations, representing the views of 27 organizations in total. Additional feedback was provided at 5 community forums and 8 officer focus groups. The ACLU of Southern California submitted a petition on the subject with the signatures of 1,773 individuals. Some key themes emerged from the process, which we elaborate upon briefly below and in great detail in the report that follows. In general, both officers and members of the public agreed that video should be released to the public, for reasons of transparency, accountability, and trust. However, the public favored releasing video within a relatively shorter release time (30-60 days), and generally preferred that release be automatic as opposed to decided on a case-by-case basis. It is not that members of the public failed to appreciate that various factors might mitigate for or against a decision to release video in a particular case. Rather, the public evinced a lack of confidence or trust in existing public institutions to make the correct decision on a case-by-case approach. (In addition, some members of the public expressed the view that many of the factors that were identified as counseling against release could be addressed by speeding up the pace of investigations or taking other ameliorative measures.) LAPD officers and officials, for their part, tended to have somewhat more faith in public institutions, and to believe that release should not occur until the LA Police Commission reaches a decision as to the propriety of the officer's conduct (often up to a year at present), or the District Attorney decides whether any criminal charges will be filed (in some instances as long as two years after the incident). Still, LAPD officers joined the public in expressing concern about "politics" affecting the decision whether to release video coverage. Details: New York: Author, 2017. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 12, 2019 at: http://assets.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/public%20feedback%20project%20lapd%20video%20release.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://assets.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/public%20feedback%20project%20lapd%20video%20release.pdf Shelf Number: 155377 Keywords: Criminal EvidencePolice AccountabilityPolice EvidencePolice LegitimacyPolice Policies and ProceduresPolice SurveillancePolice VideosPolice-Community Relations |