Critical Issues

Critical Issues

The IACP is committed to providing members with the tools needed to communicate effectively and efficiently with your communities and the media on critical issues pertaining to law enforcement. To that end, the IACP has centralized resources relating to these topics to provide you with a clearinghouse of the most up-to-date resources available including, model policies, messaging sheets, guides, reports, and more.

Asset Forfeiture

An Overview of the Issue

For over 30 years, the asset forfeiture program has allowed U.S. law enforcement agencies to deprive criminals of both the proceeds and tools of crime. The resources provided by the equitable sharing program have allowed agencies to participate in joint task forces to thwart and deter serious criminal activity and terrorism, purchase equipment, provide training, upgrade technology, engage their communities, and better protect their officers. The IACP Is committed to ensuring that this valuable program remains a resource for law enforcement agencies. This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement as they are confronted with difficult questions related to the asset forfeiture program.

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Community-Police Relations

An Overview of the Issue

No single factor has been more crucial to reducing crime levels than the partnership between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.  In order for law enforcement to be truly effective, police agencies cannot operate alone; they must have the active support and assistance of citizens and communities. High profile incidents and allegations of police misconduct may drive a wedge between law enforcement officers and the citizens they are sworn to protect.  Establishing and maintaining a safe community requires ongoing concerted effort.  This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement agencies as they continue to strengthen and build sustainable community relations and are confronted with difficult questions relating to the state of police-community relations. 

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Encryption & Going Dark

An Overview of the Issue

Criminals of all types, including terrorists, are taking advantage of encrypted technology that allows them to operate in the shadows, undetected by law enforcement and the intelligence community. Crime scenes from terrorist attacks, homicides, kidnappings, assaults, and incidents of domestic violence now, more often than not, include digital communications evidence. Digital footprints are the modern-day fingerprint that law enforcement uses to protect the public.


With the continued development of new technologies and strategies established to advance network security, law enforcement, prosecutors, and other investigators are finding it increasingly difficult to execute lawful court orders to obtain critical digital evidence. The inability of law enforcement to overcome these barriers (known as “Going Dark” in the law enforcement community) has presented real challenges. This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement as they are confronted with difficult questions related to “Going Dark.”

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Firearms Background Checks

An Overview of the Issue

Dangerous people acquiring firearms is a serious problem that demands a federal response. State and local governments cannot go it alone, as ineligible firearm purchasers are able to circumvent the strong laws of some cities and states by obtaining guns in other states or jurisdictions with weaker gun laws where they can avoid a background check. Interstate trafficking is a critical problem, and requiring a background check for every gun sale reduces the flow of guns to criminals. This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement as they are confronted with difficult questions related to firearm background checks. 

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Firearms Security, Training and Investigations

An Overview of the Issue

Gun safety, firearms training, and the investigation of gun crime is fundamental to the mission of protecting and serving the community and must be factored into each law enforcement agency’s overall policing strategy. This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement as they tackle issues related to firearms security, training, and the investigation of gun crimes.

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Marijuana Legalization and Traffic Safety

An Overview of the Issue

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Mental Health Response

An Overview of the Issue

Law enforcement officers are being called upon to take on more responsibilities with fewer resources and manpower. Responding to individuals who have mental illness or are in crisis is an increasing challenge and important issue. Law enforcement officers are being asked to assume the responsibility of social workers and other community support roles. This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement as they are confronted with difficult questions related to mental health response.

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Reducing Incarceration

An Overview of the Issue

Reducing prison populations has become a recent topic of focus. Reducing incarceration levels is a difficult challenge that can pose significant threats to community safety so it is imperative that we proceed cautiously as this debate moves forward. This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement as they are confronted with difficult questions related to reducing incarceration levels. 

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Use of Force

An Overview of the Issue

For decades, the IACP has played a central role in the research, development, and implementation of model policies and best practices regarding the use of force by law enforcement officers. Clearly, this issue is a critical one for both the law enforcement profession and the communities they serve. The IACP is committed to ensuring that officers respond to situations with the appropriate level of force. This page provides a  listing of IACP model policies and other publications that address issues related to law enforcement use of force.

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Use of Military Equipment

An Overview of the Issue

For decades, the Department of Defense Excess Property Program (1033 Program) has assisted U.S. law enforcement agencies in acquiring unused and surplus military equipment. Agencies have used this surplus military equipment to save civilian lives, protect law enforcement personnel, and enhance public safety.

Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of the equipment transferred from federal sources to law enforcement agencies is fairly routine—office furniture, computers, and other technology equipment; personal protective equipment; and basic firearms. Federal agencies do also transfer or fund the purchase of surplus military equipment, tactical vehicles, specialized firearms, and aircraft. The transfer of these items is important to law enforcement and their critical mission in helping to keep citizens safe. This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement as they are confronted with difficult questions related to the use of military equipment.

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Naloxone

The opioid epidemic has increased the likelihood that first responders will encounter overdose victims. Given that the success of reviving an overdose victim is dependent on swift treatment at the onset of the overdose, many law enforcement agencies are training and equipping officers to administer naloxone to overdose victims. This page will serve as a clearinghouse of resources to help guide law enforcement as they are confronted with difficult questions related to naloxone, more commonly known by the brand name Narcan.

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