Resources
IACP's resources are aimed at helping law enforcement executives do their jobs better and cover a variety of topics, including professional development, leadership, management, and supervision, as well as hot topics such as ethics.
Resources
Public Satisfaction with Police: Using Procedural Justice to Improve Police Legitimacy
Community trust within the context of policing is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, so it is essential to recognize that some resources within the Community Trust Resource Library may not exhibit a direct link with the concept of community trust. Nevertheless, many different dimensions of policing may contribute to the broader concept of community trust, even if their connections are not immediately apparent.
Public Satisfaction with Police: Using Procedural Justice to Improve Police Legitimacy
This content is designed for reference purposes only. The IACP does not necessarily endorse, certify, recommend, or promote any particular resource(s) within.
Implications Associated with Police Use of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly in today's world and has led to powerful technological advancements. At the same time, police agencies must be aware of the potential risks that are associated with the use of artificial intelligence.
This document is intended to provide guidance to police leaders on the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Field Training Program
Field training programs reinforce professional standards, ethical decision-making, and officer safety while promoting consistency in service delivery across the agency. Field training programs are essential in shaping the ability of officers to succeed in their assignment once released to full duty. Agencies should ensure that they have a standardized field training program staffed with qualified instructors to train and evaluate trainees to become successful police officers for the agency.
Response to a Death in Custody
When a death in custody occurs, officials cannot determine the cause of death without a thorough investigation. A lack of transparency with the public can create the appearance of or result in allegations of police misconduct. A thorough investigation is necessary to maintain positive relations with the community, ensure accountability, and identify potential opportunities for improvement as necessary.
These documents are designed to assist agencies in developing policies and guidelines regarding their response, investigation, and reporting requirements after a death in custody occurs within an agency's jurisdiction.
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Traffic Safety Resource Guide
The Traffic Safety Resource Guide has been updated to include new traffic safety initiatives designed to help law enforcement officers address the elements of traffic safety..
Evaluation Guide: Considerations for Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) and Crisis Response Program Evaluations
Understanding the effectiveness of your crisis response programs is essential for improving outcomes and strengthening your agency’s crisis response programs and training. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is pleased to introduce the Evaluation Guide: Considerations for Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) and Crisis Response Program Evaluations. Created in collaboration with the National Policing Institute (NPI), the CRIT Evaluation Guide is a practical, step-by-step resource designed to help law enforcement agencies and their partners plan, conduct, and apply evaluations of crisis response and intervention training. 
This guide offers: 
Clear guidance on evaluation types and methods
Tools for data collection and analysis
Real-world examples and best practices
Strategies for measuring impact and improving programs 
Empower your agency to make data-driven decisions and enhance your crisis response efforts. Access the guide here and take the next step toward meaningful evaluation. 
For more information, contact [email protected] or visit the CRIT Initiative TTA Homepage.
Project Partners
This resource is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. 15PBJA-22-GK-03562- NTCP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). BJA is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. 
Evidence to Action
What Works. What Doesn’t. What’s Emerging.
Welcome to the IACP’s Evidence to Action Hub – your go-to resource for fast, accessible, and actionable summaries of research that matters to policing leaders.
Each document on this page translates complex studies into concise, 1-page briefs designed for immediate use by police executives, command staff, and practitioners. Whether you’re preparing a crime strategy, looking for an evidence-based approach to programing, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve, these briefs put research into your hands – minus the academic jargon.
Mapping Crime by Space and Time: A Smarter Way to Target Violence in Cities
Rethinking Crisis Response: Challenges and Strategies for Police-Led Multidisciplinary Teams
Service Via Video: Reducing Response Times, Lowering Costs, and Improving Public Trust
What You'll Find Here
- 1-Page summaries of emerging and foundational research
- Action-oriented takeaways for policy, training, supervision, and practice
- Accessible language tailored for police professionals
- Evidence-based guidance on topics like recruitment, community trust, hot-spots policing, and more.
Want Help Translating Research?
Are you a police practitioner trying to get to the bottom line of a complex research article or idea? Or a scholar hoping to connect your findings with the field? Our team can help your ideas come to life in future Evidence to Action briefs.
Why It Matters
Too often, policing research remains stuck in academic journals – valuable, but inaccessible to practitioners. The IACP’s Center for Police Research and Policy is committed to bridging that gap. This Hub is where evidence meets action.
These briefs are designed to answer three key questions:
1. What does this research say?
2. Why does it matter?
3. How can I use it today?
No fluff. No filler. Just the facts, and the path forward.
Limitations and Responsible use of Evidence
Each Evidence to Action brief is crafted to help police leaders access relevant findings quickly and effectively. These summaries represent our best effort to translate emerging research into actionable insights that may inform policy, supervision, or operational decisions.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that all research has limitations. Some studies may involve small sample sizes, rely on localized data, or use methods that affect how broadly their conclusions can be applied. As such, findings may not be fully generalizable to your agency or jurisdiction. Furthermore, there are many areas of policing about which very little research exists.
Still, sharing the best available evidence—even when it is imperfect—is essential to advancing the profession. These briefs are offered as starting points for thoughtful consideration, not prescriptive mandates. We encourage leaders to use them as part of a broader decision-making process that includes local context, community needs, and professional judgment.
For more information, contact the research team by emailing [email protected].
Focus Where it Matters: How Strategic Policing Reduces Serious Crime
This brief discusses how concentrating police and city resources strategically on the few locations and individuals driving most violent crime delivers major public safety gains without widespread enforcement or loss of public trust.
Adapted from MacDonald, J.M. Smith, M.R., & Groff, E. (2025). A focused approach to concentrating on crime and criminal offenders. Police Chief, 92 (forthcoming).
IACP's Evidence-to-Action Hub is your go-to resource for fast, accessible, and actionable summaries of research designed for immediate use by police executives, command staff, and practitioners.
Contagious Fire: New Experimental Evidence on Police Shooting Behavior
This brief discusses how officer shooting behavior in high-stress situations can be powerfully shaped by the actions of peer officers. Officers are more likely to fire, and to fire more rounds, when peers fire first.
Adapted from DeCarlo, J., Dlugolenski, E., & Myers, D. (2024). An experimental test of the contagious fire thesis in policing. Journal of Criminal Justice, 93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crimjus.2024.102215.
IACP's Evidence-to-Action Hub is your go-to resource for fast, accessible, and actionable summaries of research designed for immediate use by police executives, command staff, and practitioners.
Breaking the Silence: Addressing Long-Term Mental Health Effects in Policing
This brief discusses how chronic exposure to trauma and organizational silence about mental health are harming police officers. Agencies must build a supportive culture that normalizes early intervention and long-term wellness.
Adapted from Craddock, T.B. & Telesco, G. (2022). Police stress and deleterious outcomes: Efforts towards improving police mental health. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 37(1), 173-182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-021-09488-1
IACP's Evidence-to-Action Hub is your go-to resource for fast, accessible, and actionable summaries of research designed for immediate use by police executives, command staff, and practitioners.
Fatigue on the Front Lines: How Shift Work Affects Police-Community Interactions
This brief discusses how fatigued officers are significantly more likely to escalate encounters and less likely to use de-escalation. This makes fatigue a key target for improving officer decision-making and police-community interactions.
Adapted from James, L., James, S., & Vila, B. (2018). The impact of shift work and fatigue on police officer response in simulated interactions with citizens. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 14(1), 111-120. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11292-017-9294-2
IACP's Evidence-to-Action Hub is your go-to resource for fast, accessible, and actionable summaries of research designed for immediate use by police executives, command staff, and practitioners.
Does Community Policing Work? A Global Meta-Analysis on Crime Reduction
This brief discusses how community policing can reduce rates of burglary, most gun- and drug-related crime, robbery, most Part 1 crimes, and overall fear of crime.
Adapted from Ekici, N., Akdogan, H., Kelly, R., & Gultekin, S. (2022). A meta-analysis of the impact of community policing on crime reduction. Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 7(3), 111-121. https://doi.org/10.35502/jcswb.244
IACP's Evidence-to-Action Hub is your go-to resource for fast, accessible, and actionable summaries of research designed for immediate use by police executives, command staff, and practitioners.
