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
IACP 2018 Recorded Sessions: At Risk Populations
Did you miss any part of IACP 2018 or want to re-watch a workshop? Select workshop sessions are posted here as a member-only benefit. Watch the videos below.
Best Practice Approaches to Address Homelessness for Smaller Cities
We will utilize Prezi to demonstrate best practice models to effectively address homelessness. This includes how homelessness affects quality of life for your community, how to effectively engage and dialogue with your homeless to best connect them to services, how to incorporate clinical services in addressing the issue, how to leverage public and private partnerships to bring about lasting change, and finally how to use media to control the narrative and share the efforts your agency is taking to address this important quality of life issue. The Prezi will include; factual data, real life case studies, and videos highlighting success stories. Time will be set aside at the end for a question and answer session.
Smaller Agency Track session recording made possible by Engility.
Overcoming Challenges to Implementing a Crisis Intervention Team in Your Department
Each year, nearly two million jail bookings involve persons with mental illness. It's no secret that mental health impacts law enforcement response. Providing comprehensive curriculum is time intensive and costly. Many have little to no available resources to support training and devoting personnel. This presentation highlights how one region struggled to address a need for increased training and how they overcame challenges to realize their goal. By partnering, agencies successfully increased the availability of CIT training setting a standard of excellence in police response to mental health. Presenters will discuss challenges faced along the way, overcoming barriers and strategies that proved critical to successful implementation.
Smaller Agency Track session recording made possible by Engility.
Responding to Hate Crimes: Police Officer's Guide
This document, available free of charge, provides law enforcement officials with information on the best methods for confronting hate-motivated crimes. For example, the guide provides information on:
The legal definition of hate crime.
What actions police officers should take at the scene of a hate crime
Key indicators that a hate crime has been committed.
Best Approaches for working with victims of hate crime.
Responding to Hate Crimes: A Police Officer’s Guide to Investigation and Prevention
What Is a Hate Crime?
Hate crimes and hate incidents are major issues for all police because of their unique impact on victims as well as the community. This guidebook will explain the differences between hate crimes and hate incidents and how to respond to both.
A hate crime is a criminal offense committed against persons, property or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by an offender's bias against an individual's or a group's race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation. (Definition developed at the 1998 IACP Summit on Hate Crime in America.)
Legal definitions of hate crimes vary. The federal definition of hate crimes addresses civil rights violations under 18 U.S.C. Section 245.
As of 1999, 41 states and the District of Columbia have hate crime statutes that provide enhanced penalties for crimes in which victims are selected because of a perpetrator's bias against a victim's perceived race, religion or ethnicity. Many states also classify as hate crimes those in which a victim is selected based on a perception of his/her sexual orientation.
Hate crime definitions often encompass not only violence against individuals or groups but also crimes against property, such as arson or vandalism, particularly those directed against community centers or houses of worship. Check your state statutes for the definition of hate crime in your jurisdiction. Accurate and comprehensive police reporting is essential to understanding the prevalence and patterns of hate crimes both locally and nationally. The federal Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990 (Public Law 102-275 April 23, 1990) encourages states to report hate crime data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia require the collection of hate crime data. In 1997, 11,211 state and local law enforcement agencies voluntarily reported 9,861 hate crime offenses to the FBI.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RESPOND TO HATE CRIMES QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY?
Hate crimes differ from other crimes in their effect on victims and on community stability:
- Hate crimes are often especially brutal or injurious.
- Victim(s) usually feel traumatized and terrified.
- Families of victims often feel frustrated and powerless.
- Others in the community who share the victim's characteristics may feel victimized and vulnerable.
- Hate incidents can escalate and prompt retaliatory action.
- Hate crimes and hate incidents create communitywide unrest.
A swift and strong response by law enforcement can help stabilize and calm the community as well as aid in a victim's recovery. Failure to respond to hate crimes within departmental guidelines may jeopardize public safety and leave officers and departments open to increased scrutiny and possible liability.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HATE INCIDENT AND A HATE CRIME?
Hate incidents involve behaviors that, though motivated by bias against a victim's race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation, are not criminal acts. Hostile or hateful speech, or other disrespectful/discriminatory behavior may be motivated by bias but is not illegal. They become crimes only when they directly incite perpetrators to commit violence against persons or property, or if they place a potential victim in reasonable fear of physical injury. Officers should thoroughly document evidence in all bias-motivated incidents. Law enforcement can help to defuse potentially dangerous situations and prevent bias-motivated criminal behavior by responding to and documenting bias-motivated speech or behavior even if it does not rise to the level of a criminal offense.
What Is an Effective Police Response to Hate Crimes?
Police officers and investigators have important roles to play in responding to hate incidents and crimes. By doing the job efficiently and carefully, police can reinforce the message that hate crimes will be investigated aggressively, thus enhancing the likelihood of a successful prosecution.
POLICE OFFICERS ARRIVING ON THE SCENE SHOULD ACT IMMEDIATELY TO
- secure the scene
- stabilize the victim(s) and request medical attention when necessary
- ensure the safety of victims, witnesses and perpetrators
- preserve the crime scene; collect and photograph physical evidence such as
- hate literature
- spray paint cans
- threatening letters
- symbolic objects used by hate groups (e.g., swastikas, crosses)
- identify criminal evidence on the victim
- request the assistance of translators when needed
- conduct a preliminary investigation; record information on
- identity of suspected perpetrators(s)
- identity of witnesses, including those no longer on the scene
- prior occurrences, in this area or with this victim
- statements made by suspects--exact working is critical
- arrest the perpetrator(s) if probable cause exists
Note: In the presence of the victim, the officer should neither confirm nor deny that the incident is a hate crime--that determination will be made later in the investigative process.
After taking immediate action, police officers should
- assign only one officer to interview the victim(s) whenever practical in order to minimize trauma
- protect the anonymity of victim whenever possible
- explain to victim and witnesses the likely sequence of events, including contact with investigators and the possibility of media coverage
- refer victim to support services in the community; provide written resource lists when possible
- tell victim how to contact the police department to obtain further information on the case
- report the suspected hate crime to the supervisor on duty
- refer media representatives to the supervisor on duty or public information officer
- document the incident thoroughly on department report forms, noting any particular hate crime indicators and quoting exact wording of statements made by perpetrators
- assist investigators in making any other reports that may be required under federal or state guidelines and laws
When conducting a thorough follow-up investigation, officers should
- interview victims(s) and witnesses thoroughly and respectfully
- secure evidence by taking photos of offensive graffiti or other symbols of bias
- document the circumstances and apparent motives surrounding the event
- locate and arrest any suspected perpetrators not apprehended at the scene
- provide their supervisor or public information officer with information that can be responsibly reported to the media
- inform victim of what is likely to happen during the continuing investigation
- appeal to witnesses to come forward by canvassing the community
- offer rewards for information about the incident when possible
- coordinate with other law enforcement agencies in the area to assess patterns of hate crimes and determine if organized hate groups are involved
- collaborate with the responding officers to complete any written reports required by their department, state and federal agencies
- notify the FBI if further assistance with investigations is needed
What Are the Key Indicators that a Hate Crime May Have Been Committed?
The main difference between a hate crime and other crimes is that a perpetrator of a hate crime is motivated by bias. To evaluate a perpetrator's motives, you should consider several bias indicators:
- perceptions of the victim(s) and witnesses about the crime
- the perpetrator's comments, gestures or written statements that reflect bias, including graffiti or other symbols
- any differences between perpetrator and victim, whether actual or perceived by the perpetrator
- similar incidents in the same location or neighborhood to determine whether a pattern exists
- whether the victim was engaged in activities promoting his/her group or community--for example, by clothing or conduct
- whether the incident coincided with a holiday or data of particular significance
- involvement of organized hate groups or their members
- absence of any other motive such as economic gain
The presence of any of these factors does not confirm that the incident was a hate offense but may indicate the need for further investigation into motive.
A victim's perception is an important factor to consider, but be aware that victims may not recognize the crime as motivated by bias. Victims should not be asked directly whether they believe they were the victim of a hate crime, but it is appropriate to ask if they have any idea why they might have been victimized.
Victims and perpetrators may appear to be from the same race, ethnicity/nationality, or religion, but it is the perpetrator's perception of difference (whether accurate or not) motivating his or her criminal behavior that would constitute a hate crime.
What Are the Best Approaches for Working with Victims of Hate Crime?
Hate crimes are unique. Victims of hate crimes are targeted because of a core characteristic of their identity. These attributes cannot be changed. Victims often feel degraded, frightened, vulnerable and suspicious. This may be one of the most traumatic experiences of the lives. Community members who share with victims the characteristics that made them targets of hate (race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation) may also feel vulnerable, fearful and powerless. In this emotional atmosphere, law enforcement officers and investigators must attend carefully to the ways they interact and communicate with victims, their families and members of the community.
EFFECTIVE WAYS FOR POLICE TO SUPPORT VICTIMS WHILE INVESTIGATING THE CRIME
- remain calm, objective and professional
- ask victim(s) how they want you to help them
- request the assistance of translators when needed
- let victim defer answering questions if they are too distraught
- ask them they have any idea why this happened to them
- reassure victim that they are not to blame for what happened
- voice you support of the actions the victim took to protect themselves and defuse the situation
- allow them to vent feelings about the incident or crime
- encourage victim to tell the story in their own words
- ask them to recall, the best of their ability, the exact words of the perpetrator(s)
- ask victim if they have family members or friends who can support them
- inform them of what efforts can be made to enhance their safety
- reassure them that every effort will be made to protect their anonymity during the investigation
- tell victim about the probable sequence of events in the investigation
- provide information about community and department resources available to protect and support victim, their families and members of the community
AVOID:
- being abrupt or rushed
- tell victim(s) that you know how they feel
- asking them whether they think this was a bias or hate crime
- criticizing the victim's behavior
- making assumptions about the victim's culture, religion, sexual orientation or lifestyle choices
- allowing personal value judgements about the victim's behavior, lifestyle or culture to affect your objectivity
- using stereotyped or biased terms
- belittling the seriousness of the incident, especially if the perpetrator was a juvenile
REASONS WHY VICTIMS MAY BE RELUCTANT TO REPORT OR PARTICIPATE IN THE INVESTIGATION OF A HATE CRIME:
- fear of re-victimization or retaliation
- fear of having privacy compromised
- for gays and lesbians, fear of repercussions from being "outted" to family and employers
- fear of law enforcement and uncertainty about justice agency responses
- for aliens, fear of jeopardizing immigration status, being reported to INS or deportation
- humiliation or shame about being victimized
- lack of a support system
- cultural and language barriers
What Is the Ongoing Role the Police Play with Hate Crime Victims and the Community?
By providing a continuing point of contact throughout the investigation and prosecution phase, police can facilitate a victim's cooperation with the justice system, assist with the healing process and promote law enforcement's credibility. In the following ways, officers and their departments can support hate crime victims and members of the community:
- Provide victim(s) a point of contact in the department to whom they can direct questions or concerns.
- Inform them on case progress including the end result of the investigation and/or prosecution
- Help to connect them with appropriate support services, victim advocates and community-based organizations when needed
- Protect the privacy of victim and their families as possible
- Engage the media as partners in restoring victimized communities through sensitive and accurate reporting
- Support or coordinate community clean-up efforts
- Participate in meetings or other forums designed to address the communitywide impact of hate incidents or crimes
- Share information, as appropriate, with schools about cases where students or staff were victims or perpetrators of hate crimes
- Collaborate with community leaders to mobilize resources that can be used to assist victims and prevent future hate incidents and crimes
Police Officers and Their Agencies Can Assume a Leadership Role in Their Community to Prevent Hate Incidents and Crimes Police officers can ...
- Help to ensure that victims of hate crimes will report their victimization by demonstrating that law enforcement will respond swiftly and compassionately to all reports
- Participate in hate crime training
- Serve as positive role models, exemplifying tolerance of and respect for others
- Maximize cultural awareness to better communicate and work with citizens from diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds
- Collaborate with community leaders to increase tolerance and promote peaceful conflict resolution among community members
- Support and participate in school programs and curricula intended to reduce prejudice and prevent bias-motivated crimes
- Work with citizens and community organizations to identify and address bias incidents and make referrals to state and local agencies (housing, employment and civil rights) to resolve problems
- Encourage the media to highlight community successes in preventing and responding to hate crimes and incidents
- Contribute to tracking and monitoring organize hate groups by gathering, documenting and reporting information about their criminal activities in affected communities
Police agencies can ...
- Establish a policy of "zero tolerance" for prejudice throughout the department
- Ensure police are trained to recognize and respond appropriately to hate crimes
- Provide officers with user-friendly hate crime incident report forms that comply with state and national reporting standards
- Sponsor and participate in community events and activities that promote diversity, tolerance, bias reduction and conflict resolution
- Track the criminal activities of organized hate groups
- Collaborate with community organizations, schools, and other public agencies to develop coordinated approaches to hate crime prevention and response
- Engage the media as partners in restoring victimized communities and preventing bias-motivated incidents and crimes
- Document the positive outcomes of hate crime prevention and response strategies
Police officers and their agencies can accomplish much by working in partnership with citizens to implement the American vision of diverse and tolerant communities that offer freedom, safety and dignity for all.
This project was supported by a grant award #1999-DD-BX-0071 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office for Victims of Crime; Office of Justice Programs; U.S. Department of Justice, to the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Florida Opioid Resources
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Florida Opioid Summary by NIH
The Law Enforcement Opioid Response Center is a new webpage, and while we have few resources on this page now, we frequently update all the pages with additional content, so please check in again soon. If you have any relevant resources for this state that you think should be added to this page (programs, task force information, laws/policies, promising practices, statistical research, etc.), please send them to IACP Project Manager Karen Maline at [email protected].
Maryland Opioid Resources
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Maryland Opioid Taskforce Recommendations
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Maryland Opioid Summary by NIH
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STEER Police Deflection Initiative Handout - Montgomery County Police Department
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STEER Police Deflection Initiative Video - Montgomery County Police Department
The Law Enforcement Opioid Response Center is a new webpage, and while we have few resources on this page now, we frequently update all the pages with additional content, so please check in again soon. If you have any relevant resources for this state that you think should be added to this page (programs, task force information, laws/policies, promising practices, statistical research, etc.), please send them to IACP Project Manager Karen Maline at [email protected].
IACP 2018 Recorded Sessions: Community-Police Relations and Public Trust
Did you miss any part of IACP 2018 or want to re-watch a workshop? Select workshop sessions are posted here as a member-only benefit. Watch the videos below.
Employing Statistics to Prevent Statistics: Welcome to a New Era of Policing
Traditional proactive and reactive models no longer meet the needs of the modern police agency. Join us to learn how redefining the citizen-police relationship through intelligence-led policing, where technology uncovers new insights, analytics act as a force multiplier, and conversations are created with the community, will build the most important advantage - trust.
Devise a Community Engagement Strategy That Works: Principles, Practices, Performances, and Pitfalls
Participants will be introduced to the concept of "culture, rather than race" as a major determinant of "community", and will show how similarities between cultures can work to foster and enhance engagement strategies. Participants will learn to identify the single most important stakeholder in their community engagement strategy. Also explained will be the "paradoxical effect" of various community engagement strategies and why they lose effectiveness over time or are not at all accepted or embraced by the community. Participants will take home receive specific useful perspectives designed to facilitate agency self-reflection and formulation of strategies for their own individual agency.
History as a Foundation of Building Trust and Legitimacy: Civil Rights and Law Enforcement
In the past, some police agencies have been indifferent to civil rights. Others permitted the physical assault or murder of citizens of a different race or ethnic group. None of these actions occurred in a vacuum, but rather reflected the popular will of its citizens and in some cases the governing laws of that jurisdiction.
The institutional memory of those unjust acts has begun to fade and is sometimes even unknown to today's new recruits. But attitudes and stories are passed down to future generations. That oral history has resulted in a pattern of distrust between the police and some of the communities they serve. These past civil rights injustices must be acknowledged by the current law enforcement.
Hear from law enforcement and civil rights experts about how acknowledging the past can help heal community and how to use the foundation of history to begin building trust.
Comprehensive Guidance on Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement
With the national focus on strengthening and sustaining community-police relations – including the principles of 21st-century policing – the need for real-world research and practical guidance on civilian oversight has increased significantly. Across the country, civilian oversight has been a powerful and invaluable tool for law enforcement agencies working to increase trust between police and the communities they serve and further the tenets of community policing.
National experts from policing and oversight will provide guidance on civilian oversight, current best practices, and how implementing and supporting civilian oversight can promote legitimacy and advance procedural justice for civilians, officers, and police executives.
Moving Forward with Proactive Policing: Experiences from the Field
While most policing agencies in the United States employ proactive policing strategies, the evidence as to their effectiveness is mixed and inconclusive. This panel will consider and discuss proactive policing strategies - such as community policing, problem-oriented policing, place-based or hot spot policing, and person-focused strategies - from a practical and an academic perspective to provide attendees knowledge that they can use to apply those strategies to best effect in their jurisdictions. Participants will discuss their hands-on experiences with and their tacit knowledge on the effectiveness of these strategies. A noted researcher will reflect on how those experiences relate to the current body or research in this area.
IACP 2018 Recorded Sessions: Drugs and Their Impact on the Community
Did you miss any part of IACP 2018 or want to re-watch a workshop? Select workshop sessions are posted here as a member-only benefit. Watch the videos below.
Marijuana Legalization: Impacts Every Chief Should Know from Traffic Safety to Licensed Businesses
As more states legalize marijuana across the country, and worldwide, law enforcement executives are preparing themselves for changes ahead. This presentation will prepare chiefs and law enforcement executives for the challenges they may face with marijuana legalization. Topics will include balancing enforcement and regulation of businesses, traffic safety, continuing illicit market activity, and resource deployment. Additionally we will discuss the varying and competing interests which represent the industry, law enforcement, communities, and the legislature with an industry generating $1.3 billion in FY 17. Last, participants will learn what interests are driving the industry, and how those interests may impact public safety.
Law Enforcement Diversion Models to Intervene in the Opioid Epidemic
Law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout America have implemented a variety of law enforcement diversion models in response to the opioid epidemic. Three examples of opioid-related law enforcement diversion programs will examined, including a rapid response intervention program for children who witness a parent or loved one suffer an overdose. This session will also provide a framework for assessing the various models of law enforcement diversion and the goals of each type of diversion model. A matrix will be presented that allows communities to evaluate which model of law enforcement diversion programming may be most appropriate for their community based on their needs.
IACP 2018 Recorded Sessions: Mass Casualty and Violent Attacks
Did you miss any part of IACP 2018 or want to re-watch a workshop? Select workshop sessions are posted here as a member-only benefit. Watch the videos below.
Learning Lessons from School Attacks That Almost Happened
School shootings generate significant media attention, but the averted school attacks provide successful practices and lessons for law enforcement. The goal of the COPS Office and NIJ-funded Police Foundation's Averted School Violence (ASV) initiative is to help prevent further death and injury from violent attacks in schools nationwide, by recognizing and studying the attacks that are averted and to share the lessons learned with those involved in school safety. These averted attacks contain valuable information that if identified and implemented early in schools, can prevent future violence.
Community Approach to Active Shooter Preparedness: A Multidisciplinary Journey
A fragmented tactical and medical response will lead to unnecessary loss of life. Through discussion and case studies, attendees will learn how to plan, train, and respond to events in their communities. The concept of civilian, law enforcement, fire, and EMS mass casualty care will be discussed. The goal of this presentation is to empower attendees to return to their communities with a rational and scalable approach to responding to incidents with multiple threats, victims, and responding agencies. The concepts of Rescue Task Force, Officer Down Care, Unified Command, and Tactical EMS will be discussed not as individual components, but rather as a systematic response program.
Active Killer Training for Schools
As the incidents of active violence continue to occur at our educational institutions across the country, the City of Sturgis and Sturgis Public Schools have joined forces and taken measures to be proactive and at the forefront of active shooter/active aggressor trainings. They have developed and implemented a program that includes response training to disarm and attack an active aggressor and has educated the entire district on these techniques. This unique training was developed using parts of various trainings including "run, hide, fight", ground fighting, rape prevention, and others. The thought process was that by using simple techniques, improvised weapons, etc., the more likely that the skills learned would be retained and utilized.
Smaller Agency Track session recording made possible by Engility.
Mass Casualty Events: Resources for Responding to Victims and Families
Managing information and support to victims and families, as well as assuring their rights as crime victims, can quickly overwhelm any law enforcement agency responding to a mass casualty event. Mass casualty events often occur in public places and involve victims with no association to an organization or even each other. Victims needing information and support may include the families of the deceased and severely injured, those physically injured, and individuals who were present and suffer emotional injury. While a number of agencies and organizations may respond to an act of mass violence, there are particular points of intersection between law enforcement and victims/families.
Smaller Agency Track session recording made possible by Engility.
Small Agency Tactical Response to Active Shooter Incidents
The standard training response to Active Shooter incidents has been and still is overwhelming small unit tactics; 2 to 4 person formations. Unfortunately, with 48% of Law Enforcement agencies in the US being comprised of 10 or fewer sworn personnel, how will you field 4 officers to handle this tactic? And what of the first officer on scene, is he / she supposed to sit outside and wait while carnage is taking place inside? What of the SRO or the officer who just by chance was already on scene, are they supposed to wait in a secure area until helps arrives…..for them? Our profession has to accept that those tactics aren't applicable. A bold step forward must be taken. And that bold step has to be SOLO Engagement Tactics.
Smaller Agency Track session recording made possible by Engility.
Lessons Learned: Creating an Integrated Active Attack Response Capability for Rural Agencies
The Sutherland Springs Church incident in Texas was a tragic demonstration that Active Attack and Hostile Events strike rural communities. This presentation discusses the journey by police, fire, EMS, hospital, and school agencies in rural Brownwood (TX) to achieve a seamless integrated response capability to Hostile Events. Presenters will discuss lessons learned, including using the Active Shooter Incident Management Checklist, the Counterstrike Active Shooter tabletop system, and testing with a full-scale exercise. Brownwood first responders now have plans in place that have been taught, tested, and vetted to meet local response capabilities. Don't miss hearing the lessons learned and maybe take home a template for your community.
Smaller Agency Track session recording made possible by Engility.
Alabama Opioid Resources
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Alabama Opioid Summary by NIH
The Law Enforcement Opioid Response Center is a new webpage, and while we have few resources on this page now, we frequently update all the pages with additional content, so please check in again soon. If you have any relevant resources for this state that you think should be added to this page (programs, task force information, laws/policies, promising practices, statistical research, etc.), please send them to IACP Project Manager Karen Maline at [email protected].
Alaska Opioid Resources
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Alaska Opioid Summary by NIH
The Law Enforcement Opioid Response Center is a new webpage, and while we have few resources on this page now, we frequently update all the pages with additional content, so please check in again soon. If you have any relevant resources for this state that you think should be added to this page (programs, task force information, laws/policies, promising practices, statistical research, etc.), please send them to IACP Project Manager Karen Maline at [email protected].
Arizona Opioid Resources
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Arizona Opioid Summary by NIH
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Naloxone Policy and Procedures by Kingman Police Department
The Law Enforcement Opioid Response Center is a new webpage, and while we have few resources on this page now, we frequently update all the pages with additional content, so please check in again soon. If you have any relevant resources for this state that you think should be added to this page (programs, task force information, laws/policies, promising practices, statistical research, etc.), please send them to IACP Project Manager Karen Maline at [email protected].
Arkansas Opioid Resources
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Arkansas Opioid Summary by NIH
The Law Enforcement Opioid Response Center is a new webpage, and while we have few resources on this page now, we frequently update all the pages with additional content, so please check in again soon. If you have any relevant resources for this state that you think should be added to this page (programs, task force information, laws/policies, promising practices, statistical research, etc.), please send them to IACP Project Manager Karen Maline at [email protected].
