Submitted by:  Victim Services Committee

Co-Sponsored by: Forensic Science Committee and Crime Prevention Committee

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WHEREAS, a protective order is a legal injunction that requires a party to do, or to refrain from doing, certain acts with the purpose of protecting and empowering victims of intimate partner violence and giving a means of safety, and each state in the United States has some form of domestic violence restraining order law, and many states also have specific restraining order laws for stalking, harassment, and sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, there is a continued need for awareness and education related to actions taken by law enforcement when responding to calls involving possible protection order violations where law enforcement officers are applying the action/conditions of the protection order on the victim (petitioner), when in fact, the actions/conditions are written for the respondent to abide by; and

WHEREAS, there is also a continued need for awareness related to legislation that attempts to enact criminal penalties for victims (petitioners) for actions related to protection orders issued against respondents, and similar court rulings; and

WHEREAS, protective orders help victims, as well as their children and families, regain control by establishing boundaries, restrictions, and sanctions with the support and enforcement of the criminal justice system and in some jurisdictions may be one of the few safety options for victims, and they may be the tool that a victim needs in order to begin separation from an abusive party; and

WHEREAS, victims may suffer emotional, psychological, economic, and/or physical abuse, endure threats, coercion, and/or manipulation by perpetrators of interpersonal violence, and may have conflicting emotions and established dependency (economic, psychological); and

WHEREAS, perpetrators are coercive and skilled at manipulating victims and the criminal justice system in order to gain and maintain power and control, and will use the possibility of the victim’s arrest against and/or as leverage and as another means of power and control; and

WHEREAS, a victim may feel pressured, or be manipulated by the perpetrator into letting him/her into the house, workplace, or meeting with him/her with the sole purpose of setting a victim up for arrest, and oftentimes it is safer for a victim to comply with the demands of a perpetrator rather than suffer the consequences if they do not comply; and

WHEREAS, legislation or public policies that support the arrest of victims (petitioners) for actions related to protection orders issued against respondents, a tool that was established to keep an abusive party away from a victim, serve to embolden the perpetrator and give him/her more power, this time with police action and the criminal justice system to support the words and threats of the perpetrator; and

WHEREAS, legislation or public policies that support the arrest of victims (petitioners) for actions related to protection orders issued against respondents take a procedure that is meant to protect victims and uses it to punish them.  These policies lead to damaging victim trust in the criminal justice system and create hesitation on the part of the victim to seek law enforcement protection because of the possibility of being arrested; and

WHEREAS, if the perpetrator refuses to comply with the terms of an order they shall face criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that because of the complicated nature of the crime of domestic violence/intimate partner violence and the complex situations responding officers are left to sort out, education and awareness regarding the harmful effects and ramifications of arresting victims (petitioners) for actions related to protection orders issued against respondents is needed; and be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police strongly believes that law enforcement should encourage legislation and public policies that support the arrest of and criminal consequences for respondents and not victims (petitioners) for actions related to violations of protection orders. 

Submitted by: Victim Services Committee

Co-Sponsored by: Police Investigative Operations Committee and Forensic Science Committee

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U.S. Law provides several protections for legal and undocumented immigrants who have been victims of a crime.  There are specific protections for victims of domestic violence, human trafficking victims as well as other certain crimes. Countries that do not have similar laws should considering adding something similar; and

WHEREAS, IACP shares the goals of the United States Congress to protect immigrant victims of crime and encourage public safety and cooperation between immigrant communities and law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, IACP realizes that encouraging immigrant crime victims to report criminal activity translates into early detection of crimes and overall better reporting of crimes, which consequently enhances not only public safety but officer safety as well; and

WHEREAS, IACP recognizes that U Visa Certifications and T Visa Declarations are important crime fighting tools offering significant potential benefits to law enforcement agencies in fulfilling their mission to keep their communities safe; and

WHEREAS, IACP understands that U Visa Certifications and T Visa Declarations are acknowledgements by law enforcement agencies that the victim has reasonably cooperated in the investigation of prosecution of human trafficking or another qualifying criminal activity; and

WHEREAS, IACP acknowledges that providing Certifications for immigrant crime victims for U Visas and providing Declarations for immigrant human trafficking victims for T Visas increases trust between law enforcement officials and otherwise reluctant immigrant communities who fear that contacting police will lead to their deportation; and

WHEREAS, IACP acknowledges the Migration Policy Institute estimates that 11 million unauthorized immigrants are living in the U.S. (3.42% of the total U.S. population of 321.4 million in 2015) based on American Community Survey (ACS) data; and

WHEREAS, IACP recognizes that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has documented the receipt of applications for both U Visas [2015: 30,106; 2016: 35, 044; 2017: 18,866 (6 mos.)] and T Visas [2015: 1,062; 2016: 953; 2017: 504 (6 mos.)]; and

WHEREAS, IACP recognizes the critical importance of further input from law enforcement, government agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, victim advocacy groups, and other stakeholders in developing and implementing best practices around the provision of U visa certifications and T visa declarations. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that IACP supports increasing education, training and communication on U visa certifications and T visa declarations, and increased police leadership involvement in these efforts; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police commits to continued input,representation, and collaboration in ongoing efforts to prioritize the need to communicate the benefits of U visa certification and T visa declaration to Chiefs of Police, highlighting them as effective tools for law enforcement agencies that enhance public safety, officer safety, and protection of victims nationwide.

FURTHER RESOLVED, that all law enforcement officials, highway safety officials, and Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program coordinators, should take the position with their legislative and governing bodies that there is no scientific basis for the adoption of THC per se legislation; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that all law enforcement officials, highway safety officials, and DEC Program coordinators, should take the position with their legislative and governing bodies that impaired driving statutes should prohibit operating a vehicle under the influence of cannabis and public safety efforts should prioritize the expansion of law enforcement training in recognizing and articulating drug impairment in drivers. 

Submitted by: Roadway Safety Committee

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WHEREAS, impaired driving has a profound impact on society and public safety in terms of grievous injuries, senseless death, and significant property damage; and despite a 50% decrease in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities since 1982, more than 10,000 people are killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes annually (NHTSA, 2017), and

WHEREAS, the growing number of states legalizing marijuana and the spread of the opioid epidemic across the country has given rise to increased concerns related to the appropriate detection, investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of drug-impaired driving, and

WHEREAS, the inability to obtain a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test result or evidence of drug use, (especially in cases of refusal) effectively impedes or negates an officers’ ability to gather crucial and intensely time-sensitive evidence in the form of blood or other bodily fluids, and

WHEREAS, the establishment and implementation of electronic warrant (eWarrant) programs to compel blood draws or samples of other bodily fluids have proven timely and successful in several jurisdictions (Responsibility.org, A Guide to Implementing Electronic Warrants, 2018), utilizing a variety of systems, from simple PDF documents to web-based systems to quickly and accurately obtain evidence in the violent crime of impaired driving, and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the technology available to law enforcement agencies across the country, Responsibility.org’s study and collaboration with the Justice Management Institute clearly identifies a spectrum of eWarrant systems that can assist jurisdictions in their fight against impaired driving; including recommended legislative framework, planning and design, partner engagement, funding, policy and operations, and metrics to assess goals, and

RESOLVED, that the IACP supports the development, implementation, and legislative engagement of eWarrant systems by law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to prevent injury and death on our nation’s roadways.

Tragedy strikes again as three mass shooting incidents occurred over the past week in cities throughout the United States. Dayton, Ohio; El Paso, Texas and Gilroy, California, fell victim as dozens of people were killed during these attacks. We continue to mourn the loss, send comfort to the injured and give thanks to the first responders who raced to stop further bloodshed. But even when those brave men and women arrive to these crime scenes within seconds, it is not soon enough. 

The stark reality is that the tragedy of gun violence impacts communities across the United States. Ranging from random shootings and suicides to retaliatory assaults and targeted mass killings, violence committed with firearms devastates communities on a daily basis. 

This insidious problem requires law enforcement to lead a new, coordinated and dedicated response involving citizens, elected leaders, lawmakers, and the entire criminal justice system.  

That is why the IACP is calling upon our members, community members, advocacy groups and lawmakers to work together to develop strategies to combat gun violence.

As our hearts remain heavy, we stand committed to influencing tangible policy change. 

- Paul M. Cell, IACP President

This document is intended to support you in communicating the value of IACP membership to your supervisor or other decision makers in your agency. In a recent IACP member survey, we heard that nearly 70% of our members’ agencies pay for their annual membership dues. Helping your supervisor or other agency leader understand the value and significance of the IACP and how it will benefit not only you, but also your organization and community, means they will be more likely to cover the cost of your membership. Membership in the IACP will provide you with the tools you (and your agency) need to succeed!

Our membership justification kits are now available in English, Arabic, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. 

The Dangers of Distracted Driving Infographic: 

1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Traffic Safety Facts Research Notes 2016: Distracted Driving,” (2019, July 1). https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812517.   

2 National Safety Council, “Understanding the distracted brain: Why driving while using hands-free cell phones is risky behavior,” (April 2012): 5.

3 Strayer, D. L. (2007, February 28). Presentation at Cell Phones and Driver Distraction. Traffic Safety Coalition, Washington, DC.

4 Klauer, S.G., et al, “Distracted driving and risk of road crashes among novice and experienced drivers,” (January 2, 2014). 370(1): 54-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa1204142. PMID: 24382065.

5 Ibid Klauer.

6 Dingus, Thomas A., et al, “Driver crash risk factors and prevalence evaluation using naturalistic driving data” (March 2016). https://www.pnas.org/content/113/10/2636.

7 Ibid NHTSA.

8 Swanson, Brittany-Marie, “Distracted Driving Causes Nearly 40% of Accidents,” (Automotive Fleet: October 13, 2010). https://www.automotive-fleet.com/146769/distracted-driving-causes-nearly-40-of-accidents.

9 Ibid National Safety Council.

10 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Distracted Driving Global Fact Sheet,” (2019, July 1). https://usdotblog.typepad.com/files/6983_distracteddrivingfs_5-17_v2.pdf.

11 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010 (Revised),” (Washington, D.C.: May 2015). https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812013.

12 Ibid NHTSA.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving by Law Enforcement Officers Infographic:

1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Distracted Driving Kills,” (2019, July 5). https://www.nhtsa.gov/distracted-driving/distracted-driving-kills.

2 Officer Down Memorial Page, “Find a Fallen Officer Automobile Crash, “2016” through 2018”,” (2019, July 5). https://www.odmp.org/search?name=&agency=&state=&cause=Automobile+crash&from=2016&to=2018&filter=nok9.

3 National Safety Council, “The Great Multitasking Lie: Myth Versus Reality,” (2019, July 5). https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/tools-resources/infographics/great-multitasking-lie.

4 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Safety in Numbers: August 2015,” (2019, July 5). file:///C:/Users/jankowski/Downloads/S1N_Speeding-August2015_812008%20(1).pdf.

5 National Safety Council, “The Great Multitasking Lie: Myth Versus Reality,” (2019, July 3). https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/tools-resources/infographics/great-multitasking-lie.

About the Directory

The Community Policing Directory highlights the emerging practices and programs in 21st Century Policing. The directory gives agencies access to programs that currently exist in your state or topic of interest. Viewers can also search programs by tribal or non-tribal law enforcement agencies.

How to Submit a Community-Policing Practice?

If you would like to submit a promising practice, program, or strategy from your agency or department, to be posted in the directory, please share information by clicking the link to fill out the form.

To give us feedback about the directory and how we may improve it, please take a moment to participate in a User Satisfaction Survey .

What is the Distracted Driving Toolkit?

The Distracted Driving Toolkit provides law enforcement chief executives, command staff, first-line supervisors, and patrol officers with effective strategies that have been used by others to improve distracted driving education and enforcement in their communities, along with tactics to reduce officer distraction in patrol vehicles.

What It Includes

• A report on promising practices for public education, enforcement, and officer safety
• Press release and talking points template that can be used to address distracted driving issues for chiefs of municipal governments and community education
• Two separate 11 x 17 poster infographics - The Dangers of Distracted Driving & The Dangers of Distracted Driving by Law Enforcement Officers
• A comprehensive list of resources to help agencies address distracted driving crashes

For other inquiries regarding traffic safety initiatives, please contact IACP's Traffic Safety Team at [email protected].

In addition to the toolkit, the infographics, The Dangers of Distracted Driving and The Dangers of Distracted Driving by Law Enforcement Officers, are offered in five different languages (listed below) and are also available for download.

• English
• Spanish
• French
• Portuguese
• Arabic