The National Governor’s Association (NGA) published a memo outlining best practices for managing simultaneous natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or wildfires during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NGA memo outlines considerations and possible actions for governors to use a “whole community” approach, update and socialize emergency operations and continuity of operations plans, and enable individual preparedness for disasters.

Despite research showing that most individuals with mental illness are nonviolent, the potential hazards of mental illness are frequently exaggerated in the news and entertainment industries. In this article from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), the author argues that resultant stigma toward those with mental illness can greatly impact public policy and opinion. Overall, research suggests focusing not on whether mental illness causes violence, but how best to identify risk factors and minimize stigmatizing beliefs.

The AMBER Alert program is a voluntary partnership among law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child abduction cases. This collection of resources includes online training for child abduction response teams, an introduction to law enforcement response to child sex trafficking, and investigative strategies for child abduction cases.

Law enforcement managers provide vital skills for teams to survive dangerous environments.  The time, training, and effort spent on preparing for dangerous encounters demonstrate the commitment to providing a solid foundation for success and safety.  However, keeping people motivated at work can be a challenge, with solutions rooted in providing them with a sense of meaning regarding their professions.  In this webinar, sponsored by the National Sheriffs’ Association, the presenter will assert that helping personnel recognize the meaning of the work they do, particularly in today’s social media environment, provides them with a sense of wellness that may encompass their entire careers and beyond. 

Date: Wednesday, June 17
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., ET

People who have experienced victimization have diverse and complex needs that require attention from federal, state, and local governments. This presentation summarizes how states have engaged victims, victim advocates, and service providers throughout the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) process; outlines some strategies states have used through JRI to improve accountability to victims and survivors of crime; and highlights creative, victim-centered policy and practice changes that states could consider to better serve victims and survivors.