“[There] is a need for a modern study of how law enforcement can best protect and serve American communities. This is why the President instructed me to establish this critical Commission, whose members truly reflect the best there is in law enforcement. Together, we will examine, discuss, and debate how justice is administered in the United States and uncover opportunities for progress, improvement, and innovation.”—Attorney General William P. Barr.

Attorney General William P. Barr announced on January 22, 2020, the establishment of the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. The Commission aims to explore modern issues that affect law enforcement and most impact the ability of American policing to reduce overall crime.

The Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, covering data from January through June 2019, contains figures from more than 14,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide that voluntarily submitted information to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. According to the report, all categories of violent crime offenses decreased between the first half of 2018 and the first half of 2019. Preliminary statistics show overall declines in both violent and property crime in the first half of 2019, compared with the same time frame the previous year.

With the solicitation Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) aims to better understand, prevent, and respond to trafficking in persons in the United States. Interested applicants should propose research projects that have clear implications for criminal justice policy and practice, particularly in areas that address both sex and labor trafficking. Applications are due on April 20, 2020.

NIJ also has several other solicitations open, including research and evaluation on domestic terrorism prevention, violence against women, policing, and promising reentry initiatives.

The 2020 National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) Policy Summit takes place on March 9–10 in Washington, DC. Attendees will engage with advocacy groups, stakeholders, and government officials to discuss the state of the reform movement, how to work across systems to improve outcomes for justice-involved individuals, and the role of law enforcement and other groups in the reform agenda. The summit will bring together panelists from across the criminal justice system and the political spectrum who will discuss their views and how they are working together to shape criminal justice policy. In addition, speakers from Capitol Hill and the Administration will discuss the policy implications of this work. The summit is open only to NCJA members and limited to 60 attendees to allow for interactive discussions and networking opportunities. 

The process of acquiring forensic images is well-understood, and the industry has never been better equipped for the analysis.  However, common practices are set to fail, and analysis may not address malware and indicators of compromise.  This no-cost webinar, sponsored by the National White Collar Crime Center, will highlight the shortcomings of several common methods and provide a framework for an improved approach to allow for more efficient and thorough investigations.

Date:  Thursday, February 6, 202
Time:  1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., ET