Training for first responders to take swift and effective action in active shooting situations is critically important.  We can mitigate the loss of life in these horrific incidents by providing resources to better equip first responders and prepare community members, local law enforcement, and local government leaders.

~Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio, U.S. Department of Justice

On November 1, 2018, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University announced an $8.7 million grant to provide multidisciplinary, scenario-based active shooter training to first responders across the country.

The ALERRT program will provide in-person training to an estimated 15,000 first responders, in addition to the 9,000 individuals who received the training in 2017. 

The U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, recently released the 2018 National Drug Threat Assessment, which is a comprehensive strategic assessment of the threat posed to the United States by domestic and international drug trafficking and the abuse of illicit drugs. The report combines federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement reporting; public health data; open source reporting; and intelligence from other government agencies to determine which substances and criminal organizations represent the greatest threat to the United States. 

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications for tribal, state and local jurisdictions to participate in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative grant program. This program furthers the Department’s mission to prevent and respond to crime and other public safety-related problems.

Every justice agency has a role to play in simultaneously preventing crime, apprehending and prosecuting perpetrators, facilitating appropriate sentencing and treatment, and preserving communities’ security. BJA offers this grant program, Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Reducing Violent Crime by Improving Justice System Performance, for sites to apply and expand the Justice Reinvestment approach to identify and respond to crime and other public safety problems, explore innovative and cost-saving strategies, and to reinvest in strategies that can decrease crime and reduce recidivism. This approach will help build the capacity of state and local jurisdictions to analyze, identify, and respond to drivers of both violent crime and high costs (Category 1) and to test innovative tools to facilitate coordinated information sharing and analysis among justice partners (Category 2).

During this no-cost webinar, hosted by the Justice Clearinghouse, justice practitioners will gain a better understanding of how security is enhanced and crime reduced through intelligence-driven strategies.

Attendees, whether narcotics detectives, gang intelligence officers, jail administrators, or patrol deputies, will learn some of the modern-practical applications that harness the power from knowledge produced by the convergence of the latest intelligence methodologies and technologies.

Key questions to be answered in the session:

• What are the real-world applications of technology in generating actionable intelligence in correctional and law enforcement environments?
• What are the critical success factors associated with implementing intelligence-led philosophies (e.g., best practices and lessons learned)?
• How can facilities or departments of any size or level of expertise leverage technology to manage the intelligence cycle and stay ahead of the latest trends?

Date:  Thursday, November 15, 2018

Time:  1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., ET

Officers encounter unpredictable mental health situations on a daily basis and these videos reinforce critical communication skills to help achieve a positive and safe outcome for all parties involved.

~Robert Luna, Chief of Police, Long Beach, California, Police Department

The Guidance Center, in partnership with three California law enforcement agencies—the Long Beach Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department—has developed a no-cost, Web-based, video training series to assist law enforcement officers in readily identifying the signs of mental illness in the field and equip them with the tools to safely and effectively address these encounters.

The series includes eight, 7- to 10-minute videos, formatted to be shown during roll call, before the officers go into the field.  Topics include nonviolent de-escalation tactics, how to assess serious mental illness, potential suicides, strategies for children, understanding autism, writing effective holds, and self-care.