This issue brief, published by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the CNA Corporation, provides an accessible resource for law enforcement agencies and their stakeholders (e.g., crime analysts, policymakers, and researchers) interested in learning more about the role of predictive analytics in police operations. Specifically, the brief summarizes the use of predictive analytics to inform policing operations; distinguishes between approaches to predictive analytics (person-based and place-based); highlights the emergence of machine-learning algorithms as a preferred predictive analytics technique; delineates considerations and limitations brought forth in recent literature that law enforcement agencies must consider when using predictive analytics to reduce and prevent crime; and summarizes several research studies and real-world policing initiatives as examples of how the use of predictive analytics can inform policing practice.

This webinar, sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and hosted by the National White Collar Crime Center, will address how to strengthen law enforcement’s relationships with the communications industry, leverage/share the collective technical knowledge and resources of the law enforcement community, and address challenges to law enforcement posed by advanced communications services and technologies.  This one-hour webinar will introduce you to the many resources available through the NDCAC to include technical solutions, trainings, tools, and analytics.

When: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., ET

Hosted by the Justice Clearinghouse, this webinar addresses the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation from extremist movements inciting civil unrest.  During this webinar, the host will discuss militia and extremists; a framework for false information; the real threat to domestic security today; how to find threats; fake versus real threats; how extremists recruit and spread their thoughts; how they use disinformation to attract supporters; disinformation versus misinformation; and how law enforcement agencies can act to protect their channels and counter disinformation.

When:  Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Time:  3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., ET

This report, published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), discusses the major challenges that law enforcement faces in identifying human trafficking victims and the networks of traffickers. The report presents solutions to these challenges, including using open-source research and data analytics. Specifically, the report discusses Thomson Reuters Special Services (TRSS) network analysis, and how it’s been successful in finding clusters of crime networks. Law enforcement knowledge of these broader networks is indispensable for proactive targeting.

Published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), this blog discusses the transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) from the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Next year (2021), NIBRS will become the national crime data collection program. The result will be robust and complete data for law enforcement, researchers, and the public. And while the transition to NIBRS is new, publishing reliable, informative crime statistics has been part of the FBI’s role since its earliest days. This transition is the latest in a more than 90-year effort to ensure that police departments and communities have accurate crime data. The blog discusses some key facts that are important to know about NIBRS.