Published by the Office for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), this publication was developed as part of the Partnerships to Address Labor Trafficking project, designed to improve the awareness, responsiveness, and accountability among law enforcement, businesses, communities, the courts, and other stakeholders on labor trafficking. It describes recent notable trends in human trafficking through an examination of a range of example cases in areas including forced labor perpetrated by religious organizations, child labor in the traveling sales crews industry, and labor trafficking on tribal lands.

Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and hosted by the National White Collar Crime Center, this webinar discusses gaps in information that could tie people, places, and evidence together to strengthen a case. Investigators need to use all the tools in their toolboxes to gather intelligence and aid in search warrant requests and digital evidence gathering. Digital investigations involving cell phones and other devices can be enhanced using open-source intelligence (OSINT) information gathered from the surface, deep, and dark web.  By marrying digital evidence with digital intelligence, investigators can see a complete picture of a relationship, location, or event, further strengthening their cases. Join this webinar to learn how digital investigations can be enhanced with OSINT to keep communities safe.

When: Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m., ET

The Department of Defense (DoD) has released its Biodefense Posture Review (BPR). This review helps establish DoD's approach to advance the nation's biodefense vision and incorporate lessons learned from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The top priorities of the Biodefense Posture Review (BPR) are noted as follows:

• Fully assess the biothreat landscape through 2035.
• Clarify biodefense missions, priorities, roles, responsibilities, authorities, and the capabilities needed to enable biodefense.
• Position DoD to address future biothreats in alignment with the NDS (National Defense Strategy).
• Examine DoD’s role in the NBS (National Biodefense Strategy) and provide appropriate support to other departments and agencies.
• Align policies; authorities; research, development, and acquisition (RDA) responsibilities; investments; and force structure to meet DoD’s biodefense requirements.
• Ensure that biodefense is routinely included in DoD training, exercises, and doctrine.

Hosted by Justice Clearinghouse, this presentation will discuss the roles law enforcement and state juvenile justice play in investigating crimes perpetrated by juveniles.  North Carolina’s Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act, aka “Raise the Age,” will be discussed, including its effects on investigating crimes when juveniles are the victims/survivors and the suspects.  Attendees will learn how to collaborate with juvenile justice authorities to investigate suspects.  An overview of interventions provided includes clinical services and programs—and where to find resources when they are limited.

When: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., ET

Published by the National Governor’s Association (NGA), this road map report is available to support governors and state officials in developing policy solutions to address unprecedented opioid overdose rates.  Developed in coordination with the O’Neill Institute at Georgetown University Law Center, the road map is based on the contributions of more than 30 subject-matter experts and 20 states and territories—providing governors with 17 specific, actionable recommendations to prevent overdose across five pillars of the Substance Use Disorder Continuum of Care.  An update to NGA’s 2016 road map, the new publication reflects the evolving nature of the ongoing drug overdose epidemic and includes strategies specific to the rise of illicitly manufactured fentanyl.  Overdose deaths have increased significantly—primarily attributed to illicitly manufactured fentanyl.  From 2019 to 2021, overdose death rates increased in all 50 states; death rates in 40 states increased by more than 25 percent.  The national overdose death rate in 2021 reached 32.4 per 100,000 people, compared with 6.1 in 1999. Overdose deaths among adolescents increased 109 percent from 2019 to 2021, despite low youth substance use rates.  The road map highlights ten states’ initiatives that exemplify best practices and innovative strategies in overdose prevention.