The Impact - PSP Quarterly Newsletter
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Presents . . .
The PSP Impact
- A Quarterly Snapshot of the PSP Network -
-Topic of Interest: Crime Analysis-
Crime analysis is a critical function for modern policing and serves as a core National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) focus area. Leveraging data to assist with tactical and strategic decision making, investigations, and prosecutions is key to successful crime reduction. PSP endeavors to help PSP sites enhance their crime analysis capabilities through training and technical assistance (TTA) opportunities and dedicated resources.
Many PSP sites seek to expand or enhance their crime analysis capacities during PSP engagement but face challenges and uncertainties charting a path forward. PSP recently developed a resource for PSP site teams to use as a reference to help sites interested in implementing or enhancing a crime analysis unit. This resource outlines considerations for departments for identifying optimal organizational structures, data and technology needs, sustainability efforts that support its current resources and capacity, and planning for expansion.
Between April and June 2020, PSP conducted a number of activities focused on crime analysis.
Basic Principles of Crime Analysis
In April, PSP hosted a virtual learning opportunity on the basic principles of crime analysis. This presentation addressed defining the crime analyst’s role and building a solid analytical foundation, effective and actionable crime analysis products, time management and prioritization of products and services, and analytical case studies. This opportunity was made available beyond the PSP community—more than 350 participants from the criminal justice community attended this exchange.
Feedback from participants:
“This. Was. Amazing. Thank you!!!!"
“The presentation was full of good tips and tricks for people who are already in an analyst role and how to be successful. Informal, brief, and to the point are exactly what make our products successful and made this presentation also successful. Thanks for doing this!"
Crime Analysis for Executives
PSP conducted a virtual learning opportunity in May on crime analysis for executives. This presentation provided insight on how crime analysts can support chiefs, sheriffs, and other police executives or managers with strategic and tactical decision making. Examples of regular products, services, and processes from several successful crime analysis units throughout the country were shared as part of this exchange.
Feedback from participants:
"I wish my supervisors could see this presentation so that they could understand analysis is just not shooting out crime counts on a moment's notice. Numbers are important, but the reason behind the numbers is critical as well."
Crime Analysis Community of Practice
PSP encourages and supports the belief that law enforcement agencies benefit tremendously from sharing their knowledge and best practices. To facilitate networking and learning opportunities, PSP established the Crime Analysis Community of Practice (CACoP) in 2017. The CACoP promotes crime analysis as a core and integrated element of participating agencies and leverages the Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA) varied and customizable array of TTA to support the crime analysis needs of PSP sites.
CACoP TTA
In April, BJA's National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) supported an exclusive opportunity to sponsor PSP crime analysts to receive advanced online training through the International Association of Crime Analysts. PSP crime analysts were encouraged to submit TTA requests through their leadership and PSP Strategic Site Liaison to attend an online training course to enhance their skill sets. These training courses will take place throughout 2020 and provide analysts the opportunity to engage in intensive and hands-on learning engagements.
-Virtual Peer Exchanges and Webinars-
Virtual peer exchanges (VPEs) are a new TTA offering available to PSP sites. The exchange of ideas during peer exchanges can lead to promising policy and operational improvements. PSP also regularly hosts network-wide webinars on topics of interest related to increasing public safety and reducing violence. By employing the use of Web-based technologies to host peer exchanges and webinars, PSP sites and their law enforcement partners can communicate and collaborate more frequently and in a more cost-effective way. These virtual presentations are typically recorded and shared on the PSP website to be shared with the PSP network and criminal justice community.
Please visit the PSP website TTA and Webinars and Podcasts pages to view the catalog of recorded virtual learning opportunities.
Focused Deterrence
Focused-deterrence initiatives (FDIs) commonly include such aspects as identification of prolific offenders, scripted offender notification meetings, coordinated and strategic prosecution, provision of social services to individuals willing to accept them, and careful monitoring of individuals’ actions. When carefully and properly implemented, FDIs have great potential to enhance the perceived legitimacy of the police and the public’s trust in them in communities where these have often been lacking. In April, PSP hosted a webinar on focused deterrence that provided an introductory overview of the fundamentals of focused deterrence, research on and implementation of focused deterrence in major cities, and virtual tools to further focused-deterrence efforts.
Feedback from participants:
"The presentation was clear, concise, and informative. It gave the clear "what this is not" in a way that was digestible and helpful."
"It allowed my police attorney and intel officer to see the big picture."
Victim Services
In May, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Police Department (PD) participated in a VPE with the Chattanooga, Tennessee, PD to learn about its comprehensive approach to victim services. This exchange addressed the evolution of the victim services approach within the Chattanooga PD, including training, policy, and organizational adjustments. Several case examples were also reviewed during this exchange to share lessons learned and community impacts. Representatives from the Tulsa PD and the Chattanooga PD engaged in a robust question-and-answer session to discuss best practices.
Crime Guns 101
The initial recovery and identification of a crime gun is one of the most critical steps in any investigation. These firearms provide valuable investigative leads and are subsequently scrutinized during all aspects of the investigation that follows the recovery. Despite the importance of this initial step, few officers receive training on the identification of firearms and, as a result, firearms are frequently misidentified, leading to missed opportunities for lead development, case connection, and successful prosecution. In May, PSP hosted a webinar on crime guns that provided an overview of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) process and the Crime Gun Intelligence Center concept; history and relevance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) eTrace; how to properly identify and recover crime guns; and lessons learned and successes from unique cases.
Feedback from participants:
"Gave me info that I never had before in regard to manufacturer labeling."
"Well done and highly informative, especially in light of one-hour time limit."
Managing the Recovery of Digital and Video Evidence
As video camera and cellular technology has advanced, digital and video evidence recovery has become critical to a successful criminal investigation. The proliferation of privately and publicly owned video cameras presents an unprecedented opportunity to build stronger cases supported by extensive digital evidence, but it also presents new challenges to law enforcement and prosecutors who are now trying to recover, manage, and prepare large amounts of data and video evidence for trial. The Chicago, Illinois, PD recently established several Area Technology Centers (ATCs) to augment the Chicago PD’s investigative and patrol personnel in the recovery of digital evidence. In June, PSP hosted a webinar on managing and recovering digital and video evidence. Topics addressed during this webinar included an outline of the ATC’s organizational structure, methods of deployment, and response protocols and technology utilized to capture digital evidence within the ATC.
Feedback from participants:
Eighty percent of survey respondents would recommend this webinar to investigative personnel within their agencies.
Social Network Analysis
Social network analysis (SNA) can be a useful tool for criminal investigations and efforts to reduce violent crime. Understanding how data is compiled and structured, how it may be utilized, and its limitations is critical for leaders considering the use of SNA. In June, PSP hosted a webinar that outlined the concept of SNA and how this tool can be utilized to further crime-reduction strategies. Topics included visualizing a network and types of network data related to SNA, understanding group dynamics and the utilization of SNA in focused deterrence, SNA associated with hotspots as well as NIBIN linkages, and potential implementation challenges and legal considerations.
Feedback from participants:
Ninety-four percent of survey respondents indicated that this webinar achieved its goal of providing information on the concept of SNA and how this tool can be utilized to further crime reduction strategies.
-Communities of Practice-
Communities of Practice (CoPs) bring together those with common interests and/or professions to share lessons learned, refine skills through interactive engagements, and expose members to new methods. Since 2017, PSP has established several CoPs in areas such as crime analysis, technology, and prosecution.
In addition to the CACoP activities that took place this quarter, PSP coordinated efforts for representatives from the Technology Community of Practice (TCoP) to attend the virtual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Technology Conference on
June 24–25, 2020.
Participants from PSP sites Amarillo, Texas; Anchorage, Alaska; Harris County, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; and Tulsa, Oklahoma took advantage of this unique opportunity.
As part of this conference, participants attended sessions on:
- - Technological Innovation in the Age of COVID-19
- - Lessons in Surviving a Ransomware Attack
- - Video Analytics and Integration Challenges Faced by Law Enforcement Agencies
- - Use Cases for UAS Systems
- - Successfully Navigating Between Leadership and IT Staff
- - Using Policing Technologies Ethically
- - Limitations of Sharing Intelligence and Investigation Information
- - Maximizing Public Safety Mobility
During this quarter, PSP initiated efforts to establish a Public Information Officer (PIO) CoP. In our rapidly evolving technological and globally connected environment, it is essential that law enforcement agencies make concerted efforts to keep citizens informed on their activities and community efforts. Next quarter, PSP plans to hold discussions with the PIO CoP to discuss creative ways to engage the community while facing COVID-19-related challenges.
—FEATURED TOOLKIT—
PUBLIC SAFETY CLEARINGHOUSE
This Officer and Community Wellness Resources for Law Enforcement toolkit was curated by the PSP team to provide a suite of timely resources dedicated to assisting law enforcement with best practices for building community trust, strengthening relationships, and increasing cultural understanding with diverse communities. The resources included also address officer resiliency and ways to mitigate the impact of stress on the duties of policing.
The Public Safety Clearinghouse is a public online tool that serves as a one-stop shop for violence reduction and public safety resources from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) program components and other federal entities. The Clearinghouse was developed as part of PSP and was officially launched in 2017 to provide a single point of access to DOJ violence reduction and public safety resources for the criminal justice field.
The Clearinghouse functions as an online catalog for users to browse, search, and ultimately build a custom toolkit of resources that can be downloaded in one package and shared with others for future access.
If you have questions or would like to add any DOJ-sponsored resources to the Clearinghouse, please contact info@pspartnership.org.
-Contact Us-
We want to hear from you! Do you have a success story or information that you would like to feature in future editions of the PSP Impact?
Please contact info@pspartnership.org for suggestions on items to spotlight.
This project was supported by Grant No. 2016-DG-BX-K006 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.