Police-Community Relations

Police shootings across the country continue to raise questions about the relationship between police departments and the communities they are charged with protecting. Currently, the L.A. Police Department is considering new use-of-force policies that emphasize deescalation concepts. In this Events @ RAND podcast, our panel of experts discuss

  • fair and impartial policing of different minority and ethnic groups;
  • technologies like body cameras aimed at making policing safer and more transparent;
  • how behavioral health training for officers is working;
  • how officer-involved shootings are handled in the courts.
Arif Alikahn

Arif Alikhan

Director, Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy,
Los Angeles Police Department

Peter Bibring

Peter Bibring

Director of Police Practices, ACLU of Southern California

Brian Jackson, Senior Physical Scientist, RAND Corporation

Brian Jackson

Senior Physical Scientist, RAND Corporation

Matthew Johnson

Matthew Johnson

President, Los Angeles Police Commission

Kate Mather

Kate Mather (moderator)

Reporter, Los Angeles Times

  • Strengthening Trust Between Police and the Public

    Amid recent tensions between law enforcement and the public, three key questions must be answered to build the foundation for long-lasting mutual trust, especially given technological changes that are increasing transparency.

    May 1, 2015

    Brian A. Jackson

  • Internet Technology Could Aid Police, Courts, and Prisons

    New Internet-based technology may aid criminal justice agencies through promising tools, such as better criminal databases, remotely conducted trials, and electronic monitoring of parolees. But many of the developments raise issues related to civil rights, privacy, and cybersecurity that must be addressed.

    Aug 17, 2015

    John S. Hollywood , Dulani Woods, et al.

  • Can Big Data Help Build Trust in the Police?

    After two controversial grand jury decisions not to indict police in the deaths of unarmed African Americans, a White House task force has 90 days to provide recommendations for promoting accountability among law enforcement agencies to cultivate trust between police and communities. The timeline may seem impossible, but, sadly, these issues are old and the solutions are well known.

    Dec 11, 2014

    Nelson Lim