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RAND conducts analyses and makes recommendations to strengthen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security across its full set of missions to prevent terrorism and enhance security, secure and manage America's borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard and secure cyberspace, and strengthen preparedness and resilience. In the area of public safety, RAND research addresses drug policy, crime, prison reform, and prisoner reentry, and other topics.

Commentary
How to Put RAND Findings on Veteran Support for Extremism in Context
A RAND survey found that U.S. veterans appeared to support extremist groups at a rate lower than the general population. In contrast, a new University of Maryland study found that veteran status was the most prominent characteristic among extremists involved in terrorism attacks with four or more victims.
Sep 11, 2023
Commentary
Cyber Attacks Reveal Uncomfortable Truths About U.S. Defenses
Without government investments and policies to drive transparency and a clear understanding of what cybersecurity tools do, how well they work, and how securely they are built, the United States risks continuing to offer its adversaries the means to undermine its systems and, ultimately, its security.
Sep 21, 2023

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News Release
Rise of Technology in Criminal Proceedings Poses Risk to Protecting Individuals' Rights
Personal devices like fitness trackers and smartphones are likely to be used increasingly in criminal investigations. Such technology offers new tools to law enforcement, but raises unique issues regarding constitutional rights such as self-incrimination.
Jan 10, 2017
News Release
China Invests Warily in Middle East
China endeavors to protect its expanding interests in the Middle East by not taking sides in conflicts and controversies. The United States should encourage China to become more involved in efforts to improve regional stability while reassuring partners of its own commitment to the region.
Dec 5, 2016
News Release
Changes Needed to Fortify U.S. Blood System from Financial and Biological Threats
Medical advances have reduced the demand for blood in the United States, creating financial pressure on the nation's blood collection centers and threatening their future survival.
Nov 28, 2016
News Release
Retail Medical Clinics Do Not Reduce Visits to Hospital Emergency Departments for Minor Health Ailments
There has been hope that retail clinics would help lower health care costs by diverting care from costly emergency departments to more convenient and lower-cost retail clinics, but new findings do not support that idea.
Nov 14, 2016
News Release
Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction Program Helped Improve Economic Conditions and Security in Afghanistan
The ability of the U.S. military to quickly provide small-scale humanitarian relief and reconstruction services in Afghanistan enhanced the operational effectiveness of U.S. forces there during the counterinsurgency-focused 2010-2013 time frame.
Oct 13, 2016
News Release
Re-establishing Border Controls in Europe Could Cost Up to €3 Billion a Year
Re-establishing border controls across Europe would cost €2 to 3 billion in annual operating costs, plus fixed one-off costs of anywhere between €0.1 and €19 billion. There would also be significant social and political costs.
Oct 13, 2016
News Release
Ukraine's Security Sector Needs Substantial Reform
An assessment of Ukraine's security sector determines what different institutions need to do and where gaps exist. Roles and responsibilities need to be clarified, and coordination is needed among individual ministries and agencies.
Oct 5, 2016
News Release
Cost of Cyber Incidents Not Large Compared with Other Business Losses; May Influence Responses by Businesses
Data breaches have made headlines in recent years, exposing poor practices that put the personal information of millions of consumers at risk. But the cost of a typical cyber breach is much less than generally estimated, providing one possible explanation for why American companies do not invest more to improve computer security.
Sep 20, 2016
News Release
Physicians with Waivers to Prescribe Buprenorphine for Opioid Addiction Have Capacity to Treat More Patients
Many American physicians who prescribe buprenorphine to treat individuals addicted to opioids are prescribing substantially below the patient limits allowed by law. More than 20 percent of waivered physicians treated only three or fewer patients.
Sep 20, 2016
News Release
Al Shabaab Weakened but Not Defeated in Somalia
Efforts to weaken the al Qa'ida-linked terrorist group al Shabaab in Somalia have had some success, but the U.S. campaign there is in jeopardy. Urgent steps are needed to address the political, economic, and governance challenges at the heart of the conflict.
Sep 13, 2016
News Release
First Estimates of Judicial Costs of Specific Crimes, from Homicide to Theft
When considering the costs of crime, policymakers and the public typically think about the price of housing prisoners, not the judicial costs. The costs to taxpayers of prosecuting, defending, and adjudicating crimes can vary widely, from $200 to $400 for a motor vehicle theft to $22,000 to $44,000 for a homicide.
Sep 12, 2016
News Release
U.S. Rules for Targeted Killing Using Drones Need Clarifying
Current U.S. policies on using drones for targeted killing are characterized by ambiguities in interpretations of international law and too many generalities, despite recent efforts by the Obama administration to clarify the policies.
Sep 8, 2016
News Release
Mass Marketing Fraud Costing Each UK Victim Nearly £7,000 on Average During Their Lifetime
Mass marketing fraud affects all members of society, regardless of their age, class, occupation, socio-economic background, race, or gender. Victims lose £6,744, on average, during their lifetime.
Sep 1, 2016
News Release
Untangling the 'Dark Web': New Study Shows Steady Growth of the Online Illicit Drugs Trade
The number of transactions for illicit drugs on cryptomarkets, which exist on the “dark web,” have tripled and revenues have doubled since 2013, when Silk Road 1.0 was shut down by the FBI.
Aug 8, 2016
News Release
Exploring the Course and Consequences of a Sino-U.S. War
Premeditated war between the United States and China is very unlikely, but the danger that a mishandled crisis could trigger hostilities cannot be ignored. A new analysis illuminates various paths a war could take and their possible effects.
Jul 28, 2016
News Release
Suicide Prevention Hotlines in California Could Expand Digital Offerings and Partnerships with Health Systems to ...
Suicide prevention hotlines in California respond to callers in need and reduce their distress. They could reach more people and improve services by expanding digital offerings such as chat and establishing programs to monitor and improve quality.
Jul 12, 2016
News Release
Alcohol and Marijuana Use by Southern California Adolescents Predicts Poor Academic Performance and Health Problems
Adolescents who use both marijuana and alcohol are more likely to have poor academic performance and mental health during high school. Marijuana use is predictive of poorer functioning across more areas than alcohol use, and nonwhite youth tend to experience poorer functioning than white youth.
Jun 14, 2016
News Release
Declassified Documents Provide Insight into Origins of the Islamic State and How to Defeat the Group
Looking at more than 140 recently declassified documents from the predecessors of the Islamic State, it is evident that the group has been operating for years with remarkable continuity in its philosophy, methods, and goals, including the long-standing aspiration for creating a caliphate.
May 19, 2016
News Release
Body-Worn Cameras Associated with Increased Assaults Against Police
Rates of assault against police officers are 15% higher when they wear cameras, possibly because they feel more confident about reporting assaults once they are captured on camera. The camera also may make officers less assertive and more vulnerable to assault.
May 17, 2016
News Release
Southern California Middle School Students Exposed to More Than Three Alcohol Ads Each Day
African American and Hispanic youths are exposed to an average of 4.1 and 3.4 alcohol ads per day respectively, while white youths are exposed to an average of two ads per day. Greater restrictions on alcohol advertising outdoors and on television should be considered.
May 17, 2016

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RAND Topic:
Homeland Security and Public Safety

Topic Synonyms:
Homeland Defense

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Andrea Phillips

Policy Researcher

Andrea (Andie) Phillips (she/her) is a policy researcher with expertise in education policy, policy analysis, program evaluation, single case design, and qualitative methods and analysis. Phillips’ work focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions that promote…
Andrew M. Parker

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist

Andrew M. Parker is a senior behavioral and social scientist at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His research applies core concepts in behavioral decision research to the understanding of decisions in complex, real-world situations. He has led or…

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