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As one arm of the criminal justice system, law enforcement is responsible for maintaining social and public order. RAND research is relevant to many issues affecting law enforcement agencies in the United States, with a focus on public safety, quality policing and community policing, and the recruitment and retention of quality officers.

Q&A
Reducing Police Violence: Q&A with Melissa Labriola
A succession of high-profile police killings has prompted some departments and communities to seek change. But data is sparse, and research is thin. Melissa Labriola helped lead a study of police violence and developed a road map for future research that could move the field forward.
Sep 1, 2022
Commentary
What Support Do Officers Need to Perform at Their Peak?
Police1's second annual survey on “What Cops Want” shows both major strengths and substantial challenges in the profession. Law enforcement leadership can use the findings to better support and engage their officers.
Jun 14, 2022

Explore Law Enforcement

Commentary
Data Key to Tackling Racial Profiling in Ferguson
Authorities in Ferguson would be wise to consider following Cincinnati's example in dealing with mistrust between police and citizens after the police shooting of a young black man. The city embarked on a thorough examination of racial profiling by its police force and took steps to deal with the perception that bias was influencing the way police officers performed their duties.
Aug 21, 2014
Commentary
License Plate Readers and Right to Privacy
License plate reader technology can be a force multiplier for law enforcement. Its ability to identify license plates of interest to police in real-time makes it an effective tool but there is also potential for abuse. Law enforcement authorities should address credible privacy concerns.
Jul 15, 2014
News Release
License Plate Readers Are an Important Police Tool, but Hurdles Remain to Reach Full Potential
Systems that automatically read automobile license plates have the potential to save police investigative time and increase safety, but law enforcement officials must address issues related to staffing, compatibility, and privacy before the technology can reach its full potential.
Jul 2, 2014
Report
License Plate Readers Are an Important Police Tool, but Hurdles Remain
Systems that automatically read automobile license plates have the potential to save police investigative time and increase safety, but law enforcement officials must address issues related to staffing, compatibility, and privacy before the technology can reach its full potential.
Jul 2, 2014
Report
Evaluation of the Shreveport Predictive Policing Experiment
This report documents an assessment of a predictive policing effort that was conducted to evaluate the crime reduction effects of policing guided by statistical predictions.
Jul 1, 2014
Multimedia
Commencement Weekend Policy Dialogue on Criminal Justice
In this podcast, recorded during the Pardee RAND Graduate School’s 2014 commencement weekend, Susan L. Marquis, the school’s dean, moderates a policy discussion on criminal justice with a panel of experts.
Jun 20, 2014
Report
How Do We Know What Information Sharing Is Really Worth? Exploring Methodologies to Measure the Value of Information Sharing and Fusion Efforts
This report discusses the challenges of evaluating information-sharing efforts that seek to achieve multiple goals simultaneously; reviews past evaluations of information-sharing programs; and lays out a path to improving the evaluation of such efforts.
Jun 18, 2014
Blog
Saving Money by Using Advanced DoD Sensors on the U.S. Border
There is no legal reason why a DoD sensor should be excluded from use in an interagency technology demonstration or in an actual counterdrug operation as long as a valid request for support is made by an appropriate law enforcement official and no personally identifiable or private information on U.S. citizens is collected.
Jun 6, 2014
Infographic
In Broad Daylight: New Calculator Brings Crime Costs — and the Value of Police — Out of the Shadows
RAND's Cost of Crime Calculator lets city leaders and residents calculate the total cost of crime in their communities and assess the potential value of hiring additional police officers.
May 15, 2014
News Release
Addressing Mexico's Violent Drug-Trafficking Organizations Will Require Coordinated Effort
Mexico is not like any other case characterized by "warlordism," resource insurgency, ungoverned spaces, and organized crime. Despite the lack of a perfectly analogous case, Mexico stands to benefit from historical lessons from countries facing similar challenges.
May 5, 2014
Report
Addressing Mexico's Violent Drug-Trafficking Organizations Will Require Coordinated Effort
Mexico is not like any other case characterized by “warlordism,” resource insurgency, ungoverned spaces, and organized crime. Despite the lack of a perfectly analogous case, Mexico stands to benefit from historical lessons from countries facing similar challenges.
May 5, 2014
Report
Mexico Is Not Colombia: Alternative Historical Analogies for Responding to the Challenge of Violent Drug-Trafficking Organizations — Supporting Case Studies
Although there is no perfectly analogous case to Mexico's current security situation, historical case studies may offer lessons for policymakers as they cope with challenges related to violence and corruption in that country.
May 5, 2014
Report
Greater Transparency and Accountability Key to Improving Effectiveness of Israel Police
An approach to policing known as “procedural justice,” emphasizing transparency and accountability, would help Israel's national police meet current and emerging challenges. The force needs to address issues of civil-police relations, benchmarking, performance measurement, and deterrence.
May 2, 2014
Commentary
After Boston, Beware DIY Attacks: Front & Center
Orlando Sentinel editorial writer Darryl E. Owens interviewed Brian Michael Jenkins, senior adviser to the president of RAND. They discussed last year's Boston Marathon bombing and the current threat of terrorist acts in the United States.
Apr 16, 2014
Report
Evaluation of National Institute of Justice–Funded Geospatial Software Tools: Technical and Utility Assessments to Improve Tool Development, Dissemination, and Usage
A geospatial software tool-evaluation study assessed 14 recent tool developments funded by the National Institute of Justice. The study integrates input from tool developers and tool users with RAND's independent tool assessments.
Apr 3, 2014
News Release
Black Markets for Hackers Are Increasingly Sophisticated, Specialized and Maturing
Black and gray markets for computer hacking tools, services, and byproducts such as stolen credit card numbers continue to expand, creating an increasing threat to businesses, governments, and individuals.
Mar 24, 2014
Report
Black Markets for Hackers Are Increasingly Sophisticated, Specialized, and Maturing
Black and gray markets for computer hacking tools, services, and byproducts such as stolen credit card numbers continue to expand, creating an increasing threat to businesses, governments, and individuals.
Mar 24, 2014
Journal Article
Assessing the Effects of Medical Marijuana Laws on Marijuana Use: The Devil Is in the Details
This paper sheds light on previous inconsistencies identified in the literature regarding the relationship between medical marijuana laws (MMLs) and recreational marijuana use by closely examining the importance of policy and the timing of when particular policy dimensions are enacted.
Jan 1, 2014
Commentary
Predictive Policing: An Effective Tool, but Not a Crystal Ball
Predictive policing is not an end-all solution, but rather a tool that must be used in concert with other policing resources as part of a broader anti-crime effort. Used properly, predictive policing can predict the risk of future events, but not the events themselves.
Nov 14, 2013
Research Brief
Forecasting Crime for Law Enforcement
Predictive policing is the use of analytical techniques to prevent crime or solve past crimes. An assessment of some of the most promising technical tools and tactical approaches offers recommendations for police and developers.
Oct 14, 2013

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RAND Topic:
Law Enforcement

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Elina Treyger

Senior Political Scientist

Elina Treyger is a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, and is also a lawyer. Her work at RAND spans topics in three areas of research: (1) homeland security (with a focus on migration, immigration enforcement, and dis- & misinformation); (2) national security and defense (with a…
Lisa Wagner

Senior Policy Analyst

Lisa Wagner (she/her) is a senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. She manages the American Educator Panel and the American Life Panel. She specializes in developing and conducting evaluations and managing large, complex projects. Wagner also specializes in the use of large and complex…

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