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Publications and Commentary

Latest Research

Amplifying the Speakers: Identifying High-Priority Needs for Law Enforcement Public Information Officers 2022

Michael J. D. Vermeer, Jeremy D. Barnum, Siara I. Sitar, Dulani Woods, Brian A. Jackson
Communications staff at law enforcement agencies play an important role in meeting public expectations for transparency and responsiveness to concerns. Despite their importance, little is known about their needs. In April 2021, researchers convened a workshop of 14 individuals in law enforcement who identified 26 needs to improve the profession that spanned best practices, organizational issues, information-sharing, and staff development.
Broadband Communications Prioritization and Interoperability Guidance for Law Enforcement: Critical Considerations in the Transition to the Public Safety Broadband Network 2022

Bob Harrison, James Dimarogonas, Jarrett Catlin, Richard H. Donohue, Thomas Goughnour, John S. Hollywood, Jason Mastbaum, Kristin Van Abel, Jay Balagna
In 2018, law enforcement agencies gained access to a national, interoperable first responder broadband communications network that was supposed to result in simple solutions for interoperability. For various reasons, this has not happened. In this report, RAND researchers present practical knowledge to inform agencies about available broadband options and opportunities, governance issues, funding options, costs, and barriers to implementation.
Mass Attacks Defense Toolkit 2022

John S. Hollywood, Richard H. Donohue, Tara Richardson, Andrew Lauland, Cliff Karchmer, Jordan R. Reimer, Thomas Edward Goode, Dulani Woods, Pauline Moore, Patricia A. Stapleton, et al.
RAND researchers created this tool to advance efforts to prevent and reduce intentional, interpersonal firearm violence and public mass attacks in the United States. The goal of this toolkit is to provide practical strategies and guidance on deterring, mitigating, and responding to mass attacks for a variety of audiences, including public safety experts, practitioners, policymakers, community groups, and the general public.
Police Killings: Road Map of Research Priorities for Change 2022

Meagan Cahill, Melissa M. Labriola, Jirka Taylor
In this report, RAND Corporation researchers summarize what is currently known about killings committed by police officers in the United States and identify existing evidence about various ways to prevent these killings. The authors also recommend areas in which future research efforts could help inform policymaking and decisionmaking aimed at reducing police killings.
Evaluating Baltimore's Aerial Investigation Research Pilot Program 2022

Rosanna Smart, Andrew R. Morral, Terry L. Schell
Using a Bayesian statistical analytic framework, investigates whether the Baltimore Police Department's use of aerial surveillance could help detectives solve serious violent crimes.
'Passing', but Far from Perfect: Assessing Public Confidence in Police and Desire for Reform in Pennsylvania 2022

Nathan E. Kruis, Richard H. Donohue, Payton Perry, Nicholas J. Rowland
This study measures public confidence in police and public support for policing practices. Findings reveal that participants expressed moderate levels of confidence in their local police, although confidence varied across racial groups.
Speeding While Black: Black Motorists Face More-Serious Charges for Excessive Speeding Than White Motorists Do 2021

Shamena Anwar, Patrick Bayer, Randi Hjalmarsson, Matthew L. Mizel
Using data on speeding violations in Virginia, researchers examine whether there are racial disparities in who benefits from the discretion of law enforcement and the courts to discount or downgrade misdemeanor violations.
Racial Disparities in Misdemeanor Speeding Convictions 2021

Shamena Anwar, Patrick Bayer, Randi Hjalmarsson, Matthew L. Mizel
In Virginia, motorists accused of excessive speeding can face either a criminal misdemeanor or a traffic infraction, and the charge is at the discretion of law enforcement officers and the courts. In this report, researchers use data on speeding violations in 18 Virginia counties over a nine-year period to examine whether there are racial disparities in who benefits from this discretion and why these racial disparities might exist.
SAFE Charlotte: Alternative Response Models and Disparities in Policing 2021

Molly M. Simmons, Daniel Tapia, Richard H. Donohue, Denis Agniel, Matthew L. Mizel, Lisa Wagner, Amanda Charbonneau, Danielle Sobol
Under contract with Charlotte, North Carolina, the authors evaluated three of the six policing and public-safety recommendations in the city's SAFE Charlotte: Safety and Accountability for Everyone report. The authors recommend two pilot programs: a team of clinicians to provide services to address substance abuse, mental health, and homelessness and a model that would delegate low-risk, low-priority calls to nonspecialized civilian responders.
Understanding Subgroups Within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department: Community and Department Perceptions with Recommendations for Change 2021

Samuel Peterson, Dionne Barnes-Proby, Kathryn E. Bouskill, Lois M. Davis, Matthew L. Mizel, Beverly A. Weidmer, Isabel Leamon, Alexandra Mendoza-Graf, Matt Strawn, Joshua Snoke, et al.
RAND Corporation researchers studied deputy subgroups within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) to help LASD and the county learn more about how these subgroups are formed, why they exist, what actions might be taken if it is determined that these subgroups have a significant impact on LASD's mission, and whether subgroups have affected community perceptions and trust in LASD.
A Better Path Forward for Criminal Justice: A Report by the Brookings-AEI Working Group on Criminal Justice Reform 2021

Rashawn Ray, Brent Orrell, Shawn D. Bushway, Matthew DeMichele, Grant Duwe, John Eason, David J. Harding, Howard Henderson, Makada Henry-Nickie, Annelies Goger, et al.
In this volume, experts offer policymakers with analysis and recommendations to support sustained, bipartisan reforms to move the criminal justice system toward a more humane and effective footing.
Evaluating Baltimore's Aerial Investigation Research Pilot Program: Interim Report 2021

Andrew R. Morral, Terry L. Schell, Rosanna Smart, Brandon Crosby, Justin Lee, Rose Kerber
This report provides interim findings on the Aerial Investigation Research pilot program, a Baltimore Police Department program in which manned aircraft equipped with cameras gathered evidence to support crime investigations. This pilot was designed to facilitate police investigations of four types of crime (homicides, nonfatal shootings, armed robberies, and carjackings) and ran from May through October 2020.

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Commentary and Blog Posts

Reforming Policing: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Perspective
Disparities in policing outcomes, so often associated with race and ethnicity, have led to divisive discourse on the necessity of police reform in America. So how might we make progress on police reform? Ultimately, the community, in collaboration with local public officials, should determine what it means to serve and protect.
Sep 28, 2022
Letters and Cards Telling People About Local Police Reduce Crime
Researchers conducted a large field experiment to deliver cards and letters to residents of a community with information about local police officers. They then evaluated how knowing some information about individuals one has never met can manifest in judgments about them and potentially reduce crime.
Sep 6, 2022
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
How to Prevent, Prepare for, and Respond to Mass Attacks
A new step-by-step guide can help communities prevent shootings and other mass attacks before they happen, and save lives when they do. It's written for a variety of public- and private-sector audiences—everyone from emergency responders and school officials to security personnel and community leaders.
Aug 30, 2022
A Toolkit for Avoiding Mass Shootings
RAND has developed an online educational toolkit to provide practical strategies and guidance on deterring, mitigating, and responding to mass attacks. Research highlights three top ways to mitigate and/or respond to mass attacks right now: through proactive prevention, relentless follow-up, and diligent preparation and training.
Jul 14, 2022
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