These five things come from years of research, analysis, testing and evaluation. Use the five things to make your community safer, your officers safer and your leadership more dynamic. Following the guidance in the Five Things will give your agency higher impact and lower costs overall.
The more we know about what works, the better we are at making a difference.
1. Crime is rarely random; patrols shouldn't be either.
Focusing on small geographic locations when and where crimes occur, and targeting specific persons who commit high-impact repeat offenses, can effectively decrease crime.
Topics Pages
- Crime Mapping
- Directed Police Patrols
- Focused Deterrence
- Hot Spot Policing
- Operation Ceasefire
- Project Safe Neighborhoods
Publications and Multimedia
- Hot Spots Policing (video)
- Mapping Crime: Principle and Practice
- Mapping Crime: Understanding Hot Spots
Tools
Find more Mapping and Analysis Tools
2. Quality is more important than speed.
Thorough investigations, problem solving and careful forensic evidence collection all contribute more to arresting suspects than shaving a few seconds off initial response times in most cases.
Topic Pages
Publications and Multimedia
- Crime Scene Investigation: Guides for Law Enforcement
- Crime Scene Investigation: A Reference for Law Enforcement Training
- Bomb and Explosion Scenes
- Death Scenes
- Electronic Crime Scenes
- Fire and Arson Scenes
- Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: An On-the-Scene Reference for First Responders
Tools
- Tools (see forensics- and investigation-related tools)
Training
Funding
3. DNA works for property crimes, too.
Collecting and using DNA evidence substantially increases the likelihood of solving property crimes — twice as many arrests and twice as many cases accepted for prosecution.
Topic Pages
Publications
- DNA Analysis for “Minor” Crimes: A Major Benefit for Law Enforcement
- The DNA Field Experiment: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Use of DNA in the Investigation of High-Volume Crimes (pdf, 164 pages)
- DNA Solves Property Crimes (But Are We Ready for That?)
- What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
Training
- Collecting DNA Evidence at Property Crime Scenes
- What Every First Responding Officer Should Know About Forensic DNA
- What Every Investigator and Evidence Technician Should Know About DNA
4. In police work, perceptions matter.
When people see the police as fair, lawful and respectful, officers are safer and citizens are more likely to obey the law and comply with police orders. For example, how an officer treats a stopped motorist influences the motorist’s opinion more than whether the officer issues a citation.
Topic Pages
Publications and Multimedia
- Don’t Jump the Shark: Understanding Deterrence and Legitimacy in the Architecture of Law Enforcement (presentation)
- Exploring the Role of the Police in Prisoner Reentry
- Legitimacy and Community Cooperation With Law Enforcement (presentation)
- Making Every Encounter Count: Building Trust and Confidence in the Police
- Police Legitimacy and Predictive Policing, Geography and Public Safety Bulletin
- Toward a New Professionalism in Policing
5. Make officer safety and wellness a priority.
Safety training, certain shift lengths and body armor usage can prevent injuries and save lives. For example, the “Shift Length Experiment” study showed that officers who worked 10-hour shifts (compared to 8- and 12-hour shifts made fewer errors and worked less overtime.
Topic Pages
- Body Armor
- Officer Performance and Safety
- Officer Safety Projects
- Officer Work Hours, Stress and Fatigue
- Police Roadside Safety
Publications and Multimedia
- Body Armor Video — Wear Your Armor! (video)
- Body Armor Video for Purchasers (video)
- Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study (pdf, 45 pages)
- Sleep Deprivation: What Does It Mean for Public Safety Officers?
- Sleep Disorders, Work Shifts and Officer Wellness