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The National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars Program is designed to increase the research capabilities of law enforcement professionals and agencies. In recent years, NIJ has focused on empowering law enforcement to integrate research into policies and practices. The LEADS Scholars Program advances evidence-based policing by supporting the development of research-minded law enforcement professionals.
Established in 2014 through a partnership between NIJ and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), NIJ's LEADS Scholars Program focused on developing the research capacity of mid-career law enforcement officers who were committed to advancing and integrating science into law enforcement policies and practice. Research is a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies. This program continues to identify and nurture the next generation of law enforcement leadership through encouraging the use of evidence-based research to advance criminal justice. Learn more about the LEADS Law Enforcement Officers.
In 2019, NIJ piloted the addition of LEADS Academics to the Scholars program, with the goal of advancing practitioner-led research and promoting sustainable researcher/practitioner partnerships. One of the most important aspects of the LEADS program is the connection between researchers and practitioners. The addition of LEADS Academics to the program has strengthen those connections. Learn more about the LEADS Academics.
In 2019 NIJ also piloted the addition of LEADS Civilians to the Scholars program. The Civilians program offers a unique opportunity for law enforcement civilians to partner with current LEADS Scholars and alumni, in an effort to use data-driven strategies and locally-tailored research to advance their agency’s mission. Learn more about the LEADS Civilians .
Today there are over 115 LEADS Scholars in the network, which includes sworn law enforcement officers, civilians, and academics.
NIJ LEADS Program Increases Research Capabilities of Law Enforcement Officers
This video, produced for IACPTV, provides an overview of the NIJ Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) program. NIJ LEADS Scholars from Dayton and Newark police departments provide an overview of the LEADS program as they describe their projects and experiences working in the program.
Hear from LEADS scholars Major Wendy Stiver, Dayton Police Department, and Captain Ivonne Roman, Newark Police Department.
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Reducing Traffic Fatalities – NIJ LEADS Scholar Spotlight
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Incorporating Research and Data Into Criminal Justice Agencies - NIJ LEADS Alumni Spotlight
Sergeant Jeffery Egge of the Minneapolis Police Department, and NIJ LEADS Scholar alum, discusses his experience with leads including how the program benefited his agency and his use of date to address gun violence and the opioid epidemic and the city's sentinel events review of overdose fatalities. Sergeant Egge also discusses his current work looking at investigative closures.
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Women in Policing
Captain Ivonne Roman, Newark (NJ) Police Department, describes how her participation in NIJ’s LEADS Program has helped her research on women in policing, some of her findings, and describes how LEADS has benefited her career growth.
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Law Enforcement and Research Partnerships
Cory Haberman, Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati, discusses his work as an NIJ LEADS Academic and the value of having training researchers working directly with law enforcement agencies.
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Advances in Investigative Techniques: Drug Monitoring Programs
Lieutenant Piotrowski, New Jersey State Police, discusses drug monitoring programs. With this program, his agency collects multiple drug-related data sets to ultimately have an impact on mitigating the impact of drugs in his community. Topics include the benefits of implementing a drug monitoring program, some of the outcomes of the program, and how federal funding can help an agency start such a program.
Lieutenant Piotrowski participated in an NIJ Day panel at the 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference and Expo.
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Police Agency's Value of NIJ LEADS Program
Chief Reynolds of the Charleston (SC) Police Department discusses the value of having an NIJ LEADS Scholar in his agency and how that scholar has helped the agency and community.
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Policing Research: If you can't find it, do it
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NIJ LEADS Program Overview — Empowering Agencies to Integrate Research into Practice
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LEADS Scholar Spotlight - American Society of Evidence-Based Policing
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LEADS Scholar Spotlight — Patrol Officer Exposure to Subcritical Incidents
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LEADS Scholar Spotlight — Reducing Gun Violence
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LEADS Scholar Spotlight — Predictive Policing Algorithms
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LEADS Scholar Spotlight - Optimal Investigator Caseloads
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NIJ's Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Program — Departing Class
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NIJ's Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Program — Ongoing Class
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