Law enforcement executives now have it all in one place: Five critical concepts that are proven to improve policing and save money. NIJ's "Five Things" synthesizes many years of research and distills evidence-based practices that can make a difference into a single list. The list was developed by former NIJ director John Laub and current Police Foundation president (and former NIJ visiting fellow) Jim Bueermann.
Five Things Law Enforcement Executives Can Do to Make a Difference:
1. Crime is rarely random; patrols shouldn't be either. Focusing on small geographic locations and times when crimes occur and targeting specific, high-impact repeat offenders can decrease crime.
2. Quality is more important than speed. In most cases, thorough investigations, problem solving and careful forensic evidence collection contribute more to arresting suspects than shaving a few seconds off of initial response times.
3. DNA works for property crimes, too. Collecting and using DNA evidence substantially increases the likelihood of solving property crimes -- leading to twice as many arrests and twice as many cases being accepted for prosecution than in non-DNA "traditional" investigations.
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.
5. Officer safety and wellness should be a priority. Safety training, certain shift lengths and using body armor prevents injuries and saves lives.
Learn more at the Five Things topic page
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