Evidence Based Policing

1. Evidence Based Policing Carl J. Jensen III, Ph.D. Behavioral Science Unit FBI Academy

2. The Reaction from Doctors “Medical researchers can take a hike...it is really easy for people from academia who have never been a doctor to tell us how, where and why to do our job...Strap it on, baby, and let's see you get out here and do it..If they want to come and talk about stuff after that, rock and roll."

3. The Reaction from Law Enforcement "Criminologists can take a hike...it is really easy for people from academia who have never been a police officer to tell us how, where and why to do our job...Strap it on, baby, and let's see you get out here and do it..If they want to come and talk about stuff after that, rock and roll."

4. Evidence Based Policing “Of all the ideas in policing, one stands out as the most powerful force for change: police practices should be based on scientific evidence about what works best .” --Sherman 1998

5. Why EBP Now? • Research is better • Researchers care about the police • Internet • Grants

6. Free Stuff!! Put together a collaboration with a college, university, or community college.

7. Free Stuff!!

8. Universities & the Police • Step 1: Research agenda collaboratively decided • Step 2: Negotiations, MOU, grant funding • Step 3: Collect data • Step 4: Conclusions, adjustments to policy • Step 5: Start again

9. Successful Collaborations • Select a problem relevant to the law enforcement agency. • Researchers and law enforcement leaders had to share the responsibility for the overall project. • Researchers and law enforcement leaders had to be qualified for their work in the partnership. • Researchers and law enforcement leaders had to devote time and interest to the project. • Researchers had to offer practical recommendations • Law enforcement leaders had to be in positions of power in order to act upon the recommendations for operational change that resulted from research. IACP: Improving Partnerships Between Law Enforcement Leaders and University Based Researchers

10. IACP Recommendation Areas • Selecting and Supervising Skilled Researchers • Training Law Enforcement Leaders in Evaluating and Performing Research • Designing and Formalizing the Research Agenda • Developing and Sustaining Relationships between Law Enforcement Leaders and Researchers • Evaluating and Responding to Research Results • Managing Funding for Research Partnerships IACP: Improving Partnerships Between Law Enforcement Leaders and University Based Researchers

11. Evidence Based Policing The Police Should BeMORE LIKE DOCTORS!

12. Doctors and the Police EXCEPT 85% OF MEDICAL PRACTICES REMAIN UNTESTED BY RESEARCH EVIDENCE --Millenson 1997

13. Doctors and the Police EXCEPT MOST DOCTORS RARELY READ THE 2500 MEDICAL JOURNALS AVAILABLE, AND INSTEAD BASE THEIR PRACTICE ON LOCAL CUSTOM. --Millenson 1997

14. Doctors and the Police EXCEPT MOST STUDIES THAT DO GUIDE PRACTICE USE WEAK, NON-RANDOMIZED RESEARCH DESIGNS --Millenson 1997

15. Doctors and the Police EXCEPT EIGHT YEARS AFTER ANTIBIOTICS WERE SHOWN TO CURE ULCERS, 90% OF ULCER PATIENTS ARE NOT TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS. --Millenson 1997

16. Success With EBP • “Consume” research • Apply it, given the unique attributes of your agency/community • Measure its success • Refine and continue

17. From Sherman, Lawrence (1998) Evidence Based Policing Washington D.C.: Police Foundation

18. Consuming Research • Where can you find it? • How good is it?

19. SOOO…... What’s Been Shown to Work?

20. U.S. Homicide Clearance Rates 1961: 94% 2002: 62%

21. Murder Rate 1960-1999

22. Homicide Clearance Rates Why Have They Dropped? Increased Workloads Greenwood et al. 1977; Ahlburg and Knutsson 1987 Stranger-on-Stranger Gilbert 1983, Cardarelli and Cavanagh 1992 Accompanied by Felony (e.g., drugs, robbery) Riedel and Rinehart 1994, 1996

23. Homicide Clearance Rates Why Have They Dropped? Fear of Retaliation/Distrust of Police Riedel and Jarvis 1998 Lack of Witnesses Riedel 1994, 1995 All of the Above IACP Murder Summit 1995

24. To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates? “There is no prospect of seeing the (homicide) clearance rate return to the good old days when it was in the 80% range.” --Fox 2000, in USA Today

25. To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates? “There are few homicide cases that given the right initial response, the right timing, and the right dedication of resources cannot be solved.” --Wellford and Cronin 1999

26. Fyfe, Goldcamp and White 1997 One Study…. Intensified Team Approach FBI Cold Case Squads Work With DEA/FBI/State Narcotics on Drug Murders Use Evidence Specialists (AKA CSI)

27. Another Study Charles Wellford and James Cronin An Analysis of Variables Affecting the Clearance of Homicides: A Multistate Study 1999: Justice Research and Statistics Association 777North Capitol Street NE, Suite 801 Washington, D. C. 20002 (202) 842-9330 http://www.jrsainfo.org/pubs/reports/Clearance_of_Homicide.html

28. The Study Design Four Cities 200 Cases per City* 215 Attributes per Case *798 Cases Total

29. Results--First Officer on Scene The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if the First Officer on the Scene: Secures the Scene Immediately Notifies the Medical Examiner’s Office, Homicide Squad, and Crime Lab Attempts to Locate Witnesses

30. Results--Detectives The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if Detectives: Arrive at the Scene Within 30 Minutes Describe the Crime Scene, Including Measurements, in Their Notes Attend the Postmortem Examination

31. Results--Detectives The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if Detectives: Interview Friends and Acquaintances of the Victim Locate a Witness at the Scene Utilize Confidential Informants Interview the Attending Physician and Medical Personnel

32. Results--Detectives The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if Detectives: Conduct a Neighborhood Survey Utilize Surveillance Run Computer Checks on the Suspects, Guns, and Witnesses

33. How Many Detectives Should Be Assigned? 3, 4, and 11

34. Results--Medical Examiner The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if the Medical Examiner: Prepares a Body Chart of the Victim

35. Results--Case Characteristics The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if: The Homicide Occurs in a Private Location An Eyewitness Observes the Homicide A Weapon is Found at the Crime Scene The Conflict is over Money or Property (Excluding Drugs)

36. Case Characteristics The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if: The Victim is a Member of a Gang/Drug Organization The Suspect is African American or Hispanic The Homicide is Committed to Obtain Money to Buy Drugs The Suspect Kills the Victim to Avoid Retaliation

37. Case Characteristics The Case is LESS Likely to be Cleared if: It is Drug-Related

38. Another Study: Jensen (2003) Who is most likely to choose “best practices?” • Those with a lot of homicide investigative experience? • Those with a lot of homicide non-investigative experience? • Those with a lot of homicide training? • Those with the most formal education? • Those from large agencies? • Those from small agencies?

39. Another Study: Jensen (2003) Who is most likely to choose “best practices?” • Those with a lot of homicide investigative experience? • Those with a lot of homicide non-investigative experience!! • Those with a lot of homicide training? • Those with the most formal education? • Those from large agencies? • Those from small agencies?

40. Benefits of the Studies • Use “what works” to guide policy: • Take home cars • Overtime • Training • Transfers/Rotations • Resource allocation • Organization • Investigative strategies • Personnel decisions