Conversations on Public Safety: The Den

For today's conversation, Jessica introduces Dr. Jim Austin, the Director of Strategic Initiatives at JFA Institute, to The Den. Together, they discuss and reflect on his studies with observed and forecasted crime rates. The discussion highlights how policymakers and police leadership can analyze the intersection between criminal justice policies, socioeconomic factors, and long-term trends to understand and effectively address crime rates. 

Throughout the episode, they discuss Dr. Austin's collaboration with Rick Rosenfeld on a group of reports commissioned by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation. These reports created statistical models for forecasting US crime rates and examined potential policy shifts to reduce the US's high rate of incarceration. They discuss the details of the report and the significance it had on the field as a whole. Dr. Austin also explores the challenges in predicting crime shifts and then taking action to change them with factors including population, age, inflation, household dynamics, and politics. 

Topics Covered:

• The typical analyses that Dr. Austin does for corrections and how they have supported crime reform changes
• Breaking down the importance of the forecasting reports Dr. Austin and Rick Rosenfeld collaborated on
• The successful diversion of youth from the juvenile justice system 
• How economic, demographic, and political factors relate to crime trends 
• The decline in crime rates and the need to rethink police and policymaking staffing and performance over quantity 
• Dr. Austin’s perspective on the future of successful long-term policy change 

Resources:

• JFA Institute 
• Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
• Link to reports

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn

For today's conversation, Jessica welcomes Neil Hubbert to The Den, a research associate for IDEA analytics. Together, they discuss the complexities of creating boundaries for police districts or reporting areas through the lens of data analytics. Neil believes that a combination of experience-driven insights from officers and data-driven perspectives from analysts is essential for effective policing.

Throughout the episode, they dive into the unique challenges that police agencies face when reevaluating their jurisdictions and present strategies for accurately representing the communities they serve within those boundaries. They emphasize the importance of understanding the historical context and patterns of police responses and explore how this information can guide division decisions. They also consider how departments can shift away from districts and focus on the data to regulate resources. 

Topics Covered:

• Breaking down police beat management and why they should be tied to the personality of the community 
• Challenges police departments face when considering changing their districts or reporting areas
• The differences in policing within a city with irregularly shaped boundaries, like those on the East Coast 
• How the history of police responses and patterns influence changing boundaries 
• Why response time and availability of officers needs to be considered for structured fluidity 
• The importance of understanding a community's definition of their area, including boundaries and neighborhoods
• Examining the possibility of shifting away from districts to managing resources based on data 

Resources:

• IDEA Analytics Online Courses
• ArcGIS Learning

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn

In the field of law enforcement, the use of intentional language is crucial to convey values, build relationships within communities, and create clear divisions within police departments. In this episode, the panelists engage in a debate about reimagining police departments, focusing on their ideal structures, correct language when naming them, and their hierarchy. The conversation highlights the complexities and challenges of designing a modern, community-oriented law enforcement agency.

Throughout the conversation, the panelists propose that the new agency should be community-centric and have dedicated units for addressing area-specific issues. The panelists emphasize the importance of prioritizing victim services rather than solely pursuing criminals and the need for appropriate language when interacting with families. Plus, they debate the number of divisions necessary to achieve the agency's goals.

Topics Covered:

• The panel proposes a "Guardian Division" to replace patrol units, emphasizing community engagement and problem-solving 
• The name and designations for investigations of crimes against victims
• Renaming divisions to better align with civilian roles
• Highlighting a division that includes support roles such as SWAT, bomb units, helicopters, and canines
• The need for a division dedicated to victim services, including victim advocates, outreach coordinators, and public health professionals
• Debating the necessary amount of divisions and their structures 
• The importance of professional standards, finance, and public information
• The challenges of defining departments 

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn

In part II of the previous episode's discussion on policing capacity, today, the panel questions whether the traditional expectations of police officers, including being armed and having the power to detain, are appropriate for all aspects of their work. They explore the idea that sworn officers may not always be necessary to provide protection when responding to traffic accidents, mental health crises, overdose calls, etc. 

Throughout the episode, the panel considers alternative solutions to these calls and discusses the potential need for new roles within police departments. With the evolving expectations of modern policing, they also explore the roles of victim advocates, forensic interviewers, crime scene technicians, school resource officers, and store security as well as the type of training these roles should undergo. 

Topics Covered:

• The situations that will always need a police presence 
• The importance of victim advocates in reducing investigators' workload 
• Why professionalizing crime scene search with civilians improves its quality 
• Understanding responsibilities of crime analysts and the resources they should have access to
• Debating if the police should be involved in school monitoring, traffic accidents, and suicide calls 
• The training that is necessary to respond to the most high volume types of calls 

Resources:

• Opinion survey (website)

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn

Building on previous episodes that tackled crime, race, and capacity, today, the panel dives deeper into the capacity of leadership within public safety agencies. They explore innovative law enforcement approaches and challenge us to think differently about who and what public safety includes and does. 

Throughout their conversation, they emphasize the need for leaders to embrace vulnerability and innovation. They share their insights on breaking away from traditional divisions and creating specialized units staffed by civilians. Plus, the panel debates the role of patrol divisions in law enforcement. They outline the potential benefits and concerns of redirecting certain responsibilities, such as traffic enforcement, to trained, non-sworn personnel. Also, they touch on the capability of banks and insurance companies to investigate financial crimes, and question the level of police involvement in such cases. 

Topics Covered:

• The importance of critical thinking skills and taking calculated risks in leadership development
• Creating a unit of civilians for crime scene search and analysis
• Misconceptions surrounding the allocation of 70%-80% of police staff to the patrol division 
• The use of non-sworn personnel for traffic enforcement
• Police involvement in traffic accident investigations
• Questioning the need for police involvement in the investigations of financial crimes

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website for a list of police activities we evaluated for civilian v. sworn responsibility 
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn
• LEMAS Data

During their conversations, the panel has questioned their role as consultants and the demands that come with it. They're called in to help agencies think differently and challenge norms, but often, they lack control over the implementation of the recommendations. Today, the panel reflects on the real value they bring to policing and how their analyses can truly make a difference. 

Creating a lasting impact is extremely difficult, but of course, it's the goal. They discuss what consulting in policing should look like and what would happen if it didn't exist. Plus, they touch on key areas where change can occur, from the hiring process to training methods to the overall structure of police departments. With this episode, they hope to inspire ideas for reshaping the future of policing and leave you with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the consulting field.

Topics Covered:

• What criminal justice consulting should look like 
• The changes needed to institutionalize the impact of consulting 
• How police chiefs can position themselves as accessible to the community
• The challenges that persist in humanizing the community 
• Why effective leadership is the first step in implementing the consultant’s recommendations
• Strategies for consultants to optimize and deliver their messages 

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn
• IADLEST Academy Innovations project

In this episode, The Den dives into a discussion about the realities of community policing. Community policing focuses on forming partnerships and implementing problem-solving techniques to address public safety issues. But does this philosophy actually impact the communities themselves and their crime rates? 

The panel agrees that community engagement is crucial for building trust and fostering collaboration between the police and the public. But they acknowledge that some police chiefs resist change, making it challenging to implement effective community policing strategies. They offer ideas for overcoming this behavior, suggest ways for chiefs to embrace roles outside their department, and unpack the difficulties of measuring engagement or broader issues. 

Plus, Harold shares a story that illustrates the importance of community involvement in shaping the standards for their neighborhoods and establishing valuable relationships between police and the community.

Topics Covered:

• The importance of building relationships before crises happen
• How leaders can model effective community engagement 
• Why police departments have to make real investments in the communities 
• The need for chiefs to step out of their comfort zones and engage with the community, even in challenging situations 
• Shifting from a confrontational to a collaborative relationship between police and their neighborhoods

Resources:

• From Handshakes To Hashtags
• Connect with Kevin Brooks on LinkedIn
• thegroup Theory, Inc. 
• NC Ceed Board of Directors

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn

In this episode, Jessica, Steve, Rodney, and Harold dive into the primary challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in their efforts to reform, connect with their communities, and address crime effectively. 

Throughout the conversation, they touch on the superficial nature of some reforms, the impact of organizational bureaucracy, and the difficulties of navigating large, complex agencies as opposed to smaller police departments. They discuss the relationship between community engagement and fighting violent crime and question the repeated use of standard strategies despite limited success.

They also highlight the importance of agencies understanding and addressing the root causes of violence and crime, especially among young men of color, and the systemic issues that lead to a lack of opportunities in these communities. 

Topics Covered:

• Why do departments keep repeating ineffective strategies? 
• The correlation between fighting violent crime and constitutional policing 
• Identifying the factors that contribute to violence outside of poverty 
• The issue of talking about gun violence within communities 
• Why departments need to address the systemic causes of the disproportionate violence on young Black men 
• The role community involvement has in reducing heavy-handed policing 
• The need for strong leadership within law enforcement to drive change 

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn

In this episode, The Den introduces Steve Rickman, an advocate who has dedicated over 40 years of his life to building positive relationships between law enforcement and communities all over the country. Today, Steve shares his journey from his early career in Washington, D.C., to a trusted advisor in community policing practices. His story exemplifies the power of data-driven decision-making and community-focused actions in bridging the gap between police and the public.

Steve's career took a turn when he became a statistician for the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department during a period of rising homicides caused by the crack cocaine epidemic. Steve's ability to analyze crime statistics and shape public perceptions was critical in raising awareness about crime rates in major cities. As the Executive Director of the Department of Justice's Weed and Seed Program, he created police-community partnerships in more than 300 cities. Maintaining relationships between law enforcement and communities remain at the core of his policing and crime reduction efforts.

Topics Covered:

• Steve’s perspectives of law enforcement while growing up in Washington, D.C.
• How policing practices have evolved since the 50s & 60s
• The importance of using data to effectively understand and address crime issues 
• The Weed and Seed Program’s success in reducing crime in high-crime neighborhoods
• Setting benchmarks and holding law enforcement accountable for results
• Aligning policing strategies with modern complexities 
• Community engagement, prevention programs, and working collaboratively with stakeholders to build trust and reduce crime in neighborhoods

Resources:

• The Weed and Seed Strategy

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn

In this episode, The Den introduces Rodney Monroe, a former police chief who spent 22 years with the Washington DC Metro Police Department before serving in agencies in Macon, Georgia, Richmond, Virginia, and Charlotte Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Rodney is a dedicated and forward-thinking law enforcement leader known for his reformist approach to policing. He firmly believes in active community engagement and participation in shaping policing practices.

Today, Rodney shares his journey into law enforcement, which started when he was a child fascinated by police cars in his neighborhood. He recounts his unique experiences in various branches of policing, his rapid rise through the ranks, and how mentorship helped shape his leadership style. Rodney emphasizes the importance of departmental and agency collaboration, which contributed to the success of his Youth Violence Prevention Unit. Plus, he highlights the significance of supporting neighborhood-based organizations and securing federal funding to address community needs.

Topics Covered:

• Rodney's initial interest in the police 
• His journey into law enforcement and a persistence to join the police department
• A self-paced police academy to active duty as a patrol officer in Washington, DC
• Rodney's quick progress in the police force that resulted in a promotion to sergeant
• His experience working in specialized units and the valuable lessons learned from mentorship
• The innovative strategies employed by Rodney's unit to tackle youth violence 
• Prioritizing the community in shaping policing practices

Resources Mentioned:

• The Alliance of Concerned Men
• Youth Violence Prevention Unit

Learn More:

• IDEA Analytics Website
• IDEA Analytics LinkedIn