Evidence Based Policing

Evidence Based Policing

Carl J. Jensen III, Ph.D.

Behavioral Science Unit

FBI Academy

Carl J. Jensen III, Ph.D.

Behavioral Science Unit

FBI Academy

The Reaction from DoctorsThe Reaction from Doctors The Reaction from DoctorsThe 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."

The Reaction from Law EnforcementThe Reaction from Law Enforcement The Reaction from Law EnforcementThe 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."

Evidence Based PolicingEvidence Based PolicingEvidence Based PolicingEvidence Based Policing

““Of all the ideas in Of all the ideas in policing, one stands out policing, one stands out

as the most powerful as the most powerful force for change: police force for change: police

practices should be practices should be based on scientific based on scientific

evidence about what evidence about what works best .”works best .”

--Sherman 1998--Sherman 1998

Why EBP Now?Why EBP Now?

• Research is betterResearch is better

• Researchers care about Researchers care about the policethe police

• InternetInternet

• GrantsGrants

Put together a Put together a collaboration with a collaboration with a

college, university, or college, university, or community college.community college.

Free Stuff!!

Free Stuff!!

Universities & the PoliceUniversities & the Police

• Step 1: Research agenda collaboratively Step 1: Research agenda collaboratively decideddecided

• Step 2: Negotiations, MOU, grant fundingStep 2: Negotiations, MOU, grant funding• Step 3: Collect dataStep 3: Collect data• Step 4: Conclusions, adjustments to policyStep 4: Conclusions, adjustments to policy• Step 5: Start againStep 5: Start again

Successful CollaborationsSuccessful 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

IACP Recommendation AreasIACP 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

Evidence Based Policing Evidence Based Policing

The Police Should BeThe Police Should Be MORE LIKE DOCTORS!MORE LIKE DOCTORS!

Doctors and the Police Doctors and the Police EXCEPTEXCEPT

85% OF MEDICAL 85% OF MEDICAL PRACTICES REMAIN PRACTICES REMAIN

UNTESTED BY RESEARCH UNTESTED BY RESEARCH EVIDENCEEVIDENCE

--Millenson 1997--Millenson 1997

Doctors and the Police Doctors and the Police EXCEPTEXCEPT

MOST DOCTORS RARELY MOST DOCTORS RARELY READ THE 2500 MEDICAL READ THE 2500 MEDICAL

JOURNALS AVAILABLE, AND JOURNALS AVAILABLE, AND INSTEAD BASE THEIR INSTEAD BASE THEIR PRACTICE ON LOCAL PRACTICE ON LOCAL

CUSTOM.CUSTOM. --Millenson 1997--Millenson 1997

Doctors and the Police Doctors and the Police EXCEPTEXCEPT

MOST STUDIES THAT DO MOST STUDIES THAT DO GUIDE PRACTICE USE WEAK, GUIDE PRACTICE USE WEAK,

NON-RANDOMIZED NON-RANDOMIZED RESEARCH DESIGNSRESEARCH DESIGNS

--Millenson 1997--Millenson 1997

Doctors and the Police Doctors and the Police EXCEPTEXCEPT

EIGHT YEARS AFTER EIGHT YEARS AFTER ANTIBIOTICS WERE SHOWN ANTIBIOTICS WERE SHOWN TO CURE ULCERS, 90% OF TO CURE ULCERS, 90% OF ULCER PATIENTS ARE NOT ULCER PATIENTS ARE NOT

TREATED WITH TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS.ANTIBIOTICS. --Millenson 1997--Millenson 1997

Success With EBPSuccess With EBP

• ““Consume” researchConsume” research• Apply it, given the unique Apply it, given the unique

attributes of your attributes of your agency/communityagency/community

• Measure its successMeasure its success• Refine and continueRefine and continue

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

Consuming ResearchConsuming Research

• Where can you find Where can you find it?it?

• How good is it?How good is it?

SOOO…...SOOO…...SOOO…...SOOO…...

What’s Been What’s Been

ShownShown to Work? to Work?

U.S. Homicide Clearance RatesU.S. Homicide Clearance Rates

1961: 1961: 94%94%

2002: 2002: 62%62%

.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Year Source: FBI Crime in the United States

Rate

per

10

0,0

00

In

hab

itan

ts

Murder Rate 1960-1999

Homicide Clearance RatesHomicide Clearance Rates Homicide Clearance RatesHomicide Clearance Rates

Why Have They Dropped?

Increased WorkloadsIncreased Workloads Greenwood et Greenwood et

al. 1977; Ahlburg and Knutsson 1987al. 1977; Ahlburg and Knutsson 1987

Stranger-on-StrangerStranger-on-Stranger Gilbert 1983, Gilbert 1983,

Cardarelli and Cavanagh 1992Cardarelli and Cavanagh 1992

Accompanied by Felony (e.g., Accompanied by Felony (e.g., drugs, robbery) drugs, robbery) Riedel and Rinehart 1994, 1996Riedel and Rinehart 1994, 1996

Homicide Clearance RatesHomicide Clearance Rates Homicide Clearance RatesHomicide Clearance Rates

Why Have They Dropped?

Fear of Retaliation/Distrust Fear of Retaliation/Distrust of Policeof Police Riedel and Jarvis 1998 Riedel and Jarvis 1998

Lack of WitnessesLack of Witnesses Riedel 1994, 1995 Riedel 1994, 1995

All of the Above All of the Above IACP Murder Summit 1995IACP Murder Summit 1995

To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates?To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates?To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates?To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates?

““There is no prospect There is no prospect of seeing the of seeing the

(homicide) clearance (homicide) clearance rate return to the rate return to the

good old days when it good old days when it was in the 80% was in the 80%

range.”range.” --Fox 2000, in USA --Fox 2000, in USA TodayToday

To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates?To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates?To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates?To What Extent Do the Police Affect Clearance Rates?

““There are few There are few homicide cases that homicide cases that

given the right initial given the right initial response, the right response, the right

timing, and the right timing, and the right dedication of dedication of

resources cannot be resources cannot be solved.”solved.”

--Wellford and Cronin 1999--Wellford and Cronin 1999

One Study…. One Study….

Intensified Team ApproachIntensified Team Approach

FBI Cold Case SquadsFBI Cold Case Squads

Work With DEA/FBI/State Work With DEA/FBI/State Narcotics on Drug MurdersNarcotics on Drug Murders

Use Evidence Specialists Use Evidence Specialists (AKA CSI)(AKA CSI)

Fyfe, Goldcamp and White 1997Fyfe, Goldcamp and White 1997

Another Study Another Study Charles Wellford and James Charles Wellford and James

CroninCronin

An Analysis of Variables Affecting the An Analysis of Variables Affecting the Clearance of Homicides: A Multistate Clearance of Homicides: A Multistate

Study Study 1999: Justice Research and Statistics Association 1999: Justice Research and Statistics Association

777North Capitol Street NE, Suite 801777North Capitol Street NE, Suite 801

Washington, D. C. 20002Washington, D. C. 20002

(202) 842-9330(202) 842-9330

http://www.jrsainfo.org/pubs/reports/http://www.jrsainfo.org/pubs/reports/Clearance_of_Homicide.htmlClearance_of_Homicide.html

The Study DesignThe Study DesignThe Study DesignThe Study Design

Four CitiesFour Cities

200 Cases per City*200 Cases per City*

215 Attributes per Case215 Attributes per Case

*798 Cases Total

Results--First Officer on SceneResults--First Officer on SceneResults--First Officer on SceneResults--First Officer on Scene

Secures the Scene

Immediately Notifies the Medical Examiner’s Office, Homicide Squad,

and Crime LabAttempts to Locate Witnesses

The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if the The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if the First Officer on the Scene: First Officer on the Scene:

Results--DetectivesResults--DetectivesResults--DetectivesResults--Detectives

Arrive at the Scene Within 30 Minutes

Describe the Crime Scene, Including Measurements, in Their Notes

The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if Detectives:Detectives:

Attend the Postmortem Examination

Results--DetectivesResults--DetectivesResults--DetectivesResults--Detectives

Interview the Attending Physician and Medical Personnel

The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if Detectives:Detectives:

Locate a Witness at the Scene

Utilize Confidential Informants

Interview Friends and Acquaintances of the Victim

Results--DetectivesResults--DetectivesResults--DetectivesResults--Detectives

Conduct a Neighborhood Survey

Utilize Surveillance

Run Computer Checks on the Suspects, Guns, and Witnesses

The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if Detectives:Detectives:

How Many Detectives Should Be Assigned?How Many Detectives Should Be Assigned? How Many Detectives Should Be Assigned?How Many Detectives Should Be Assigned?

3, 4, and 11

Results--Medical ExaminerResults--Medical ExaminerResults--Medical ExaminerResults--Medical Examiner

Prepares a Body Chart of the Victim

The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if the The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if the Medical Examiner:Medical Examiner:

Results--Case CharacteristicsResults--Case CharacteristicsResults--Case CharacteristicsResults--Case Characteristics

The Homicide Occurs in a Private LocationAn Eyewitness Observes the Homicide

A Weapon is Found at the Crime Scene

The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if:The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if:

The Conflict is over Money or Property (Excluding Drugs)

Case CharacteristicsCase CharacteristicsCase CharacteristicsCase Characteristics

The Victim is a Member of a Gang/Drug Organization

The Homicide is Committed to Obtain Money to Buy Drugs

The Case is MORE Likely to be Cleared if:

The Suspect is African American or Hispanic

The Suspect Kills the Victim to Avoid Retaliation

Case CharacteristicsCase CharacteristicsCase CharacteristicsCase Characteristics

It is Drug-Related

The Case is LESS Likely to be Cleared if:The Case is LESS Likely to be Cleared if:

Another Study: Jensen (2003)Another Study: Jensen (2003)

• 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?

Who is most likely to choose “best practices?”

Another Study: Jensen (2003)Another Study: Jensen (2003)

• 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?

Who is most likely to choose “best practices?”

Benefits of the Studies

• Use “what works” to guide policy:Use “what works” to guide policy:– Take home carsTake home cars– OvertimeOvertime– TrainingTraining– Transfers/RotationsTransfers/Rotations– Resource allocationResource allocation– OrganizationOrganization– Investigative strategiesInvestigative strategies– Personnel decisionsPersonnel decisions