Law Enforcement

6G Promises Immersive Communications for Public Safety

The next-generation cellular network is poised to massively upgrade situational awareness for public safety agencies, experts say.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Bail Reform Faces Backlash

New York rolled back key parts of its 2019 bail reform law amid fears of rising crime. Those concerns are echoed in communities nationwide—especially in places forging ahead with their own laws—despite data that shows bail reforms don't negatively impact public safety. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.

  • By Elizabeth Daigneau

How One State Is Confronting PTSD Among Police Officers

Concerns abound about post-traumatic stress disorder in law enforcement. Minnesota, where the problem is acute, has ideas about how to curb the costs and keep more police working in the field.

  • By Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene

This Moment is Rife with Opportunities to Advance Racial Equity

COMMENTARY | Government has an immense opportunity to lead on racial equity. It must lean in where it can, examine the data to determine if it is having an impact and adjust plans accordingly.  

  • By Glenn Harris

States Have the Resources to Clear Criminal Records

COMMENTARY | Most governments already have the capacity and technology to deliver automatic record clearance to all those eligible for relief equitably, expeditiously and at scale.

  • By Jay Jordan and Alia Toran-Burrell

Justice Launches $8M Smart Policing Grant Program

State, local, tribal and campus law enforcement agencies can apply for funds to develop, implement and test new technologies that support community violence intervention and promote information sharing and data transparency.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Have Thoughts on Criminal Justice Data Collection?

As part of a larger effort to build trust between police and local communities, the White House issued a request for information to better understand how law enforcement agencies collect and use data.

  • By Edward Graham

Pain of Police Killings Traumatizes Black People and Communities Across US

COMMENTARY | Evidence shows that many Black Americans experience police killings of other Black people as traumatic events, and that this trauma diminishes the ability of Black communities to thrive.

  • By Denise A. Herd, The Conversation

What It’s Like for a State Wildlife Agency to Star in a Reality TV Show

Nuisance bears, rabid skunks, search and rescue. Duties are seldom dull for New Hampshire Fish and Game. But for nine seasons the department added a twist to its operations, participating in the show “North Woods Law.”

  • By Molly Bolan

Algorithm Analyzes Escort Ads to Detect Human Trafficking

Researchers have developed an algorithm that identifies similarities in escort advertisements, which often indicates trafficking behavior.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Federal Agencies Detail Their Priorities in Battling the Fentanyl Epidemic

Fentanyl seizures at the border have increased tenfold over the last three years.

  • By Eric Katz

Philadelphia Mayor's Ban on Guns in Parks and Rec Centers Criticized as ‘Meaningless’

Critics question whether Mayor Jim Kenney's executive order can be effective given state firearms laws. It comes after a parks and recreation worker was struck by a stray bullet and killed.

  • By Harrison Cann
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Democrats Strike Deal to Boost Funding for Police

The package would provide new federal dollars for hiring officers, as well as violence prevention initiatives and job training.

  • By Kery Murakami

Democrats at ‘Impasse’ Over Added Funding for Police Grants

The money would go to local departments, which are struggling to hire and retain officers. Centrists in the U.S. House want more spending as progressives push for stronger police accountability measures.

  • By Kery Murakami

Trump Wades Deep Into State and Local Matters During DC Speech

The former president's remarks focused heavily on public safety, as he put forward proposals like moving the homeless to tent cities, hiring thousands of police and overriding governors unwilling to deploy the National Guard.

  • By Bill Lucia

Amazon Admits to Giving Police Ring Footage Without Owners’ Permission

The smart-doorbell company, which has partnered with more than 2,000 law enforcement agencies, said in a letter that it shared multiple videos with police departments without first seeking user consent.

  • By Edward Graham

State and Local Leaders Call for Overhaul of Nation’s 911 System

A group that includes mayors, police chiefs and state officials wants to rethink who should respond to calls for help.

  • By Kery Murakami

The States That Passed Laws This Year to Curb LGBTQ Rights

There’s been a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation, much of it directed at transgender youth. “Our community has been under attack,” says one advocate.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

In Pennsylvania, GOP State Lawmakers Look to Impeach Philadelphia District Attorney

Republicans in Harrisburg say crime goes “unchecked” under Larry Krasner, the city’s progressive top prosecutor

  • By Harrison Cann

For Mental Crises, Send a Pro Not the Police

Evidence from a pilot program in Denver suggests that providing mental health support for nonviolent emergencies can help reduce crime and save money.

  • By Krysten Crawford, Futurity

Biden’s Executive Order on Policing Could Help Spur Local Reforms

The directive, which includes varied restrictions and alternatives, drew support from reform advocates as well as groups representing law enforcement officers and cities.

  • By Kery Murakami