Articles tagged with Police
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that reducing systematic and aggressive policing measures can lead to a decline in major crime complaints. The researchers analyzed data from New York City's NYPD during a period when proactive policing was halted, revealing a 3-6% decrease in reported serious crimes.
A new IUPUI study found that juveniles who perceive police injustice are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior, particularly those who justify immoral actions. Intervention programs addressing perceptions of police injustice and moral disengagement may help reduce aggression among youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
A new study by the University of Bath reveals that companies can unwittingly hire modern slavery victims due to lack of oversight in outsourced recruitment. The research highlights the need for companies to focus on their labour supply chains to detect and prevent forced labour, similar to how they trace product supply chains.
Researchers found that big data analytics can amplify existing policing practices, leading to more marginalization and distrust. The influx of personal data enables law enforcement to surveil communities more easily, but also raises concerns about the use of objective crime data and predictive algorithms.
A new QUT study reveals that drivers find it difficult to ignore a ringing phone but do ignore the dangers, with 45% believing locating and answering is not as risky as talking or texting. Drivers underestimate the distracting dangers of passive phone use, adapting their behavior only when actively using their phone.
A new study by University of Kansas researchers finds that countries with longer punitive sentences for rape crimes are less likely to experience civil war. The study suggests that gender-neutral laws and stricter punishment for rape contribute to progressive societal norms, reducing the chances of internal conflict.
Researchers at James Cook University found sophisticated tactics being used to smuggle illicit alcohol into remote Indigenous communities. Sly grog traders sell alcohol for inflated prices, often up to 11 times its retail value. The study highlights the need for collaborative responses involving law enforcement and social services.
A UC Berkeley PhD candidate has developed techniques to identify adult ads linked to human trafficking rings by analyzing Bitcoin payment data. The algorithm, which combines stylometry and timestamp analysis, shows a high true-positive rate for grouping ads by author.
A new domestic abuse policing strategy has found that an inexpensive two-day course in behaviour management for first offenders resulted in 35% fewer men reoffending against their partner. The CARA programme prevented significant harm to victims, hundreds of prison days, and saved thousands of pounds.
New research from Iowa State University found that police officers' accuracy in detecting concealed weapons or threats is only slightly better than chance. The study's findings highlight the need for better training and research-based approaches to threat detection.
A study found that racial biases in communities predict police use of lethal force, with implicit biases toward Blacks being a primary predictor. The research analyzed data from over 2 million residents across the US and found Black people were more likely to be killed by police in areas with stronger regional biases.
A new model suggests that police should use confrontational tactics in areas with high gang violence to deter crime, while avoiding them in areas with low community trust. The model also highlights vast racial disparities in police stops and arrests.
A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that intersections between law enforcement and trauma care activities vary, but can impact patient trust and recovery. Patients perceived police interactions as stressful or respectful, depending on the context.
A Sam Houston State University study found that half of witnesses did not select anyone from the lineup, with 78% accuracy when a selection was made. The results show challenges in identifying suspects, particularly for witnesses of different races or ethnicities and those exposed to guns.
A study from Cardiff University found that Twitter monitoring systems can detect serious incidents during riots, such as shop break-ins and car fires, several minutes before official reports. The system can also identify potential hotspots and gathering areas for youths.
New Stanford research reveals that lesbians in Nazi Germany may have enjoyed limited toleration, with many leading open lesbian lives before being denounced. The study analyzed police investigation files from the 1940s, showing a level of tolerance and nuance to existing scholarship on the subject.
A University at Buffalo-led study found that police officers working the afternoon shift are more fatigued, with a two-fold higher prevalence among male officers compared to day shift workers. Women officers appeared to use more effective coping mechanisms to manage shift work-related stress and fatigue.
A study analyzing police body camera footage found that officers consistently use less respectful language with black community members than with white community members. The racial disparities in language use remained even after controlling for other factors, highlighting the need for solutions to improve police-community relations.
A new study found that DNA testing has a modest impact on sexual assault arrest rates, with most arrests occurring before laboratory results are available. In 7.6% of cases, DNA matches were made to suspects in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System database.
A study on consent decrees and police misconduct found modest reductions in civil rights filings, suggesting increased public satisfaction with law enforcement agencies. Researchers argue that consent decrees may be a powerful tool for reforming problematic police departments.
A new study reveals that senior police investigators experience different cognitive and emotional stressors when investigating child homicide compared to adult homicide. The research found that a significant period of reflection is needed after the investigation has ended to realize the true extent of the effects on investigators.
A new study reveals that a police training program in age-related health can improve how officers assist older adults. The program addresses issues like dementia, wandering, and elder abuse, increasing empathy, patience, and knowledge of community resources.
A new study develops a tool to catalog police and law enforcement interactions with black men, finding that discrimination is associated with depression symptoms. The Police and Law Enforcement Scale can help document bias and provide greater insight into how institutionalized racism shapes the health of people in black communities.
A training program on aging-related health improved police officers' empathy and skills to interact with older adults. Participants reported increased knowledge scores, including how to identify safety concerns during police interactions.
New data reveals low levels of referrals to Prevent programme since its implementation, with mental health trusts showing higher rates of referrals. NHS staff training on the programme is also found to be inconsistent, with some trusts reporting only a few percent of staff having received training.
A study published in JAMA Surgery examined US emergency department visits for patients injured by law enforcement from 2006 to 2012, finding approximately 51,000 ED visits annually. The study also revealed that most injuries were minor and occurred due to being struck, with substance abuse and mental illness common among patients.
A crowdsourced traffic violation reporting app, Mobile Roadwatch, has been developed to improve traffic safety. Drivers can capture and report traffic violations using their smartphones, providing valuable evidence for police to issue tickets.
Researchers at Florida State University discovered that adopting a 'code of the street' culture can increase arrest and conviction rates. They found that individuals who adhere to this code are disproportionately more likely to be arrested and convicted, even after controlling for factors like poverty and unemployment.
A recent study by Arizona State University professors found no evidence of the Ferguson effect in Chicago. However, they did discover a strong association between firearms availability and gun violence, supporting Former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton's argument.
A UK expert argues that by working together, police and health agencies can identify and address violence hotspots, reducing the number of injuries on America's streets. The 'Cardiff Model' has already shown promising results in reducing violence in the UK.
Researchers at NYU Tandon and Griffeye developed AI-powered tools to quickly analyze photos and videos for child sexual exploitation. The system, integrated into Griffeye Analyze, can accurately detect explicit images 83% of the time and distinguish children's faces from adults.
A study found that people consistently overestimated the size and strength of black men compared to white men, even when shown identical images. This bias may contribute to police shootings of unarmed black men.
Researchers found that 99% of face images can still be recognized up to six years later, but accuracy drops if images are taken more than six years apart. The study emphasizes the importance of capturing new images every four to five years to reduce false positives.
Researchers found that UK police forces used 'out of court resolutions' in 5,466 domestic abuse incidents, including serious crimes like actual bodily harm and threat to kill. The study calls for an immediate stop to street-level resolutions in domestic abuse cases.
A new Indiana University study found that adding more black police officers does not reduce police-involved homicides of black citizens. In fact, it may even increase the number of such shootings until a critical mass of 35-40% is reached.
The study found that when a gun is used in domestic disputes, women are less likely to incur injury but substantially more likely to be frightened. This highlights the coercive control aspect of using a gun to intimidate and maintain power dynamics.
The 2011 Norway attacks highlighted the limitations of traditional emergency work, which emphasizes fixed procedures and strong leadership. Experts now argue that local decision-making power could help limit the scale of disasters.
A study by McMaster University researchers found that wearing a police uniform creates bias towards individuals perceived as having low social status. The researchers observed slower reaction times when participants were distracted by images of people wearing hoodies while wearing the uniform.
A recent analysis found that Black civilians were over twice as likely to be unarmed when fatally shot by US police in 2015 compared to their white counterparts. The study also revealed that civilians from other minority groups were more likely not to pose a threat to officers or others.
A study of Buffalo police officers found that exposure to stressful situations can disrupt their cortisol patterns, leading to a blunted response and increased vulnerability to cardiovascular disease. The study identified the top five most intense stressors for police officers, including encounters with violent or traumatic events.
The study found that 87% of respondents agree that body-worn cameras would improve police officer behavior, while citizens with more positive views of police had the most support for BWCs. West Palm Beach residents reported less favorable perceptions on police-community encounters and issues of crime and safety.
New research reveals that heartbeat signals can increase racial biases when facing a potential threat, leading to misperceptions of harmless objects as weapons. This study has important implications for tackling police shootings and reducing tragedies caused by racial bias.
A widely publicized initiative has placed over 95% of individuals with substance-use disorders into detoxification or treatment programs. The Gloucester Police Department's Angel Program has filled a needed gap in accessing substance-use treatment services, with 376 people seeking help in the first year.
A Drexel University study found that black males are nearly three times as likely to be killed by police action as white males, with Hispanic males one-and-a-half times as likely. The study used national death records and found a significant racial disparity in law enforcement-related deaths.
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that states with medical marijuana laws experienced an 11% reduction in traffic fatalities, with the greatest impact on drivers aged 15-24 and 25-44. Dispensaries were also associated with a significant reduction in traffic fatalities among this age group.
Experiments reveal that using the protective concept of 'guardian' instead of 'warrior' to describe police can influence people's attitudes towards law enforcement. Participants who saw the police as 'guardians' felt the justice system was more fair and effective than those who considered them 'warriors'.
A recent study found that women are more likely to cooperate with law enforcement in intimate partner sexual assault cases if they are married to the suspect, in a longer relationship, or have been threatened. Conversely, victims who feel their autonomy is being limited or blame themselves for the incident are less likely to participate.
A new AI toolkit can automatically detect new child sexual abuse photos and videos in online peer-to-peer networks. The iCOP toolkit uses machine learning to flag new and previously unknown child sexual abuse media, with a high accuracy rate of 7.9% for images.
A new portable use-of-force simulator, CBTsim, is being rolled out by Washington State University to launch a science-driven era in police training. The device projects realistic video scenarios where officers must make rapid decisions in tense situations, tracking every movement and action.
A new initiative called Street Triage has been shown to reduce police detentions under the Mental Health Act by 56% in the first year. The service combines mental health professionals with dedicated police officers to provide quick and effective care for individuals in crisis.
A new training initiative by the Houston Police Department is being tested for its effectiveness in reducing gender bias in police responses to sexual assault and domestic violence victims. The study, led by Sam Houston State University researchers, aims to improve the investigation and prosecution of these crimes.
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School found that 71% of New York State voters supported indicting police officers involved in the 2014 Eric Garner arrest after watching the video. This increase in support was attributed to the physical force used on Garner being a key factor in respondents' opinions.
UBC researchers created a new classification system to help police solve sex crimes, identifying subtypes of high-risk sexual offenders. The tool can predict characteristics of offenders and behavior before a crime takes place.
A recent editorial highlights the need for reform in mental health services, citing a lack of accurate diagnoses and inadequate treatment. The system is becoming unsustainable, with only the most disturbed cases being admitted to psychiatric wards.
A new study from the University of Cambridge found that body-worn cameras are associated with a significant reduction in citizen complaints against police, with 93% fewer complaints filed after camera implementation. The 'observer effect' is believed to be a key factor, modifying behavior and increasing accountability.
A recent study published in Computers in Human Behavior found that over two-thirds of rumors shared during Operation Brother's Keeper were true, and that journalists and emergency personnel played a significant role in spreading them. The research proposes specific lessons for first responders, including actively searching for rumors a...
A study reviewed 20 research papers on deception in groups, revealing that collective interviews are used in only a third of investigations. This highlights the need for new methods to detect deception, as individualized interviews can be manipulated by suspects with prepared scripts.
A new study suggests that squatters can have a positive impact on neighborhoods. Residents often welcome responsible squatters to occupy abandoned homes, as it helps maintain the property and reduces crime. In urban areas with population decline, squatters can help bring about improved neighborhood conditions.
A study led by a Michigan State University criminologist reveals that female forensic scientists face higher stress levels than males, with 78% reporting mid to high levels of job stress. Despite overall job satisfaction, scientists who testified more often in court and worked longer hours were happier with their jobs.
A study by Michigan State University found that online pimps are thriving, using underground websites and social media to avoid detection. They reported an average annual income of $75,000, with many making over $100,000, highlighting the challenges of policing online prostitution.