Law Enforcement Agencies Research Articles

Classifying Female Sexual Homicide Offenders: A Latent Class Analysis of Murder Arrestees in the U.S.

ABSTRACTResearch on sexual homicides has primarily focused on male offenders, and thus little is known about female offenders who perpetrated sexual homicides. This study aimed to develop the first statistical classification of female single‐victim (SV) sexual homicide offenders (SHOs) using the U.S. FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports database that spanned over a 47‐year period (1976–2022). A latent class analysis (LCA) was computed to detect subtypes of female SHOs in a sample of 158 offenders. Findings of the LCA identified two unique classes of female SHOs exist within the data: White intra‐familial offenders and Black extra‐familial offenders. The distinguishing features of these two classes were the offender's racial group, the victim's age and racial groups, the offender‐victim relationship, the geographical urbanness level of crime location, and weapon use. This empirically‐derived offender classification can be informative to law enforcement agents and security professionals in their investigative strategies.

Abstracting Injustice

In this paper, we explore how the neorepublican concepts of domination and antipower can contribute to the surveillance studies literature and a more democratic and participatory approach to technology development and deployment within the criminal justice system. We frame the neorepublican approach as an alternative to the predominant liberal paradigm, arguing that normative surveillance studies scholarship should emphasize the dominating potential of surveillance practices rather than merely trying to limit actual interference in peoples’ lives. To illustrate, we focus on the use of surveillance technologies that capture images of individuals within the US criminal justice system for recognition and/or identification. Facial or other biometric recognition technologies (FRTs) are increasingly built on artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms (“AI”). Often seen as a faster, more accurate, and less labor-intensive alternatives to human cognition, AI-powered biometric and facial recognition and other image capture technologies have become widely used within public law enforcement agencies around the world. The deployment of these technologies within the US criminal justice system has produced significant forms of injustice, including faulty identification and the subsequent arrest, detention, and incarceration of innocent individuals. These forms of data injustice are often opaque, hidden behind secretive law enforcement practices or commercial secrecy agreements. We draw from neorepublican conceptions of domination and antipower to frame this legal and technological opacity as an abstraction of injustice. We argue that handing important criminal justice decision-making over to code and algorithms designed, owned, and maintained by private interests exacerbates the potential for the public deployment of unjust systems that subject individuals and communities to unwarranted, arbitrary, and uncontrolled state power. Such government interference represents clear forms of data injustice and domination.

Book Review: Police Social Work: Social Work Practice in Law Enforcement Agencies

Book Review: Police Social Work: Social Work Practice in Law Enforcement Agencies

Redefining Law Enforcement: Policy Innovations for Gender Equality in South African Law Enforcement

This study examines the ongoing issue of gender inequality within South African law enforcement, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive policy reforms to establish an equitable and supportive environment for female officers. Despite the existing efforts to address these disparities, women in policing continue to face significant challenges, including systemic gender bias, limited opportunities for career advancement, and inadequate support structures. The research explored the perspectives of 18 current and retired women officers, who were identified as key informants due to their experience and understanding of the challenges faced by female officers. Using semi-structured interviews, the study uncovered four major themes which are leadership and attrition, factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in law enforcement, perceived barriers to career progression, and challenges encountered at police academies that affect women’s ability to complete their training. The findings suggest that systemic barriers, lack of mentorship, and inadequate institutional policies remain critical issues that hinder women’s full participation and success in law enforcement careers. The study highlights the need for law enforcement agencies to implement targeted policies that promote gender diversity in recruitment, provide equal access to professional development opportunities, and create a workplace culture that values and supports female officers. By addressing these key areas, law enforcement agencies can foster a more inclusive and effective organizational framework. This research contributes to the broader scholarship on gender inequality in policing by providing valuable insights into the specific challenges women face and recommending policy reforms that can help create a more gender-inclusive law enforcement sector. Keywords: Leadership, Training, Gender, Attrition, Law Enforcement

Legal Policy in Handling Domestic Violence The Role of Protection and Legal Institutions

Domestic violence (DV) is a complex phenomenon that stems from various social, cultural and economic aspects. Domestic violence includes not only physical violence but also psychological, sexual, and economic violence, all of which have a significant impact on victims and their families. The Indonesian government has issued various regulations and laws to combat domestic violence, such as Law No. 23/2004 on the Elimination of Domestic Violence. This research aims to analyze the effectiveness of legal policies to combat domestic violence (KDRT) in Indonesia as well as the role of protection organizations and law enforcement agencies in providing support to victims. Domestic violence is a serious problem that requires comprehensive and systematic treatment. This research uses qualitative methods with analysis of policy documents, annual reports and statistics on domestic violence cases. The research results show that although there are supportive policies, their implementation is still not optimal due to lack of coordination between institutions, lack of resources and sensitivity of the judicial apparatus to domestic violence issues. Protection agencies play an important role in assisting and assisting victims, but limited financial and human resources hamper the effectiveness of these agencies. The study recommends increased training for law enforcement officers, increased funding for protection agencies as well as public education campaigns to increase awareness and participation in managing family violence. Collaboration between the government, protection agencies, law enforcement and the community is very important in creating a more effective and fair system for dealing with family violence.

Efficiency of Police Cooperation in Criminal Investigations

Police cooperation is essential not only to investigate crime, but also to prevent it. Sharing information and best practices between law enforcement agencies allows early identification of threats, which can lead to prompt and effective interventions. At the same time, working together can reduce legislative or procedural disparities between states, which helps to strengthen joint efforts to fight crime. In addition to legal and operational challenges, police cooperation also raises ethical, privacy and data protection issues. In the digital age, the exchange of information between police agencies must comply with strict data protection standards in line with national and international legislation, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union. Thus, police cooperation is an indispensable tool in criminal investigations, offering the possibility to go beyond the geographical and legal limits imposed by national borders. However, its effectiveness depends on a clear legislative framework, mutual trust between partners and the adoption of modern technologies to facilitate real-time communication and information exchange. Police cooperation is an essential element in the fight against contemporary crime, but its effectiveness depends on resolving the legislative and operational problems that sometimes prevent effective inter-agency cooperation. Technological development and adaptation to new forms of crime also remain major challenges in this area.

Insights into Building VR Solutions in the Police Domain

Advanced technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) hold immense significance for society, particularly in the law enforcement domain. VR offers a unique platform for immersive, experiential learning, allowing Police Officers (POs) to engage with dynamic scenarios that mirror real-world situations, incidents, and challenges. In the Police domain, the integration of VR solutions provides valuable insights into enhancing POs’ training, situational awareness, and community relations. Learning objectives in VR-based Police training encompass a spectrum of skills, including decision-making under pressure, effective communication and collaboration, and de-escalation techniques. Furthermore, evaluation perspectives span both quantitative and qualitative measures, assessing training efficacy, officer performance, and societal impact. This research adopts a systematic literature review approach where it becomes evident that the future of VR-enabled policing lies in interdisciplinary collaboration, technological innovation, and ethical considerations. Future directions entail refining VR solutions to reflect evolving societal dynamics, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) for adaptive scenario generation and analytics, and addressing concerns related to algorithmic transparency, fairness, security, and privacy. By leveraging VR technologies, law enforcement agencies can enhance operational effectiveness and foster trust, accountability, and responsibility within the communities they serve.

Surrender: forms of fixation and rules of use in the process of investigation and consideration of a criminal case

The object of the study is the doctrinal understanding of surrender, the procedural relations that arise between a person reporting the fact of a crime committed by him or in complicity with him, a defender and an employee of the criminal prosecution authority upon receipt of a reason to initiate a criminal case or testimony of a suspect, judicial practice of recognizing surrender as evidence in a criminal case. The purpose of the study is to identify trends in law enforcement practice and consider the possibility of using a confession as evidence in a criminal case. The research methods of the study: the method of analysis (when studying reviews of the courts of appeal and cassation regarding the recognition of the absence of a defender upon receipt of a confession as inadmissible evidence in a criminal case); the method of generalization (when drawing conclusions about the forms of fixing the fact that a person who applied to law enforcement agencies committed a crime). Turning himself in is one of the controversial points in terms of guarantees of participation in such a report of a crime by a lawyer. The revealed forms and methods of bringing the fact of a socially dangerous act committed by a person does not allow to guarantee in all cases the timeliness of inviting a defender (for example, the perpetrator of an accident reporting the fact of hitting a pedestrian with subsequent appearance in the criminal prosecution authorities). Taking into account the diversity of such appeals, as well as respecting constitutional rights, we suggest that in all cases informing law enforcement agencies and appearing before criminal prosecution authorities be considered a mitigating circumstance, regardless of whether the subsequent confession will be recognized as inadmissible evidence in a criminal case.

An overview of offender profiling

Generally speaking, criminals are caught by police for one or more of the following reasons: they confess to the crime; another criminal gives the police useful information about a crime; they are arrested red-handed or chased and caught by police; an eyewitness describes them; forensic evidence (fingerprints, footprints, DNA, etc.) at the crime scene or their handwriting or video footage is linked to them; or finally, because the police link a number of crimes committed by the same offender. Further, in today's large urban centres all over the world, the work of police detectives is becoming increasingly difficult, calling for more sophisticated techniques as criminals become even more adept. Films such as Silence of the Lambs, television series like Cracker in the UK, Mindhunter, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami or Profiler, and popular books like The Real Cracker by Stephen Cook (2001) , The Jigsaw Man and Picking Up the Pieces by Paul Britton (1998 , 2001 ) have popularised criminal profiling. In addition, well-known retired Federal Bureau of Investigation profilers (e.g. John Douglas, Roy Hazelwood, Robert Ressler) have published some of their experiences in helping law enforcement agencies catch serial killers. Likewise, in the UK, two very experienced offender profilers have published works; namely, academic psychologist Julian Boon and psychiatrist Richard Baddock. Offender profiling refers to the use of behavioural data evident in a crime to assist a police investigation by seeking to infer attributes of probable offenders, thus narrowing the police search for suspects.

Reconstruction of Law in Enhancing Human Resources of the Police to Realize an Integrated Criminal Justice System

This research discusses the importance of improving the quality of education for Human Resources (HR) in the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to achieve effective and just law enforcement within the context of an integrated criminal justice system. Focusing on curriculum improvement, development of practice-based training methods, and the integration of Polri HR education with other actors in the criminal justice system, this study identifies strategies that can enhance the professionalism and ethics of police members. The research also analyzes the impact of improved HR education on the effectiveness of law enforcement as well as public trust in the criminal justice system. The results indicate that collaboration and harmonization among law enforcement agencies, along with strict enforcement of ethical codes, are key steps in building the integrity of Polri and creating a more democratic and trustworthy justice system.

TRENDS AND PATTERNS OF DRUG ABUSE

This study investigates the trends and patterns of drug abuse and its associated criminal behaviors in Yola Metropolis, Adamawa State. The primary objective is to assess the prevalence and patterns of illicit drug use, exploring its correlation with rising crime rates in the metropolis. Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study collected data from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over five years, focusing on reported drug-related offenses and crime incidents. The results revealed a concerning upward trend in drug abuse, particularly in substances like marijuana, tramadol, and methamphetamine, alongside a parallel increase in various criminal activities including theft, assault, and drug trafficking. A significant correlation (Pearson coefficient of approximately 0.999) was found between drug abuse prevalence and crime rates, highlighting the complex relationship between substance abuse and criminality in Yola Metropolis. The findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated public health and law enforcement strategies to address the intertwined issues of drug abuse and crime, including enhanced prevention and treatment programs tailored to the local context. This study contributes to the understanding of drug-related challenges in urban Nigeria, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive intervention approaches to mitigate the social and public health effects of illicit drug use.

INFORMATION CRIMES AND INVESTIGATION CHALLENGE COMBATING INFORMATION CRIMES; A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH TO ADDRESSING INVESTIGATION CHALLENGES IN THE ERA OF DIGITAL ADVANCEMENT

In our increasingly digitized world, information crimes have emerged as a significant threat, encompassing a wide range of unlawful activities such as hacking, identity theft, and cyber espionage. This study explores the landscape of information crimes and the challenges faced by investigators in addressing and mitigating these offenses. The first aspect of this study examines the diverse realm of information crimes, providing an overview of the types of offenses that fall under this category. From financial fraud to data breaches, the spectrum of information crimes is vast, posing risks to individuals, businesses, and even nations. Understanding the nature and evolution of these crimes is crucial for developing effective investigation strategies and procedures. The second focus of this study is on the challenges faced by investigators when tackling information crimes. The dynamic and borderless nature of the digital realm presents unique obstacles, including issues related to jurisdiction, attribution, and the rapidly evolving tactics employed by cybercriminals. Additionally, the study sheds light on the technological complexities that investigators face, such as encryption and anonymization tools that perpetrators exploit to conceal their activities. To address these challenges, the study suggests the implementation of multidimensional and collaborative approaches. International cooperation among law enforcement agencies, private sector entities, and cybersecurity experts is emphasized. The study also seeks continuous training and skill development for investigators to stay abreast of technological advancements. In conclusion, this paper tries to underscore the urgency of enhancing global efforts to combat information crimes. By comprehensively understanding the landscape of these offenses and addressing the specific challenges faced by investigators, we can better equip ourselves to safeguard the integrity of information in our interconnected world.

Prevention Efforts Against the Use of Mixed Alcoholic Beverages in the Cicalengka Area, Bandung Regency

Mixed liquor has caused many deaths in Cicalengka, Bandung Regency, thus attracting the attention of the Indonesian people. This study uses a juridical-social method as well as library and field data collection techniques. Several preventive efforts have been carried out by one of the authorized law enforcement agencies, namely the Cicalengka Police. Preventive measures taken include preventive efforts in the form of routine socialization and education of the community to avoid consumption and trade of mixed liquor and routine raids, and repressive efforts in the form of confiscation of evidence and follow-up to incidents related to the use of mixed liquor. There are many obstacles that hinder efforts to overcome the use of mixed liquor in Cicalengka. First, consuming mixed liquor has become a culture of the community in the Cicalengka area that normalizes the consumption of mixed liquor. Second, public education and understanding of mixed liquor are still very low. Many people assume that legal and mixed liquor have the same composition and side effects. The third obstacle is the inconsistency between the laws and regulations regarding mixed alcoholic beverages and the inconsistent attitude of the law makers in regulating these laws

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Taser in Police Intervention and Overview of the Main Causes of Failure

An inappropriately chosen tactical procedure and means during a police intervention against highly dangerous subjects may lead to an escalation of the conflict and to further threats to the interveners and to the subject against whom the intervention is conducted. The main objective of this article is to analyse the effectiveness of the technical device Taser, which uses an electrical discharge to temporarily incapacitate a human subject, identify the main causes of failure of it, and its implications in practice at the incident level. The paper is based on the presentation of current scientific evidence in available electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus; using keyword taser), and the data are compiled into a clear graphical form through the principles of the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). A set of potential failure causes was identified from the human factor, the role of technology, and environmental influences. The taser was found to be a conditionally effective technological device with a wide and difficult to determine range of effectiveness depending on the method chosen. The findings have implications for training and education with a focus on minimising the risks of service intervention in terms of the effectiveness of this type of law enforcement agent.

Violence and its Implications on Educational and Infrastructural Development of Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State

This study investigated the “Impact of Violence on Education and Infrastructural Development in Ini Local Government Area.” The study was guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 99,196 made up of 52,644 males and 46,552 females (NPC, 2006). This represents the population in the 27 communities in Ini Local Government Area. A sample of 384 participants was determined using Taro Yamane. Thereafter, cluster and simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents from each stratum. A total of 350 participants returned their instruments correctly. The instrument was face validated by research experts in the University of Uyo. The reliability coefficient using Cronbach’s Alpha stood at .88. The data collated was analyzed using simple linear regression. The findings revealed that there is a significant impact of violence on the educational and infrastructural development in Ini LGA. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended among others to increase collaboration between the local government, law enforcement agencies, and community-based organizations to enhance security and maintain public order.

Cannabis and alcohol enforcement strategies across the U.S.

As the legalization of adult-use cannabis has expanded to include almost half of the states in the U.S., substance use-related enforcement responsibilities for state and local law enforcement agencies may have changed. We assessed the use of cannabis and alcohol enforcement strategies at local and state levels, and in legal and non-legal cannabis states. We conducted surveys of 1,024 local law enforcement agencies, 53 state alcohol beverage control agencies and 48 state patrol agencies. We calculated the prevalence of cannabis enforcement strategies and their analogous alcohol strategies and analyzed differences across legal and non-legal cannabis states. We assessed associations between cannabis enforcement strategies, cannabis legalization status, and agency and jurisdiction characteristics. Cannabis enforcement strategies were less common than their analogous alcohol strategies. The percentage of agencies conducting enforcement of cannabis-impaired driving and of public use of cannabis did not differ significantly across agencies in legal and non-legal states. Agencies in cannabis legal states (compared to non-legal states) were more likely to train officers in identifying cannabis impairment among drivers (RR=1.23, 95% CI=1.08-1.42). Several local agency and jurisdiction characteristics were associated with a higher likelihood of conducting cannabis enforcement but results were inconsistent across strategies. Our study shows that cannabis enforcement strategies were used less than analogous alcohol strategies in legal and non-legal jurisdictions, suggesting that increased cannabis enforcement could lead to reductions in public health harms. This study provides a foundation for much needed research on cannabis and alcohol enforcement during a changing cannabis legalization landscape.

Flashforward: The Current and Future Applications of Vibrational Spectroscopy for Forensic Purposes

ABSTRACTVibrational spectroscopy combined with machine learning has a great potential for forensic applications. For example, handheld Raman spectroscopic instruments are already used by law enforcement agencies for precise, confirmatory identification of drugs. Beyond drug identification, several emerging technologies based on vibrational spectroscopy are currently under development for forensic investigative purposes, including the analysis of questioned documents, gunshot residue, fabrics, soil, hair, nails, and nail polish. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the application of vibrational spectroscopy in various areas of forensic analysis, particularly focusing on forensic serology and the analysis of trace evidences. In the case of forensic serology, the methodology allows for determining complex aspects of serological casework, including the time since deposition of a stain, as well as the phenotypic profile of the stain donor—namely, sex, race, and age. Furthermore, gunshot residues can be accurately identified by grain, caliber, and manufacturer when Raman spectroscopy is paired with machine learning. This integration of advanced spectroscopic techniques with machine learning holds great promise for furthering both the accuracy and efficiency of investigations, helping to reduce the total backlog of evidence investigation currently plaguing modern forensic laboratories.

From broken windows to broken doors: rethinking the politics of immigration policing and the sociology of sanctuary

ABSTRACT The policing of extralegal immigrants and of citizens suspected of low-level offenses represent two of the most contentious issues in the contemporary urban context. To date, however, the nexus between the two has largely eluded scholarly attention, with conventional accounts of immigration enforcement tending to overlook the place of local police practices, in general, and of broken windows (or order maintenance) and what I call broken doors (or border maintenance) policing, in particular. This paper aims to address this epistemic deficit by comparing sanctuary and non-sanctuary jurisdictions within the same city-regions, against the backdrop of broken windows and broken doors. Drawing on an original analysis of declassified data, collected from jails, detention centers, and police precincts across Greater NYC and LA from 2002 to 2017, I assess whether agencies in adjacent jurisdictions exhibited substantively similar or dissimilar detention outcomes, measured in terms of per capita rates of detention and of detainees delivered to federal custody. Despite the formal divergence between sanctuary and non-sanctuary jurisdictions, this study finds a surprising, substantive convergence in local law enforcement agencies’ logics of practice, their repertoires of enforcement, and their operational outcomes, raising vexing questions for both scholars and practitioners of urban sanctuary.

Farm Crime Experiences and Effects on Livelihood in Awendo Sub County, Kenya

This study dealt with farm crime experiences and effects on livelihood in Awendo sub County in Kenya. The study employed a descriptive survey design, using the mixed methods research approach, with a sample of 384 respondents. The study used a questionnaire, an Interview schedule and Focus Group Discussion as sources of data. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic approach. Based on the findings, the study concluded that distinct patterns of farm crime victimization existed in Awendo. They involved offences like night attacks on isolated farms. The study found a rising trend in farm-related crimes, mainly when crops are ready for harvest. In response, local authorities and community leaders should implement targeted security patrols and community watch programs, focused on vulnerable farm locations, especially at night. Law enforcement agencies should raise farmers' awareness of the importance of environmental security measures, including improved lighting and fencing, especially during high-risk times.

Digital forensics in the provision of crime prevention activities

Digital forensics in the provision of crime prevention activities