ABSTRACT Forensic psychology is an essential tool in modern criminal investigations, offering scientific methods to understand criminal behavior, assess suspects, and enhance investigative accuracy. This study examines awareness and utilization of forensic psychological investigative techniques (FPITs) among police officers, lawyers, and judges in Kerala and Delhi, focusing on Polygraph, Brain Electrical Oscillation Signature (BEOS), Layered Voice Analysis (LVA), Suspect Detection System (SDS), and Narcoanalysis. Findings show higher awareness in Delhi than their counterparts in Kerala. But, overall utilization remains low due to limited training and institutional support. The study highlights calls for structured training and policy reform to strengthen FPITs in India.

ABSTRACT Sham relationship investigations in Flanders (Belgium) are multi-phased institutional procedures comprising (i) a municipal phase at the civil registry office and (ii) a judicial phase at the police office. While language rights are supposedly guaranteed for applicants on the police level, where certified sworn interpreters are provided by the State, in the municipal phase, any type of interpreter, professional or non-professional, may be used. This freedom of choice has led to disparate local practices in municipal interpreter selection procedures. We have interviewed civil servants across three different municipalities, as well as surveyed 56 municipalities on their interpreter selection practices. Of the 26 municipalities that organize interviews as part of their preliminary sham relationship investigations, 21 work with interpreters (12 ad hoc, 6 sworn, and 3 community), while 5 do not. We discuss the motivations behind these decisions and the insight they implicitly offer into the language ideological beliefs of the municipality and the civil servants implementing the policy. We have observed three main rationales: (i) judicial fencing and streamlining, (ii) institutional accommodation and (iii) institutional omission.

Over 48 000 people were killed by firearms in the US in 2022. Evidence suggests minimal prehospital intervention and rapid transport to definitive care reduce mortality. Police vehicles typically arrive before ambulances and could enable immediate transport. Since police face firearm injuries as an occupational hazard, their transport practices may inform civilian care, yet these practices remain unstudied. We identified law enforcement personnel wounded by firearms using the Gun Violence Archive. We then conducted a case-by-case analysis of news reports, investigation documents, and media and body camera video footage to determine how each officer was transported from the scene. We focused on cities with at least 10 injured officers between April 2018 and April 2024, totalling 574 officers in 27 cities. Our final sample included 18 cities where we confirmed transport mode for at least 70% of cases, yielding 335 cases. Among 335 wounded officers, 35 were transported by means other than police or ambulance. Of the remaining 300, 44% were transported by police vehicle versus 56% by ambulance, with substantial variation across cities. In contrast, police rarely transport civilian gunshot victims, despite written procedures in several cities allowing this practice. Police transport practices reveal differences in prehospital care for police versus civilians. Reforming prehospital policies may be a significant opportunity to save lives after gun violence. Evidence-based changes can be implemented now; new, rigorous research is urgently needed to evaluate police transport as a life-saving option for both police and civilians.

ABSTRACT This article introduces an academic debate regarding Japan’s kōban policing system over the past few decades. As the author reveals, some scholars consider kōban police officers as key actors in delivering restorative justice. Others, however, describe the same agents as punitive and retributive actors of the criminal justice system. To identify the reasons for these distinct and contradictory interpretations, the methodologies of the most significant studies on the kōban system are analysed. In addition, the article outlines some changes in society and police protocol that have decreased the restorative potential of the Japanese kōban police officers.

Police brutality is a global phenomenon. The practice has dire consequences for fundamental human rights. It has far and remote implications for loss of lives and property. The limited literature on the police brutality and human rights prompted this research. The study assessed police brutality and human rights in Shagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. It adopted mixed research methods and it is descriptive and cross-sectional in nature. It is anchored strain and routine activity theories. Primary data were obtained through the administration of questionnaire on 108 respondents in Shagamu, Ogun State. The Yamane Taro formula was adopted to determine the sample size. Simple and stratified sampling methods were employed. The study hypothesis tested on the significant relationship between police brutality and security of lives and property. The P-value of 0.292 exceeded the level of significance at 0.05, meaning that police brutality leads to loss of lives and property. The study recommends an established criminal justice system for trial and punishment of erring police officers while members of the public should be well-educated on their fundamental human rights as well as limits of police officers.

Published research on the predictors of police officer life satisfaction in terms of workplace variables is important but limited; research concerning police officers in China (despite the large number of officers employed there) is even more limited. This study tests the hypotheses that perceptions of procedural and distributive justice would be related to the life satisfaction of Chinese police officers in three major Chinese areas: southern, central, and western China. Both procedural justice and distributive justice were significantly associated with higher life satisfaction. These results indicate that enhancing police life satisfaction likely involves enhancing procedural and/or distributive justice.

Domestic Violence (DV) is a profound social issue with significant impacts on victims, who are often trapped in a cycle of repeated abuse. The police, as the frontline in law enforcement, play a crucial role in providing protection for victims and addressing DV through preventive measures. This study analyzes the preventive efforts made by the Tanjungpinang Police in combating DV, focusing on the implemented prevention policies and the challenges faced. The research method used is a normative juridical approach with case studies and interviews with police officers and related institutions. The findings show that the Tanjungpinang Police have implemented various programs such as legal awareness campaigns, security patrols, and collaboration with women and children’s protection agencies. However, significant challenges remain related to limited resources, low legal awareness in the community, and the patriarchal culture that hinders the effectiveness of preventive efforts. Recommendations include enhancing police capacity, strengthening collaboration with related institutions, and utilizing technology to facilitate DV reporting. This study contributes to the development of police policies for more effective DV prevention.

In recent decades, Israel’s public sector diversity policy has encouraged the recruitment of Arab female police officers (FAPO), an indigenous national minority. Historically underrepresented in law enforcement, Arab women face complex challenges when entering the police, navigating tensions between professional, gender and ethno-national identities. This article explores organizational barriers faced by FAPO, using their experiences to examine how ethnicity, gender and employment intersect. While resistance from majority colleagues is expected in divided societies, the study highlights subtler intra-ethnic, intra-organizational resistance. A deeply masculinized perception of policing intensifies tensions between traditional gender norms and professional roles. Drawing on 27 semi-structured-interviews, this qualitative study employs thematic analysis to examine diversity resistance within the Israeli police. The analysis shows how FAPO encounter dual marginalization, negotiating challenges within both the organization and their own communities. The study contributes to understanding minority women’s integration into public institutions in divided societies, with clear relevance for institutional diversity policy.

Police activity is characterized by high physical and psychological demands. Exposure to stress, long working hours, and unpredictable situations can compromise the health and functional performance of these professionals. The general objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between regular physical exercise and the well-being of military police officers, seeking to understand its impacts on physical and mental health, as well as on the efficient execution of duties inherent to police work. The methodological design adopted was a bibliographic research of a descriptive nature, with a qualitative and quantitative approach. Studies involving police officers as participants were selected, investigating relationships between physical exercise, physical fitness, cardiometabolic health, occupational stress, and professional performance. The results indicate a high prevalence of sedentary behavior, overweight, obesity, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome among police officers, conditions associated with low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and adverse occupational conditions. Conversely, regular and supervised physical exercise demonstrated a consistent association with reduced cardiovascular risk factors, improved body composition, decreased occupational stress, better quality-of-life indicators, and enhanced professional performance. A tendency toward a decline in physical conditioning over the course of the career was observed, particularly among officers with longer service time, reinforcing the need for permanent institutional health promotion programs. It is concluded that physical exercise represents a fundamental strategy for preventing cardiometabolic diseases, preserving mental health, and improving the operational performance of military police officers. Therefore, it should be considered an essential component of occupational health policies within police institutions.

How police leaders provide development opportunities, promote, and recognize achievements have discernible effects on employees’ commitment and police culture, which can be damaged through negative perceptions. This qualitative case study of one Canadian police organization explores sworn police officers’ ( n = 17) understandings of informal relationships and its effects on officers and their organization. Semistructured interviews were conducted with officers who fell into two groups (leaders; n = 10 and nonleaders; n = 7), alongside four pre-interview orienting vignettes that identified potential scenarios related to informal relationships in policing. We found three primary themes: (1) rational reason—how officers perceive their organization to make fair decisions; (2) organization viewed as unsophisticated—the lack of appreciation for the strength of “weak ties” in career advancement processes; and (3) nepotism—the need for transparency about opportunities for all employees to develop. We conclude with practical organizational considerations.

Since their establishment, public police agencies have been primarily responsible for maintaining law and order, reducing crime, and responding to incidents of crime and social disorder. However, as societies become more complex and dynamic, it is increasingly recognized that the tasks of crime control and violence reduction cannot be addressed by formal police institutions alone. This recognition has led to the growing involvement of a range of nonpolice actors in the broader policing landscape. In Trinidad and Tobago, individuals and community-based networks often work alongside the official police service to address crime and reduce violence. This article examines the experiences and perspectives of 15 Hearts and Minds officers regarding the impact and effectiveness of stakeholder collaboration in reducing violence in high-crime areas near the capital, Port of Spain.

Mob violence is an emerging threat to the rule of law in Pakistan, often fueled by religious incitement, blasphemy allegations, and perceived failures in the legal system. This study aims to examine the social, legal, and procedural barriers to preventing mob violence in Pakistan from a criminal justice perspective. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 44 elite respondents (judges, lawyers, and police officials), this research explores the underlying causal factors that contribute to mob violence in Pakistan and the systemic limitations of the criminal justice system in addressing this issue. Thematic and cross-referenced analyses reveal an intersection of drivers, including widespread distrust in legal institutions, weak law enforcement capacity, a collective moral justification mindset, and the paradoxical role of religious and tribal leaders as both instigators and mediators. The findings indicate how procedural delays, lack of accountability, and technological deficiencies within the criminal justice system contribute to normalizing extrajudicial actions. The study also illustrates the strategic role played by community influencers in both escalating and de-escalating mob violence, revealing a power imbalance that further undermines formal justice mechanisms. Finally, the study highlights the need for a multidimensional reform approach that includes strengthening police response capacity, regulating religious rhetoric, and accelerating judicial proceedings in order to reinforce Pakistan's criminal justice system.

ABSTRACT This article examines the lived experiences of female police officers in relation to uniform provision, particularly body armour, in England and Wales. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study draws on interviews and focus groups with 88 women across five police forces in 2023–2024 to explore how the police uniform fails to accommodate women’s bodies, resulting in pain, discomfort, and restricted movement – especially for those with larger breasts or bodies. Officers described being unable to breathe, suffering long-term back issues, and feeling shamed for requesting refits. Access to better-fitting equipment was inconsistent and often role-dependent, fuelling perceptions of unfairness and exclusion. This study focuses specifically on the institutional infrastructures that govern body-armour provision, including procurement processes, fitting protocols, and role-based access to PPE and discusses recommendations for establishing minimum standards, reintroducing fitting infrastructures and strengthening accountability in procurement.

As cybercrime advances and becomes more sophisticated, training law enforcement to investigate cybercrime is crucial. This survey-based study examines Colorado police departments’ cybercrime preparedness and the challenges of investigating cybercrime. This paper reports the findings from 18 police departments in Colorado (n = 51). The most common cybercrime incidents officers handle are identity theft, child sexual exploitation and abuse materials, and online scams. Most officers received training on general awareness of cybercrime and cybersecurity. Vendors provided training for specific tools, and police agencies organized internal training. Officers expressed a desire for more training in forensic software, the dark web, and resources for fraud and identity theft victims. The results indicate that although police have received some basic cybercrime training, organizational capacity and emerging trends and technologies, such as AI and new social media platforms, pose challenges for law enforcement in staying current and effective in investigations. Recommendations, implications, and limitations are discussed.

The increasing involvement of male youths in criminal activities within Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, reflects a complex interplay of socioeconomic, human resource, and demographic factors. This multidisciplinary study investigates the root causes of youth criminality by integrating perspectives from Human Resource Management (HRM), criminology, and social development. Specifically, it examines how unemployment, poverty, lack of vocational skills, family disintegration, peer pressure, and urban marginalization contribute to criminal behavior among jobless male youths. Guided by the economic theory of crime, social control theory, and age-graded theory, the study employs a mixed-methods approach, Convergent Parallel designed with pragmatism philosophy. Data were collected from 93 respondents including prisoners, police officers, ward executive officers, and youth using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. Tools such as structured questionnaires, interviews, and police document reviews were employed. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while 10 informants who volunteered after filling questionnaire were interviewed and data underwent thematic analysis while documentary data involved content analysis. The findings reveal that male youths aged 15–21 are particularly vulnerable to crime due to a combination of economic hardship, poor family structures, social exclusion, and lack of access to employment and skills training. The study concludes that youth crime prevention requires a holistic, cross-sectoral strategy involving economic empowerment, targeted Human Resource Management interventions, community engagement, and social policy reforms. It recommends investing in skill-building programs, employment pathways, and community-based rehabilitation initiatives to address the root causes of youth involvement in crime and promote long-term social stability.

This study aims to analyze the implementation of gender mainstreaming policieswithin the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and identify challenges and gaps in theirimplementation. This study uses a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis methods toevaluate how the Indonesian National Police (Polri) has integrated gender equality principlesinto its operations and human resource policies, including policy documents, internal reports,and interviews with Polri personnel. The results indicate that although the Polri hasdemonstrated its commitment to gender mainstreaming through the issuance of Police ChiefRegulation Number 1 of 2022, its implementation remains suboptimal. Significant disparitiesexist between male and female police officers in recruitment, promotion, and job placement.Female police officers (Polwan) often face certain limitations not experienced by male policeofficers (Polki), such as specific recruitment criteria and a lack of opportunities for openpromotions. Consequently, the majority of female police officers remain confined toadministrative and health roles, with few reaching senior leadership positions.

A scoping review of child maltreatment reporting by school personnel and police officers concerning Black families.

Conflictual encounters with individuals with mental illness from the perspective of police officers: Reasons, challenges, and experiences with escalating and De-escalating factors - An empirical study of German police officers.

Much of the literature on drug-related violence focuses on the Americas, its applicability to other regions of the world unobvious (Liem and Moeller, 2025). Focusing on the death penalty for drug offences in Indonesia - with findings generalisable to other Southeast Asian jurisdictions - we find that, while contemporary theories focus on the violence within drug markets, here the violence is unidirectional: from the state to civilians. We apply a necropolitical theoretical framework (Mbembe, 2003) to data from interviews and focus groups with high level judges (8 participants), prosecutors (32), narcotics police (8) and other police officers (6) in Jakarta, Indonesia from 2023 to 2024. Our data reveal three key features of the necropolitical theoretical framework: 1). State of exception and siege: our participants harnessed the language of a 'drugs emergency' in Indonesia, with concerns about invasion, a foreign 'insurgency' of drugs, justifying the most punitive criminal justice response. 2). Annihilation for preservation: judicial and extrajudicial executions of drug traffickers are justified for the protection of current and future generations from the scourge of drugs. 3). Racism in post-colonial practice: executions for drug offences have been disproportionately directed at foreign nationals. This paper invites the reader to zoom out from the typical focus on violence within the drug trade to consider punishment - judicial and extrajudicial - as a form of state-sponsored, necropolitical violence, part of the continuum of 'drug-related violence' rather than simply a matter of penal policy.

Despite substantial investments in information and communication technologies (ICTs), governments worldwide continue to face challenges in their effective implementation across public service departments. This study examines the personal, organizational, and technological determinants of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) usage among police officers and its impact on job performance. Using quantitative survey data collected from 447 police officers across seven districts in Rajasthan, India, the research integrates the Big Five personality traits, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) model, employing structural equation modeling and importance-performance analysis. Attitude is modeled as a integrative evaluative construct that mediates the effects of personality and expectancy beliefs on behavioral intention and actual use within an extended UTAUT framework. Results indicate that personality, attitude, and training significantly influence the actual ICTs use. Although performance expectancy and training had no significant direct effects on behavioral intention and actual use in a mandatory-use context, these relationships were fully mediated by attitude and behavioral intention, respectively. The actual ICTs use positively influences job performance, particularly when task-technology fit is high. This article makes three novel contributions. First, this paper studies a relatively unexplored form of ICT, i.e., CCTNS. Second, the unique characteristics and nature of the sample - police personnel. Third, this research observes a sharp deviation from the prior research in the form of a set of counterintuitive findings. This article advances technology adoption literature by integrating three theoretical models and relevant variables, demonstrating superior explanatory power. It offers actionable insights for technology providers, policymakers, training officials, police departments, and governments to enhance technology adoption and job performance by addressing personal, organizational, and technological factors.