What is evidence-based policing?

This article was written for our sponsor, Roy Taylor for Sheriff.

Evidence-based policing refers to law enforcement assembling and reviewing data to inform, and challenge policies, practices and decisions. By utilizing evidence collected from their community and beyond, officers can better address issues affecting their area and how effective current strategies are for handling them.

This type of policing can also bring more transparency to the community.

"Everybody has perceptions about what crime is occurring in their community, but some of those perceptions are not reality. Through an evidence-based policing approach, we can use data to define what is going on in the community, then support your initiatives in that element," said Eric Preddy, president at Regional Proving Grounds. "For example, some people may think that speeding is a problem in their neighborhoods, only to find out when we do speed studies that people are driving under the speed limit. So the data doesn't support that perception. This way, an organization can be conscious about how they spend their time and initiatives, and use the money for vital, evidence-supported initiatives."

In collecting data, there are a number of different technologies and databases that police organizations can use. Through these resources, they can gather statistical packages that show crime trends and specific hot zones. For example, the Bureau of Justice has lists of programs and the success rates.

Roy Taylor, chief of police for Capitol Special Police, litigation consultant and candidate for Wake County Sheriff, has written a position paper on the implementation and benefits of evidence-based policing, emphasizing its potential to produce positive results through collaboration.

"Through evidence-based policing, you're able to know what type of programs work. We'll use evidence-based policing to look throughout the country and say, 'OK, who's had this problem and how did they solve it?'" said Taylor. "That way, it eliminates us having to come up with all these ideas, chase them down and find out which ones work. All we have to do is say, 'Hey, Portland, Oregon, you had a great homeless program. How did it work? How did you get started? Who did you partner with? How much did it cost?' We're able to find out what works and what doesn't work, and quickly implement it."

Still, law enforcement departments will need to make adjustments to fit their specific communities.

In doing so, they'll translate data from pure numbers into relevant information that can be shared with not only the community, but also officers on a daily basis so they can direct their activities to wherever they're deemed most needed.

"A great example of evidence-based policing in use is over the July 4th weekend. We know that there are more boating accidents and motor vehicle accidents, because people are often consuming more alcohol. We increase law enforcement on the holiday weekend, and there are safety checks put into place," said Marie Taylor, dean of the Criminal Justice program at Georgia's Truett University. "Still, that doesn't always mean an exact replica everywhere, because what works in Atlanta or Chicago isn't going to work in rural Georgia. There are different expectations of law enforcement in different areas."

According to Preddy, police departments across the Triangle already use technologies that support evidence-based policing. And while evidence and data used in larger cities may not work for rural areas, in the Triangle, collaboration is valuable.

"What is working in one agency may also work at another, so we're learning from one another in how we're dealing with specific crimes. Every jurisdiction has its unique crimes that occur, and the same crimes that occurred in Raleigh may not be happening in Apex," said Preddy. "Still, there are strategies that Raleigh may be using that Apex can then tweak to their own needs."

"That's the real beauty of evidence-based policing: seeing what works through the data, seeing what that means and then modifying things to see what works," he finished. "Policing is evolving and changing rapidly, and through these software packages, we're able to support the needs of the community."

Through utilizing evidence-based policing, both Preddy and Taylor see an opportunity for law enforcement to increase both transparency and efficiency.

"One of the things that has to be realized is that law enforcement is not just a community service, but it's also a business. We have been trusted with a certain amount of money, and we want to be good stewards of that funding and address the crime at the top," said Preddy. "We want to understand what is going on and put the right resources into play so that we can be fully accountable and transparent with the community as to why we're spending a certain amount of money, and doing certain things to be able to make their community safer."

This article was written for our sponsor, Roy Taylor for Sheriff.