Can law enforcement agencies become more effective at reducing crime in an environment of limited resources? The 15-year history of the Smart Policing Initiative suggests that they can.
In response to the challenges of budget cuts and staffing reductions for police agencies in the wake of the 2008 recession, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) launched the Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) in 2009. Its goal was to support law enforcement agencies in developing and implementing innovative, evidence-based policing strategies. SPI grants help agencies reduce crime, improve operational efficiency, and enhance community outcomes by integrating data-driven practices and rigorous evaluations. It stands out from other federal grant programs because it emphasizes locally tailored, evidence-based practices and rigorous evaluations. SPI requires funded agencies to engage in formal research partnerships to examine implementation fidelity and evaluate the impact on public safety. This requirement ensures that the initiatives are not only innovative but also practical, effective, and sustainable.
To mark the 15-year milestone, the Justice Evaluation Journal recently dedicated a special issue to highlighting SPI programs. Each of the ten studies, which were subjected to rigorous peer review, is co-authored by the research partner and police practitioner who implemented the project. Scott Decker and I from CNA’s Center for Justice Research and Innovation served as guest editors for the special issue.
Since its inception, CNA has been SPI's training and technical assistance provider. We pair a leading researcher and senior law enforcement practitioners at each SPI site with a technical assistance analyst. These experts assist in developing, implementing, and evaluating SPI initiatives, ensuring that they incorporate data-driven policing practices. This collaboration offers SPI awardees a platform for innovation and continuous support throughout the process. As part of the special issue, CNA’s Christopher Sun (the Smart Policing Training and Technical Assistance Project director), James “Chip” Coldren, and Alexa Blondin provide a 15-year overview of SPI. They note that CNA has offered training and technical assistance to 124 site projects across 96 agencies.
The Five Core Strategies of SPI
To achieve their goals, SPI sites use five core strategies. Studies included in the special issue highlight how these strategies have been translated into practice:
Performance Measurement and Research Partnerships. SPI helps agencies make data-driven decisions by partnering with researchers who conduct systematic, rigorous evaluations of policing strategies. Methodologies to evaluate SPI projects must minimally achieve a Level 3 on the Maryland Scale of Scientific Methods. An SPI study conducted by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio used a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of hot spot policing in suburban and rural areas. They found that strategically concentrating police resources in small geographic areas yielded significant reductions in crime-related calls for service relative to control areas. By employing a randomized controlled trial, the researchers ensured the findings were robust and data-driven, providing valuable insights for advancing evidence-based policing practices.
Strategic Targeting. Through analysis, SPI focuses on the small percentage of people and places responsible for a large proportion of crime, aiming to improve public safety impacts. The Chronic Offender Recognition and Enforcement (CORE) strategy was implemented in Syracuse, New York, aligning with this core SPI principle. The Syracuse Police Department used existing data to identify a small percentage of individuals, specifically those most likely to be involved in gun violence, to concentrate resources on the highest-risk offenders to improve public safety. Researchers examined CORE over three and a half years and found the initiative achieved individual-level deterrence and reduced victimization.
Making Better Use of Intelligence and Other Data and Information Systems. SPI enhances crime analysis capabilities, integrating various data sources to develop effective crime reduction strategies. For example, the Miami Real-Time Crime Center leverages closed-circuit video footage, gun detection systems, license plate readers, and other real-time communication systems to provide rapid and actionable intelligence to responding officers. This integration enables quicker and better-informed decision-making during critical incidents, significantly improving case clearance rates, facilitating arrests, and reducing crime. The study's findings support the core principle by showing how real-time crime centers can effectively combine multiple data streams to enhance overall policing efficiency and outcomes.
Managing and Sustaining Organizational Change. SPI prepares agencies to adopt and sustain evidence-based practices through training, policy revisions, and improved communication. In Arizona, the Tempe Police Department’s SPI project used a comprehensive approach that included customized de-escalation training, training policy improvements, and organizational change. In addition to creating a police training curriculum that decreased use of force, increased procedural justice, and increased community satisfaction during police-public encounters, this project produced a training checklist that other police departments can reference to ensure that training is effective and sustainable.
Outreach and Collaboration. SPI emphasizes the importance of outreach and collaboration with non-police stakeholders to ensure the long-term success of crime reduction initiatives. In Wisconsin, the Madison Addiction Recovery Initiative exemplifies this principle by integrating efforts from police, community partners, and public healthcare providers to address substance use disorders. This pre-arrest diversion initiative, led by the Madison Police Department, collaborated closely with local addiction treatment programs and public health experts to ensure comprehensive support and tailored treatment for participants, highlighting the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement in achieving long-term crime reduction and improved health outcomes. Participants completing the program reported reduced depression, anxiety, and increased compliance with treatment for opioid use disorder.
Across more than 15 years, BJA’s Smart Policing Initiative has significantly advanced the field of policing, fostering evidence-based practices and rigorous evaluations. By supporting local agencies in developing innovative strategies tailored to their unique challenges, SPI has contributed to reducing crime and improving community outcomes. With CNA’s training and technical assistance, SPI continues to provide a valuable framework for effective policing practices, setting a high standard for other federal grant programs. Designed for a time of limited resources, the Smart Policing Initiative shows a path toward crime reduction that is both effective and efficient.
