While their employment makes them an obvious representative of government authority, enforcement, and power, police are also human beings. Over years of service, they are asked to not only enforce the law but make an endless number of judgment calls in volatile, pressure-filled situations by assessing risk and confronting trauma....
It can be helpful to think of the police-community relationship as a social contract in which community members agree to give up certain liberties in exchange for protection. This contract can be viewed as a delicate dance because agencies have a lot of discretionary power and require significant trust from...
Ultimately, serving the community and treating citizens in a just manner is the standard that all police officers should adhere to. But with this said, we are well aware that even the word justice is highly charged, given that many citizens in communities around the country (and the world) have...
To understand how a precision policing platform helps law enforcement prevent crime and enhance community trust, let’s first address the precision policing philosophy that is the foundation of ShotSpotter’s platform. Precision policing is a framework for structuring, managing, motivating, and leading a twenty-first-century police force. It’s built upon the...
To overcome these challenges, many law enforcement agencies are evolving to become more data-driven and proactive, while focusing on improving relations with the community and better allocating limited resources in the process. In this article, we’ll cover some of the shortcomings of 20th-century policing strategies (and how they came to...
When it comes to building a criminal investigation for effective prosecution, ultimately solving crimes and upholding public safety, both investigators and prosecutors have invaluable and interconnected roles to play. In an ideal world, investigators will meticulously document every relevant detail and publish their findings in a highly organized, easy-to-digest report...
Twelve major cities set homicide records this year. And yet more than 80% of gunshots are not reported to 911, leaving our most vulnerable communities ignored and their sons, brothers, uncles and fathers left to die as gunshot victims when a prompt response by first responders might have saved them....
The relationship between police and community centers around a complex and deeply rooted social contract that will take concentrated effort and time to piece back together. But there are some actionable steps police can take to start improving relations. 1. Identify Areas Experiencing the Highest Level of Trauma & Gun...
One of the most critical initiatives for law enforcement today is improving police-community relations. High levels of urban violence—and resulting trauma—stands in the way of this mission. To start improving police-community relations, we must get to the root of the problem, which is mistrust because of a broken social contract....
In terms of seeking justice for the victims, resolution for their loved ones and peace for their neighbors, there are definitive and effective actions we can take – NOW! We know what must be done – it just takes leadership and some work to establish the key cross-jurisdictional partnerships, put...
About ShotSpotter, Inc.
ShotSpotter is a leader in precision policing solutions that enable law enforcement to more effectively respond to, investigate and deter crime.
