Webinars and Podcasts

This page features PSP-sponsored webinars and podcasts on topics of interest related to increasing public safety and reducing violence.

The 101: The NYPD and Victim Assistance

The 101: The NYPD and Victim AssistanceOver the course of five years, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has worked diligently to enhance the ways in which it can serve and respond to victims of crimes. At the onset of the adopted program, the NYPD asked its executive leadership to survey all bureaus and offices within the department, asking two vital questions: how do officers interact with victims of crimes, and how could those interactions be improved? Every function of the NYPD was examined in order to enhance its perceived response to victims of crimes. Input was also sought out from victim advocates and service providers through proactive interactions with these entities. This webinar provided an overview of the 101 ways in which the NYPD enhanced its response to victims of crime, the internal and external assessments that the NYPD completed to produce the initiatives currently in place, the Crime Victim Assistance Program that has been the cornerstone of the department’s efforts to improve its response to victims of crime, and the resources available through DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
 
 
Please log in or contact info@pspartnership.org to access the webinar recording.

Tampa Police Department (TPD) Gun Crime Reduction Strategies

Tampa Police Department (TPD) Gun Crime Reduction Strategies WebinarSince 2015, TPD has seen a 45 percent reduction in firearm related crimes, largely due to the success of TPD's new Violent Crimes Bureau (VCB). The VCB employs strategies such as integrating police units to create more centralized communication, identifying and focusing efforts and resources on the most violent offenders (the Violent Impact Players List), consistently identifying and targeting hot spots, implementing place-based policing and offender management tactics, engaging in effective federal partnerships, and relying on advanced technology such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and the gunshot detection system, ShotSpotter. This webinar will explore the TPD's VCB, including successes and lessons learned, specific gun crime reduction strategies and their effectiveness, and TPD's ideas for future improvement.
 
This webinar is available only to PSP site representatives and team members. Please log in to view the webinar.

New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Ethical Policing Is Courageous (EPIC) Peer Intervention Program

New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Ethical Policing Is Courageous (EPIC) Peer Intervention Program Webinar EPIC is a program developed by the NOPD in an effort to educate and support their officers in the practice of peer intervention. Through EPIC, the NOPD trains members of its department to identify and safely intervene when they believe a person is at risk for doing something that would harm themselves and/or others. This peer approach to 'policing' one another has proven to be effective for the NOPD in preventing harm and promoting officer wellness. The goal of this webinar is to highlight and bring awareness to this proactive, team-focused program as a solution to the officer safety issues that law enforcement faces today. This webinar will explore the efforts that went into gaining support for the program, steps for implementation, challenges faced, and lessons learned.
 

Innovative Prosecution Strategies to Fight Violent Crime

Innovative Prosecution Strategies to Fight Violent Crime Webinar U.S. Attorneys play a vital leadership role for the PSP sites. Their unique position as law enforcement executives affords them the opportunity to effectively advance the PSP mission of reducing violent crime. The goal of this webinar is to highlight and bring awareness to some of the U.S. Attorneys' exceptionally successful and innovative efforts. Efforts that will be explored during this webinar include developing case review processes, directing and coordinating federal law enforcement assets to the violent crime hot spots within the community, effective goal setting, and developing and implementing innovative prosecution strategies that successfully combat violent crime.
 
Due to the sensitive nature of this Webinar, this recording is only available for DOJ representatives. Please contact info@pspartnership.org to request access to the recording.
 

Retail Theft Reduction Strategies

Retail Theft Reduction Strategies Webinar In 2003, 18 percent of Tampa, Florida’s, retail theft was reported to the Tampa Police Department (TPD) by Walmart. The retailer had the highest percentage of shoplifting in the TPD’s jurisdiction—higher than the next four retail stores combined. The TPD and Walmart instituted a working partnership in an effort to mitigate the high rates of retail theft and reduce recidivism and calls for service. The purpose of this webinar is to highlight and bring awareness to this creative partnership/program as an option to fight crime.
 

Detroit’s Project Green Light

Detroit Project Green Light Webinar Project Green Light is a public-private community partnership in Detroit, Michigan, aimed at improving neighborhood safety, promoting the revitalization and growth of local businesses, and strengthening the Detroit Police Department’s (DPD) efforts to deter, identify, and solve crime. Project Green Light began with eight gas stations that installed real-time camera connections with police headquarters. The DPD and the city devote staff to effectively receive, monitor, and analyze video feeds from Project Green Light partners, now integrated into Detroit’s Real Time Crime Center. Project Green Light businesses experienced an 11 percent reduction in violent crime in 2017 compared to 2016. This webinar will explore Detroit’s Project Green Light and lessons learned from the city regarding implementation of the project to reduce crime and violence. The webinar will also examine the rationale of the Project Green Light initiative; the implementation strategy; and some of the lessons learned, successes, and challenges.
 

Public Health Approach to Violence Reduction—The Cure Violence Model

Public Health Approach to Violence Reduction--The Cure Violence Model The Cure Violence Health Model applies the methodologies associated with the control of disease outbreaks: interrupting transmission of the disease, reducing the risk of the highest risk, and changing community norms. By viewing violence as contagious and treating it using a health approach, this model has proven effective in reducing violence in multiple jurisdictions across the country and internationally. The overall goal of this webinar is to educate through discussion how violence is an epidemic that can be prevented. This webinar will explore the science behind the Cure Violence Health Model and lessons learned from jurisdictions implementing the Cure Violence Health Model to reducing crime and violence. Make it Happen (Crown Heights, New York), a community-based violence reduction initiative is based on the Model. In the webinar, we will also examine the rationale of the Make it Happen initiative; the implementation strategy; and some of the lessons learned, successes, and challenges.
 

Child Sex Trafficking

National Public Safety Partnership Podcast Today’s law enforcement is increasingly tasked with dealing with children who are exposed to violence, crime, and abuse. Unfortunately, one of the most horrific crimes against children is sex trafficking. The child sex trafficking industry can reach beyond the borders of the United States and it can be as close to you as next door, in your neighborhood. The consequences of this high-dollar exploitation of children are far-reaching and result in an uncertain future for its victims—physically, mentally, and socially. The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) is pleased to host Ms. Cynthia Pappas in this podcast on child sex trafficking and available resources. Ms. Pappas is a senior policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, where she provides national leadership and coordination on issues surrounding child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking prevention and intervention, and youth and law enforcement engagement.

The following materials have been archived from the PSP pilot program, the Violence Reduction Network (VRN).

Children Exposed to Violence in Law Enforcement

Today’s law enforcement officers are increasingly tasked with dealing with children who are exposed to violence, crime, and abuse. If not the victim, children witness the victimization of others and the resulting trauma, which if left unaddressed, can have far-reaching effects and result in an uncertain future for its victims. The U.S. Department of Justice’s VRN is pleased to host Ms. Cynthia Pappas in this podcast on Children Exposed to Violence. Ms. Pappas is a senior policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), where she provides national leadership and coordination on issues surrounding child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking prevention and intervention, and youth and law enforcement engagement.


Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties—Considerations for Law Enforcement

This podcast defines privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties and the role of law enforcement in the collection and sharing of information.



Resources:
Developing a Policy on the Use of Social Media
The Importance of Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Protections in American Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Suspicious Activity Reporting—Information for Officers Reporting on Suspicious Activity
The Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPS) in the Information Sharing Environment (ISE)

BJA Transition Update and Site Updates

The purpose of this webinar is for BJA to share information regarding VRN activities moving forward through the transition process and to highlight the VRN site resource delivery plans and sustainability efforts.
 
Please contact info@PSPartnership.org for more information regarding this webinar.

Insight Policing—Command Through Curiosity

The purpose of this webinar is to provide law enforcement officials with an overview of the Insight Policing training program available from George Mason University that teaches officers to apply insight policing skills to identify, understand, and defuse escalating conflict behavior and increase cooperation and trust among community members and for law enforcement to share lessons learned and experiences with implementing Insight Policing strategies.
 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) NIBIN and eTrace Overview

The Violence Reduction Network is pleased to present this podcast of the ATF National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) and the Electronic Tracing System (eTrace) networks. The focus of this podcast is to provide an overview of these resources and the services they provide to law enforcement.
 

Resources related to this podcast are considered law enforcement sensitive and are available to site representatives and team members only. Please log in to view the resources.

License Plate Reader Best Practices

The purpose of this webinar is to provide law enforcement officials with an overview of the value of license plate readers (LPRs), including how to establish a program, the development of policies for LPR use, LPR successes, and the development of implementation plans.
 

Peer-to-Peer Webinar Roundtable on Sustainability

The focus of the webinar is to discuss sustainability of strategies and evidence-based practices learned and experienced through VRN. The webinar will serve as an opportunity for the 2014 sites to discuss sustainability plans, successes, and challenges with each other, based on their internal discussions.
 
The recording of this webinar is available to site representatives and team members only.
Please log in to view the recording.

Podcast: Department of Justice Community Relations Service

The Violence Reduction Network is pleased to present this podcast on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS). CRS is DOJ's "Peacemaker" for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability. During this discussion, the speakers will provide an overview of the CRS department and describe how CRS works with local communities to resolve conflict and tension.

CRS Website

Recruiting a Diverse Police Department Through Digital Outreach

A police department that reflects the ethnic, gender, and racial makeup of the communities it serves helps to build trust and improve relationships. Commitment to encouraging diversity in the police force has immense value, both internally and externally. This past winter, candidates were invited to apply to the Chicago Police Department for the first time in three years. Of the 14,000 applicants who responded to the announcement, 71 percent identified as a minority. Maintaining a police force that represents the community it serves is a top priority in Chicago and across the country. The webinar highlights the importance of diversity for building trust in the community and describes how Chicago developed a 12-week digital outreach campaign to bolster minority recruitment and lessons learned that will improve efforts in the future.
 

Exploring Active Shooter Response and Training

The goal of this webinar is to provide law enforcement officials with an overview of the research and analysis of active shooting incidents from the last several years and to share information regarding training strategies and best practices for law enforcement response to an active shooter. It will also provide information regarding current DOJ training and resources available through the FBI and the BJA VALOR Initiative and the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Program.
 

Casualty Care and Rescue Tactics

“Today’s law enforcement officers are facing increasing threats from not only non-traditional events such as terrorist attacks and active shooter events but a continuation of traditional threats and assaults that occur during traffic stops, domestic disturbances and the like.” ~Chief David Flory (Ret.)

Being prepared with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide immediate life-saving aid to oneself as well as to an injured individual has never been more critical for law enforcement. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Violence Reduction Network (VRN) is pleased to host Chief David Flory (Ret.) in this podcast discussion on casualty care and rescue tactics, otherwise known as self-aid/buddy-aid.

Casualty Care and Rescue Tactics flyer    |   David Flory Biography 

Prosecution Strategies for Violence Reduction

In today’s environment, the role of the prosecutor in overall violence reduction extends far beyond the courtroom. Across the country, some communities have adopted unique and multifaceted approaches to reducing violent crime by establishing trust and providing opportunities for success through community outreach, call-in sessions, and strong partnerships among the community, prosecutors, law enforcement, probation and parole, academia, and social services. Join this webinar to learn about two innovative, data-driven programs and the benefit of prosecutorial involvement in violence reduction strategies for the communities they serve.
 
Resources:
Braga, Anthony A. and David L. Weisburd. 2014. “Must We Settle for Less Rigorous Evaluations in Large Area Based Crime Prevention Programs? Lessons from a Campbell Review of Focused Deterrence.” Journal of Experimental Criminology, 10 (4): 573 – 597.
Access Here

Braga, Anthony A. and David L. Weisburd. 2012. “The Effects of Focused Deterrence Strategies on Crime: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Empirical Evidence.” Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 49 (3): 323 – 358.
Access Here

Social Media Analysis

Social media plays a valuable role in allowing people, businesses, and organizations to keep in touch and interact with one another in ways as never before. Unfortunately, social media can also be used by individuals to espouse criminal intentions, coordinate criminal activities, and even publicize acts of violence. This webinar orients the audience with tools, methods, and techniques to search for subjects, issues, or people on any number of social media sites. Participants also generate a more complete understanding of the concept and function of these sites, how some sites support analysis while others support targeting, and how social media tools and resources can be used to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and investigate criminal activity. By forming a more complete understanding of social media-associated investigative tools and techniques, law enforcement may be better equipped to gather timely information in the furtherance of crime prevention and the investigation of criminal activity.
 
Please contact info@PSPartnership.org for more information regarding this webinar.

Resources for Victim Service Providers Involved in VRN

Effective training is essential to providing quality victim services. Victims and survivors interact with various criminal justice system professionals at different points in the criminal justice process and may have evolving needs specific to victimization and population types. The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) offers a wide variety of support services that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual VRN sites. During this webinar, viewers learn how OVC TTAC is supporting the Wilmington VRN site with training and technical assistance and how to request training and technical assistance for victim service providers and allied professionals in your site.
 

The New Era in Community Policing

In the post-Ferguson era, as communities continue to voice concerns regarding police shootings and unfair policing practices and in the wake of the recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, police agencies across the country are rethinking their tactics and their community relationships.  Relatedly, as the concepts of procedural justice, constitutional policing, collaborative reform, collective efficacy, and community outreach and collaboration increase in importance in the world of policing, it is important to integrate or reintegrate these concepts and practices into police operations.  For several reasons then, there is a need to build police agency interest and capacity in the areas of community policing and collaboration. This webinar reviewed key concepts and definitions, such as “procedural justice,” “collaboration versus engagement versus cooperation,” “intelligence-led policing,” and “smart policing,” and presented contemporary and promising police practices regarding outreach and collaboration in communities that are characterized by chronic high violence.
 

Strategies to Improve Homicide Investigations and Increase Clearance Rates

During this webinar, participants heard from Dr. David Carter and Mr. Brian Russell on successful and effective approaches in managing homicide investigations based on the collective experience of seven law enforcement agencies, the importance of a reciprocal relationship between law enforcement and prosecutors, and the critical tasks during the first 48 hours of a homicide investigation.

View the Presentation
View the Resources

Listen to the Recording

 

Utilizing Social Network Analysis to Reduce Violent Crime

The growing field of network science examines how our social connections influence a range of phenomena, including whom we marry, the things we buy, the votes we cast, the jobs we get, and even the health of our communities and families. This webinar explored how social network analysis (SNA) can be used to understand and guide gun violence prevention efforts. The webinar covered the basics of SNA, with the aim of providing a foundation for understanding how mapping human social networks can be used to better address violent crime. Geared towards participants from all areas of the criminal justice community, the webinar addressed the key concepts and the basic data and computing requirements for effective social network analysis. This webinar focused on the use of law enforcement agency record information to examine social ties, such as when suspects are arrested together or are linked together for having been mentioned in the same field interview stop. These official ties were used to illustrate the utility of SNA. We also direct your attention to a blog post that speaks to how the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is Reducing Homicide Using Social Network Analysis. You can locate the post at the following link: https://www.ojpdiagnosticcenter.org/blog/reducing-homicides-using-social-network-analysis.
 

Virtual Forum

The U.S. Department of Justice hosted the VRN Virtual Forum as a collective Network update for all VRN sites and DOJ. This forum provided an opportunity for VRN site leaders and representatives to hear from each other regarding violence reduction efforts under way in each site and the DOJ resources that have been most helpful to them. Sites provided feedback on assistance that has been delivered through VRN, goals for the next six months, and ways VRN can better assist in the future. The VRN leadership team also provided a briefing on the future of the Network, including new sites, the fall summit, and more.

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Community Engagement in High-Violence Neighborhoods

The recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City, New York, and subsequent protests across the country have highlighted the importance for police to partner with the community to establish sustainable relationships. Community engagement provides tremendous opportunities for working together and pooling resources to strengthen police legitimacy and reduce violence in our communities. During this webinar on community engagement, participants learned about innovative approaches to engaging communities in high-violence neighborhoods. Mr. Ed Chung of the DOJ National Center for Building Community Trust provided opening remarks about national perspectives and strategies, and then participants heard from three chiefs of police (Chief Scott Thomson from Camden, New Jersey; Chief Chris Magnus from Richmond, California; and Chief Bobby Cummings from Wilmington, Delaware) regarding their experiences and expertise in community engagement before opening up the discussion to the entire VRN network.

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Strategies to Address Witness Intimidation

Intimidation of witnesses can be a significant challenge for violence reduction efforts because it infringes upon the effective and fair operation of the judicial process.  Without cooperating witnesses, police investigators and prosecutors are denied critical evidence, cases are jeopardized, and confidence in the criminal justice system’s ability to protect and represent the members of the community is undermined. During this webinar, participants heard from subject-matter experts regarding innovative ways to address witness intimidation.  Ms. Kristine Hamann, BJA Visiting Fellow, provided opening remarks and facilitated the discussion among nationally recognized subject-matter experts regarding their expertise in implementing effective strategies to protect witnesses.
 

Top Offender Lists

With research indicating that a relatively small number of offenders are responsible for a large number of the crimes that are committed, identifying top offenders for the targeting of scarce resources can be a successful strategy to address and decrease crime in the community. The objectives of this session were to learn how to develop and maintain a top offender list, discuss strategies and related challenges and prospects to using a top offender list, learn about the lists developed by different agencies and initiatives, and discuss the utilization of top offender lists with your VRN colleagues. 

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Innovative Strategies to Address Youth Violence

This webinar on youth violence engaged participants in discussions about innovative approaches to working with high-risk and gang-involved youth, based on the city of San Jose’s Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force and the application of the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission process on Juvenile Case Review.  In addition, local police department representatives shared their expertise.

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This project was supported by Grant No. 2016-DG-BX-K006 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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