National Law Enforcement Learning Lab

The Knowledge Lab intends to create a single, independent entity where core competencies and standards for law enforcement operations are defined, training and resources are developed, assessments and recommendations are provided to requesting agencies, and knowledge can be centralized to assist the field. The principles of the Knowledge Lab are paramount to policing today. These principles include constitutionally-based approaches, community empowerment and equity-building in public safety initiatives, reliance on validated information and innovative approaches, strategic and equitable enforcement, continuous organizational and professional improvement, and transparency.

The Knowledge Lab will continue to strive to enhance the field’s access to resources and guidance to strengthen policies, practices, and professionalization. Outreach will be enhanced to broaden the stakeholder base for knowledge sharing and feedback from the wider criminal justice field. Tools and resources will be developed to aid departments in assessing their constitutional policing practices, training, community outreach, and engagement. Training will be created or provided to law enforcement leaders, mid-level managers, and rank-and-file officers to aid them in improving their practices. Strategies to improve training academies will be identified. Policies or training needed for local agencies to meet the expectations that federal law enforcement agencies set will also be examined.

The National Police Foundation, dba National Policing Institute, will continue working with existing Knowledge Lab partners, including 21CP Solutions, the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, and many nationally recognized SMEs and Constitutional policing experts to complete this critical work for the field.

In response to the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s invitation to apply for funding to support the National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab, the National Policing Institute (“the Institute”) will conduct a set of activities that will build upon the foundational work done to date and expand into new areas to continue to strengthen the reach and effectiveness of the Knowledge Lab.

The efforts of the Knowledge Lab can be grouped into four main categories: 1) connecting peers through peer-to-peer learning opportunities and sharing the experiences of a set of peer learning sites, 2) compiling existing resources in which the Knowledge Lab serves as a central repository of vetted information such as policies, trainings, and implementation guides, 3) translating information into formats that are accessible and useful to practitioners and leaders in the field, and 4) providing technical assistance to agencies through subject matter expertise, implementation support, policy and training, data collection and analysis, and accountability strategies.

The work under this application will continue to build out current core areas of focus for the Knowledge Lab and establish new core areas focused on community engagement and responses to crime and disorder. The success and reach of the Knowledge Lab will be closely tied to strong and effective communication and as such, the Institute will increase the focus on communication through a more developed and resource-heavy website, live streaming events and convenings, enhanced social media presence, and producing podcasts, among other media.

Technical assistance is a cornerstone element of the Knowledge Lab and targeted technical assistance will be provided to jurisdictions currently engaged in a consent decree or settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. With a focus on the core areas, the Institute will identify and establish a set of peer learning sites; continue to produce accessible and digestible resources for the field for each of the core areas; and continue to build a portfolio of training resources. In addition, a subaward will be made to the New York University Policing Project to produce materials derivative of the recent Principles of the Law, Policing publication. The Institute will also develop and administer a microgrant program to assist agencies involved in reform activities as a result of being the subject of a Department of Justice investigation, monitoring engagement, or sanction.