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Smart Policing Initiative (SPI)

FY 2023 Smart Policing Initiative Grant Program

Closing Date
Grants.gov Deadline
Application JustGrants Deadline
With this solicitation, BJA seeks seeks applications for funding to support innovative and evidence-based policing practices, more effective information sharing, and multiagency collaboration.

FY 2021 Smart Policing Initiative

Closing Date
The Smart Policing Initiative provides funding to enable police agencies to effectively use evidence-based practices, data, and technology.

New Research on Body-Worn Cameras

May 2015

This video captures the presentations of several speakers. Jennifer Wood, Associate Professor at Temple University, presents key findings from a pilot evaluation of the Philadelphia Police Department's use of body-worn cameras (BWC) in one of the districts. During his presentation, Michael White, Professor at Arizona State University, focuses on available BWC resources and research. And, Daniel Lawrence from the Urban Institute spoke about the Institute's evaluation of BWC.

Episode 46: BJA SMART Policing Initiative Spotlight – A look into the research at Phoenix PD, AZ

September 2016
Mike Roosa, Senior Policy Advisor for the Bureau of Justice Assistance interviews Phoenix Police Department’s Sergeant Kevin Johnson and Arizona State University’s Dr. Charles Katz to discuss their departments deployment of body cameras in 2013 as part of BJA’s SMART Policing Initiative grant to evaluate body worn camera technology. The group discusses lessons learned and progress of their program along with the research around the program. Dr. Katz and Phoenix PD were part of the BJA Expert Panel on Body Worn Cameras that helped form the BJA National Body-Worn Camera Toolkit.

Episode 22: Research Spotlight – Las Vegas MPD (Part 2)

March 2016
Todd Maxwell from BJA’s Body-Worn Camera Team interviews Lt. Zehnder from Las Vegas Metro PD and Dr. Chip Coldren from CNA to discuss the ongoing research of the BWC pilot program with UNLV that was funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The study is a multi-year study that examines the implementation and impact of BWCs on a large police agency. Lt. Zehnder contributed to the BJA Expert Panel on Body Worn Cameras that helped form the BJA National Body-Worn Camera Toolkit and Dr. Coldren leads BJA’s BWC Training and Technical Assistance Program.

Episode 21: Research Spotlight – Las Vegas MPD (Part 1)

March 2016
Todd Maxwell from BJA’s Body-Worn Camera Team interviews Lt. Zehnder from Las Vegas Metro PD and Dr. Chip Coldren from CNA to discuss the ongoing research of the BWC pilot program with UNLV that was funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The study is a multi-year study that examines the implementation and impact of BWCs on a large police agency. Lt. Zehnder contributed to the BJA Expert Panel on Body Worn Cameras that helped form the BJA National Body-Worn Camera Toolkit and Dr. Coldren leads BJA’s BWC Training and Technical Assistance Program.

Episode 3: Research Perspective Interview with Dr. Charles Katz

November 2015
Pat McCreary, Associate Deputy Director for the Bureau of Justice Assistance, interviews Arizona State University's Dr. Charles Katz to hear about his research on Body-Worn Cameras. Dr. Katz facilitated the Body-Worn Camera Expert Panel convening in Washington, DC, and contributed to BJA's National Body-Worn Toolkit by authoring the FAQs for the toolkit with Dr. Michael White. 

Episode 1: Research Perspective Interview with Dr. Michael White

October 2015
Mike Roosa, Senior Policy Advisor for the Bureau of Justice Assistance, interviews Arizona State University's Dr. Mike White to better understand research perspective on Body-Worn Cameras. Dr. White wrote the Police Officer Body-Worn Cameras: Assessing the Evidence report for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Diagnostic Center, facilitated the Body-Worn Camera Expert Panel convening in Washington, DC, and contributed to BJA's National Body-Worn Toolkit by authoring the FAQs for the toolkit with Dr. Charles Katz.