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**U.S. Department of Justice**        Office of Community Oriented Policing Services            145 N Street, N.E.       Washington, DC 20530      www.cops.usdoj.gov×         Menu         - Home
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**New Publications from the COPS Office**
  September 2018 | Volume 11 | Issue 9

Civilian  oversight of law enforcement agencies is nothing new. In fact, agencies have  always been accountable to the communities they serve. Moreover, additional  oversight boards have existed in various forms since the 1950s. However, like  any local law enforcement initiative, civilian oversight takes different forms  in different jurisdictions. Many agencies exploring options for their own  communities often ask what others are doing to inform their own decision  making.

In response to these questions, the COPS Office awarded funding to  the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) to survey its members and hold a  round table to discuss the results. The survey collected information on the  role and authority of civilian oversight bodies among MCCA member agencies and  the roundtable was held to enhance understanding of how civilian oversight  works in major cities. The discussion focused on reviewing the survey results  and how the various models worked in actual practice.

This  report discusses the results of that survey and the outcome of the round table  conversation and provides an overview of civilian oversight in major city  police agencies. While the surveys and subsequent round table were informative,  two findings became clear: (1) Because of significant variation of oversight  from one jurisdiction to another, it is difficult to make broad generalities,  and (2) there is a need for developing clear objectives, measurement, and  empirical research to measure effectiveness of the specific models going  forward.

Please  download a copy of this report today to learn how civilian oversight is working  in communities across the nation.

**Click to  Download**

Perceptions of Methamphetamine in Indian Country: Interviews with  Service Providers in Ten Western Tribes offers an eye opening look at the  devastating spread of drug abuse in tribal lands, but it also offers hope for  change.  Native American tribes across  the United States have experienced many adverse effects from the distribution,  trafficking, and use of methamphetamines and other dangerous drugs. These  effects range from higher crime rates associated with the sale of drugs, to the  displacement of children from homes where methamphetamine is being abused or  trafficked, to the exploitation of Native resources.

In an effort to address  the increasing concerns raised by the methamphetamine problem in Indian  country, law enforcement and social service providers were asked to participate  in qualitative interviews regarding their perceptions of the methamphetamine  use and implications for crime and treatment in the tribal communities where  they work and live.

The purpose of the study was to determine the nature,  extent, and effects of methamphetamine trafficking, distribution, and  manufacturing in Indian country. A further goal was to determine what, if any,  other illegal drugs or substances posed problems for tribal agencies and the  programs and policies that are needed to help solve this complex public safety  problem.

**Click to Download**

As a key component of the grant, community border summits  were convened in each of the three border cities to facilitate the creation of  stakeholder-led, comprehensive plans to respond to the humanitarian and  enforcement issues raised by human and drug trafficking on the border.

In Nogales, Arizona, the action planning summit “Combating  Human, Gun, and Drug Trafficking in Santa Cruz County—Best Practices for Today  and Tomorrow” addressed the unique challenges faced by ranchers, businesses,  and the communities of Santa Cruz County. In Pharr, Texas, “Protecting the  Children of Pharr from Guns, Drugs, and Human Smuggling—Best Practices for  Today and Tomorrow” focused on the impact of unaccompanied minors crossing the  border on the community’s ability to provide public safety and social services  to children and families. San Diego County convened an action-planning summit  to address human trafficking and child sexual exploitation; the resulting  comprehensive plan is discussed as a case study.

This publication describes the outcomes of each of these  stakeholder-led summits, which brought community members together with local,  state, federal and tribal law enforcement, public health providers, social  services, and other groups to identify problems, challenges, and solutions. It  also provides detailed information on the approach adopted by each community  and the activities that have been sustained since the project ended.

**Click to Download**

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The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

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