How evidence-based policing helps agencies do better work

When the Vallejo (Calif.) Police Department began considering the purchase of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), they didn’t just take the vendor’s word that the equipment would be successful in helping to capture criminals and reduce crime. Command Staff wanted to have proof, so with the assistance of a group of researchers from New York University, they employed what has become known as Evidence-Based Policing. They conducted a randomized control trial, which allows researchers to prove or disprove a theory. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug are joined by Vallejo Police Lieutenant Jason Potts in a discussion about the VPD experiment, as well as Evidence-Based Policing in general.