Evidence Based Policing: what it is and why will it become even more important in the future

Evidence-Based Policing (EBP) has emerged as a transformational paradigm shift with the potential to revolutionize policing drawing. It draws its inspiration from evidence-based practices in other professional domains such as healthcare, psychology, and social work. Lawrence Sherman made EBP famous with his 1998 National Policing Institute (then the Police Foundation) article entitled simply, "Evidence Based Policing." This is still considered one of the seminal discussions on this topic.  The understanding and use of EBP has seen exponential growth with practitioners. In addition, several organizations dedicated to advancing EBP have developed. These include George Mason University's Center for Evidence Based Crime Policy and the American Society of Evidence Based Policing.

EBP's core premise is simple yet profound: police should make decisions based on empirical data and scientifically proven outcomes rather than tradition, gut instinct, or political considerations. In other words, use the best available evidence to drive your policing strategies.

Evidence about “what works” in policing may come from rigorous research methodologies like randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews or long-term observational studies. Their aim is to identify interventions or practices which have been empirically shown to reduce crime, improve community relations or enhance overall police agency efficacy.

Adopting EBP allows police departments to be more transparent, efficient, and accountable - ultimately leading to safer communities and fostering harmony in the police-community relationship. It represents an innovative departure from traditional methods, encouraging an evidence-based approach towards policing practices.

To learn more about evidence based policing and why its will be increasingly important in the future, click here.