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Reports & Memos

2021

State Policy Papers

In this new series of policy papers, we urge state and local governments to carefully consider strategies to promote public safety and ensure justice for local communities. With those goals in mind, and consistent with longstanding LEL principles and many of the recommendations made in our April 2020 federal report Ensuring Justice & Public Safety, these draft policy papers offer specific policy recommendations in each of five areas:

2020

Ensuring Justice & Public Safety: Federal Criminal Justice Priorities For 2020 And Beyond (Policy Paper)

As law enforcement veterans who have dedicated our lives and careers to protecting public safety at every level of local, state, and federal government, we urge Congress and the current administration to carefully consider a range of strategies to promote public safety and to help ensure justice for local communities.This report offers specific policy recommendations in five areas: (1) reducing unnecessary incarceration, (2) increasing mental health and drug treatment, (3) bolstering community policing, (4) improving juvenile justice, and (5) preserving and expanding recidivism reduction.

See more here.

2019

Briefing Memo: Alternatives to Incarceration (Fact Sheet)

Police officers are not mental health or addiction professionals. Yet, police are often the first responders to people in crisis while lacking alternatives other than making an arrest. After arrests, offenders are often incarcerated, rather than treated. Stopping this cycle is key to restoring police legitimacy and keeping our communities safe.

Briefing Memo: Pell Grant Restoration (Fact Sheet)

As part of our continued commitment to promote sensible criminal justice reform and reduce recidivism, Law Enforcement Leaders supports the restoration of Pell Grant funding to incarcerated individuals. This fact sheet shows that higher education in prisons is one of the most effective ways to combat recidivism.

Briefing Memo: Louisiana Criminal Justice Reform (Fact Sheet)

Louisiana joined the nationwide movement to pass smart criminal justice reforms. These deliberate and reasoned reforms deserve credit for the impacts they have already had and will have in the future. Nationally, data demonstrates that these reforms successfully hold offenders accountable, allow police and prosecutors to focus on violent crimes, and provide effective programs for successful reentry.

2018

Briefing Memo: FIRST STEP Act & Sentencing Reform (Fact Sheet)

In 2018, Law Enforcement Leaders supported the compromise that would amend the FIRST STEP Act (S. 2795 “FIRST STEP”) to include portions of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 1917 “SRCA”). This fact sheet analyzes key provisions of the combined bill that will enhance both public safety and efficiency for law enforcement.

2017

A Crime & Justice Agenda For The New Administration (Policy Paper)

To better combat crime, we must improve our nation’s crime policies. This report offers five policies the new Administration should support to forge a path to advance our common goal of a safer nation.

We currently have nearly 200 members hailing from around the country, from all divisions of law enforcement, and from across the political spectrum.

Members Include:

  • Paul Schnell

    Commissioner, Department of Corrections, Minnesota

    Former Police Chief, Maplewood, Minnesota

    Former Police Chief, Hastings, Minnesota

  • Brendan Cox

    Director of Policing Strategies, LEAD National Support Bureau
    Former Police Chief, Albany, New York

  • Peter Koutoujian

    Sheriff, Middlesex County, Massachusetts


    Former President, Major County Sheriffs of America


    Former President, Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association

  • Beth McCann

    District Attorney, Denver, Colorado

  • William Scott

    Police Chief, San Francisco, California

  • Sim Gill

    District Attorney, Salt Lake County, Utah

  • Diana Becton

    District Attorney, Contra Costa County, California;Former Presiding Judge, Contra Costa Superior Court, California

  • Jerry Clayton

    Sheriff, Washtenaw County, Michigan

  • Carmen Best

    Former Police Chief, Seattle, Washington

  • Brett Tolman

    Former U.S. Attorney, District of Utah

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