Page 32 - PCPA Spring 2024 Bulletin Magazine

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PA CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION
5 LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY TRENDS FOR 2024
5 Law Enforcement Policy
Trends for 2024
1. Child Abuse
In 2023, 17 states enacted legislation addressing child
abuse, focusing on broadening definitions of abuse and
neglect, extending the periods for legally surrendering
infants, and updating reporting requirements. For
instance, Texas now mandates that officers record oral
reports of abuse (with appropriate notifications to the
reporter), emphasizing penalties for false statements.
Oregon requires law enforcement to inform additional
state agencies about abuse allegations in child care
centers, while Arizona now mandates immediate forensic
interviews for children taken into custody due to exigent
circumstances.
These developments represent a renewed effort to protect
children and prosecute those who abuse them, and law
enforcement policy needs to evolve to accommodate that.
TIP: A child abuse investigation is one of the most
challenging tasks a law enforcement officer will face. It’s
critical that your agency’s policies stay in step with the
latest legislation and remain accessible to your officers as
they deal with these complex situations in the field.
2. Sexual Assault Investigations
In response to the nationwide backlog of untested
evidence from sexual assault cases, several states
(including Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Texas
and Washington) passed legislation in 2023 to prioritize
sexual assault investigations. Maryland established a
reporting regime for sexual assault evidence kits, while
Louisiana now mandates testing of every kit received by
law enforcement. In Texas, new laws require officers to
provide additional information to crime labs after DNA
matches, making efforts to collect biological samples from
suspects and notifying victims promptly about results.
Regardless of legislative action, communities and victim
advocates expect thorough investigations that respect
By: Lexipol Team
Due to legislative actions, court decisions and gradual shifts in best
practices, terminology and technologies, law enforcement policy is in
constant flux. At Lexipol, our subject matter experts are always on the
lookout for new developments in federal and state statutes, regulations,
case law and accreditation standards to keep our policies current and
help protect agencies, officers and the communities they serve.
In 2023, we analyzed over 11,000 pieces of legislation that directly and
indirectly impact public safety agencies, leveraging internal resources as well
as insights gained from collaboration with numerous departments nationwide.
Below are several recent policy trends for law enforcement leaders to consider
as they work to align their agencies’ policies with these developments.