Trends in Law Enforcement Personnel, 1997-2016

• In Event: Examining the Utility of the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey

Abstract

There has been increasing attention on the number of sworn officers in the U.S. due to law enforcement agencies struggling to recruit and hire new talent. Using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) survey, this presentation will examine trends in personnel from local police departments and sheriff’s offices from 1997 to 2016. Key national statistics on number of sworn and civilian staff will be explored. Changes in the racial/ethnic composition and gender of sworn officers over time will also be discussed. Additionally, the use of school resource officers and personnel assigned to address crime-related issues will be discussed. Finally, the presentation will assess the racial and ethnic composition of sworn law enforcement officers over time, and among hires and separations in 2016.

Authors

• Shelley S. Hyland, Bureau of Justice Statistics

• Elizabeth Davis, Bureau of Justice Statistics