SHARE RESULTS
Successful reform depends on a variety of stakeholders understanding the changes you seek to make.
From officers in the department, to community members engaged in change and the broader public, to policymakers who can enact laws—it’s critical to ensure that Justice Navigator findings and associated plans for reforms are clearly communicated to each of these audiences. Our guidance below can help you do so, starting with making sure that officers in a department understand that Justice Navigator findings are the driving force behind reforms that will help solve problems for the department and community alike.
Share with officers
Establish early and ongoing communication channels.
Explain why identifying racial disparities and acting to reduce them is necessary and desirable. Keep officers updated every step of this process, and importantly, make sure they have real opportunities to provide feedback and ask questions about findings and reforms. When talking about reforms, connect the reform to the findings and how the reform can strengthen procedural justice, enhance community trust, and reduce racial disparities in policing. Say why these goals are so important to both the department and the community.
Get advice from key staff.
Ask key staff, including line officers, about the key recommendations to prioritize. As part of making an action plan, assemble a department-wide team to support leadership in initiating change and responding to concerns or questions about the reforms.
Identify officers who are respected by their peers and who may be “early adopters” of reforms.
These officers should have experience and expertise, but should also be adaptable to changes in policy and procedure. Talk to them about the need for a proposed reform, then recruit them to help share what they’ve learned with other officers and model how the reform works.
Build a diverse coalition of external supporters.
External supporters can provide essential community input and act as validators. They could include clergy, diverse political stakeholders, business associations, community activists, police unions, or other law enforcement agencies who support the proposed changes. Invite them to the department for a listening session or town hall, and create space for them and other community members to provide feedback to proposed reforms and implement this feedback when appropriate.
Pair policy with necessary training and support.
When presenting findings and rolling out reforms, it is critical to provide any support that officers may need to understand a complex and difficult subject. Officers require additional training support and resources as they take on new roles, such as participating in a community liaison team, or simply need more time to complete paperwork at the end of the shift.
Be prepared to answer tough questions.
Officers may question the amount of time it will take to collect and record extra data, the purpose of the data, or the changes to policies on how they should record their perception of a person’s racial group, gender, or other vulnerable status (which can often conflict with implicit bias training). Prepare to explain the value of the new task and what the department is doing to reduce the burden on officers. Officers may also benefit from seeing the department’s talking points for insight into how the media and community may react to findings.
Share with the media
Accurate, broad media coverage about Justice Navigator assessment findings is key to building support for reform. Our guidelines on media engagement can help you secure such coverage to effectively share your findings.
Create talking points using key messages.
1
Prioritize and rank the top 3 findings you want to emphasize.
Highlight the actions the department is taking, or planning to take, to improve performance.
2
Prepare to talk about findings you would prefer not to discuss.
Acknowledge the problem briefly, emphasizing that these data were produced because the department invited CPE to study its practices with the aim of uncovering and eliminating any racial biases. Be transparent with departmental data and acknowledge the department has more work to do—this will support community trust. Focus on what steps you are going to take to meet the community’s needs, now that there is a common starting place for reform through these findings. Learn more with CPE’s sample talking points.
3
Consider different ways of presenting the same content.
Some media outlets will respond better to seeing the charts from the assessment directly, while others may prefer written explanations.
Select which media to talk to.
1
Focus first on local and statewide media.
These are the most important kinds of media for gaining traction for reform. Reach out to all important regional news outlets (print, online, and broadcast).
2
Engage national media by identifying different types of issues-based outlets and customize your message accordingly.
For example, criminal justice outlets like The Marshall Project might be interested in a deep dive on data, specialty political outlets like Rough & Tumble may be interested in political implications of reforms, and outlets focusing on specific cultural identities, like TheGrio or AL DÍA News, may be interested in the human impact of community members experiencing disparities.
Proactively share your findings.
1
Develop a pitch—a short cover email, summarizing findings and offering an interview—to engage media outlets.
Send the pitch to your list of key reporters with a press release and invitation to a press conference to announce the findings and planned reforms. See our tips on issuing a press release that effectively engages the community.
2
Schedule interviews with local television, radio, or newspaper stations.
Interviews with the media are usually conducted “on the record,” where comments made can be directly quoted. Occasionally, interviews on sensitive matters can be “on background” or “off the record,” where direct quotes will not be used. Interviews with newspaper editorial boards are often on background and can be a good opportunity to help shape coverage of influential newspaper editorials (opinion pieces from the newspaper itself).
3
Write an op-ed for a local outlet or a blog site, such as Medium.
This can be an opportunity to demonstrate partnership with the community in reform, for example, by co-authoring the piece with a community member.
4
Post about findings and plans for reform on social media channels.
Create a social media toolkit with sample tweets and Facebook posts for key stakeholders—including officers, community members, and policymakers—to use. Have a clear internal strategy for monitoring and responding to stakeholder comments and feedback on social media. Specifically, develop a policy for when and how the department should respond to critical or challenging posts from community members. Such responses should be professional and courteous, explaining what the data show and what steps you are taking to improve.
Prepare for media interviews.
1
Identify a spokesperson who is familiar with all findings, including the underlying data, to answer any questions from the media about them.
Practice responding aloud to possible questions from the media. Simply reading talking points is not adequate preparation for an interview. Keep the focus on your key points but using an A-B-A structure: start and end with your message (A), supported by your evidence/data (B).
2
Develop a strategy to respond to incorrect coverage and misinformation.
- If a media outlet has published incorrect information, immediately request a correction by contacting the reporter or editor.
- If the coverage is gaining traction (for example, in social media), consider responding through an interview, statement, or an op-ed.
- Never give the incorrect coverage more attention by repeating what you’re trying to move away from. Instead, pivot the focus back to your core messaging.
Engage with the community
Community engagement is challenging, enlightening, time-consuming—and critical to understanding and addressing disparities uncovered in assessment results. Departments that practice community engagement are working to build trust between their agency and the communities they serve. Communities that view law enforcement as legitimate are more likely to collaborate with police to achieve public safety, such as by reporting crimes or acting as witnesses—a vital part of ensuring public safety in any neighborhood.
This is a process that demands patience, hard work, and a long-term commitment. The good news is that by receiving a Justice Navigator assessment, you are already demonstrating your department’s commitment to equity, transparency, and accountability. The following guidelines can help make sure you engage in meaningful, productive dialogue with a diverse group of community representatives as part of translating findings into action.
Make conversations action-oriented.
Action-oriented conversations engage communities in dialogue about what the assessment results mean, and what steps departments are taking to expand positive-impact policing. These conversations will be most productive if:
1
There is acknowledgement of the historic inequities and burdensome practices
That have negatively impacted certain groups, and an understanding of the national conversations around police brutality. While assessment findings can help create an important common starting place for reform by defining what problems exist, it is important to also recognize that any current observed disparities in policing practices occur within a long legacy of harm caused by the criminal justice system and police to communities of color, especially Black people. Learn more about discussing your findings with communities.
2
Community members’ views and experiences are validated
And not dismissed, even if they differ from the department’s perception.
3
Departments provide specific, concrete information
On how they plan to build the necessary infrastructure to improve policing practices and interactions for all.
Share knowledge about law enforcement policy and procedures.
Share knowledge about law enforcement policy and procedures.
1
How their local policing system works
Including who works in the department, individual roles, departmental hierarchy and power structure, what calls for service occur according to the community, and the outcomes of the response to calls for service—both positive and negative.
2
The specific policies agencies have in place that intersect with community concerns
Such as policies prohibiting racial profiling or use of force policy.
3
What power community members have
In advocating for equitable public safety, transparency, and accountability within their local department.
Provide access to, and understanding of, specific law enforcement data.
Community members are likely to have questions about the implications of the assessment findings which may require access to further data. Additionally, they may have questions as to why certain analyses were not performed. By being transparent with such data, departments can demonstrate accountability and build meaningful, productive relationships with community members. Such transparency can include explaining when you are working to improve access to regular data. Learn more about assisting community members with data collection.
Identify appropriate platforms to communicate and share information.
These can take many forms—both virtual and in-person—and the format may depend on which community members, allies, and stakeholders the department seeks to engage. Below are some tactics to create space for community conversations:
1
Host or participate in listening sessions.
A listening session is similar to a focus group. It is a facilitated discussion aimed at collecting information about community experiences to inform how policies and practices are shaped moving forward. Listening sessions are a key way to seek input that can help departments understand sources of any disparities demonstrated in your findings, as well as what effective solutions would look like. Facilitators play an important role in community discussions, and it is vital to give careful attention when selecting people to facilitate these sessions. Ideally the facilitator will be someone who understands local context, speaks any local languages, and demonstrates skills to foster inclusive discussions and constructively manage potential areas of disagreement.
2
Connect residents to resources.
Share information about local essential services and public services. Community members may not be aware of available local services and organizations that could provide services to better suit their needs than the police. Examples of such resources include local mental health organizations, substance abuse clinics, shelters, treatment centers, social service organizations, fire departments, parks and recreation spaces, and more. Consider inviting these providers to participate in sessions or provide resource materials.
3
Provide space for racial reconciliation and restorative justice.
Creating dedicated spaces for conversations with community members about race and police-community relations may be a critical part of sharing findings with the community. Racial reconciliation requires acknowledgement of the historical role of policing in creation of racial inequities, and allows for community members to share their experiences and challenges.
4
Regularly attend community events.
Identify and work with culturally-relevant community liaisons to attend and contribute to community-led and community-focused events and activities. These may include community forums, town halls, board meetings, resource-advocating events, fire safety training sessions, and luncheons. Such events might be hosted by community members, nonprofit organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
Engage key community groups.
These can take many forms—both virtual and in-person—and the format may depend on which community members, allies, and stakeholders the department seeks to engage. Below are some tactics to create space for community conversations:
- Communities who are experiencing burdensome policing, including Black communities
- Faith leaders and communities
- Youth groups, including both school-age and young professionals
- Senior communities
- LGBTQIA+ people
- Disability rights communities
- Immigrant communities
Resources.
5 Do's and Don'ts for Hosting Community Events
Identify strategies for successful community engagement events, and avoid common pitfalls.
Discussing Your Justice Navigator Assessment With Your Community
Sample talking points and general tips for discussing assessment findings can help you prepare for media interviews.
How to Assist the Community With Information Collection
Connect community members with the right tools and resources to effectively advocate for equitable public safety.
Engage with policymakers
Support from political stakeholders can be key to the success of reforms. Policymakers can not only pass relevant legislation or budget support, but can also help you connect with validators for reform efforts. Our guidance shows how to educate policymakers in your community about your findings and grow productive partnerships for reform.
Have a concise message and a clear ask.
State and local policymakers are usually flooded by requests from their constituents and lobbyists, and term limits create pressure to pass legislation quickly to have a track record for success. They usually only have two minutes to hear remarks from stakeholders in public testimony, and often meet in 15-minute windows. It is essential to be ready with a clear, understandable, evidence-backed message and a concrete plan of action for reform. Information provided to policymakers (through talking points or a customized summary of findings) should clearly state the problem and the benefits of supporting the change requested. For example, after examining evidence presented by community groups that juvenile curfew laws are not effective at reducing crime or victimization and may actually have the opposite effect, the Austin Police Department asked the city council to repeal their curfew law. Your findings can be a starting point for similar policymaking.
Know the political and policy environment.
Research any political stakeholder’s record of policy positions and priorities. Know priorities and demands of the community the policymaker represents, and identify the policymaker’s network of political alliances (e.g. unions, churches, or social justice organizations). Endorsements from community representatives and influential local groups can make the difference in bringing an elected official on board to your plan. At the same time, it’s smart to engage influential groups with opposing views to better understand their positions and seek any common ground.
When working with state legislators, it’s useful to be aware of the legislative and election calendars, as well as legislative processes. This will allow you to request a meeting with the legislator or start a conversation about budget requests at a good time. The ability to demonstrate working knowledge of existing laws and policies relevant to the problem is key to making a case for new action.
Identify champions.
Identify political stakeholders who are enthusiastic about this work and can champion reform. Meeting personally with the mayor and individual city council members and state legislators to present your findings and recommendations can help gauge their interest and support. City council members and state legislators who represent communities with disparities may be good candidates to serve as champions of reform.
Stay engaged.
Changing policies and laws often takes time and persistence. A reform bill that fails one legislative year may pass in the next. Elected officials leave office and policy staff turns over. The policy environment that dictates what is possible is constantly evolving, often slowly but sometimes dramatically—as shown by the response to the Black Lives Matter demonstrations of 2020, which helped spur approximately 450 pieces of state legislation in fewer than three months.
