SPI Toolkit

The SPI Toolkit is a clearinghouse of resources created and used by SPI sites, such as survey instruments, assessment tools, protocols, community outreach materials, training resources, and more. This Toolkit is intended to provide law enforcement and researchers with the practical tools and resources needed to implement innovative evidence-based strategies and practices. These resources can be downloaded and customized for your own agency.

Research Resources and Survey Instruments

 

Portland SPI Community Survey Guidance

Developed by Kris Henning, Ph.D., of Portland State University and Christian Peterson, M.S., of the Portland Police Bureau and Portland SPI initiative, the goal of this toolkit is to provide law enforcement agencies with entry-level guidance on conducting community surveys. This includes tips for designing surveys, developing survey questions, and analyzing data. PPB’s toolkit also demonstrates how to use surveys in Problem-Oriented Policing projects (POP; Goldstein, 1979) and several real community surveys are available as further examples. Along the way, the toolkit provides references for those who are interested in learning more about designing and implementing community surveys. This includes some of the more technical issues related to sampling, different survey strategies (e.g., in-person vs. telephone vs. mailed vs. online), data analysis, and statistics. Readers interested in specific topics within the toolkit should consult the references listed below.

 

Milwaukee SPI Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Google Survey Questions

In October 2015, the Milwaukee Police Department received an SPI grant to support its BWC program, which included an evaluation conducted by the Urban Institute. Part of the evaluation includes an assessment of how the department's BWC program affects public sentiments toward the police. To accomplish this, the research team conducted an online Google Survey as a way to generate a representative sample of the community in a manner that was cost-efficient. 
 

Community Outreach Materials

Indio Youth Forum Flyer 

Indio Police Department Youth Forum Flyer

The Indio, CA SPI focused on reducing burglary using predictive modeling.Using predictive modeling techniques and geospatial analysis, the Indio SPI team identified truancy rates as a predictor of future burglary hot spots. In order to reduce burglary and related crimes, the Indio SPI developed community programs designed to reduce truancy. This flyer is an example community outreach flyer developed by the Indio Police department.
 

Reno SPI Community PSA Image

 

Reno SPI Community PSA on Prescription Drug Abuse

The Reno SPI focused on reducing the availability of drugs through educating the public and healthcare providers about the problem, using the Prescription Monitoring Program to target doctor shoppers, and enforcing prescription drug laws. This video is an example public service announcement developed as part of their prescription abuse education campaign.
 

Assessment Tools

 

Rochester Police Department Retailitory Violence Risk Assessment Tool

 

The Rochester SPI aimed at reducing violent crime by implementing a strategy to identify, assess, and intervene in violent retaliatory disputes. As part of their implementation the police department created an on-scene dispute-assessment tool to characterize incidents by retaliation risk.
 

Law Enforcement Resources

Chula Vista Domestic Violence Warning One Pager

 

Chula Vista Police Department Warning Overview for Domestic Violence Offenders

Focused deterrence is a central part of the Chula Vista SPI project to reduce repeat domestic abuse. Modeled after domestic violence reduction efforts in High Point,West Yorkshire, and Fremont, the Chula Vista effort focuses on both ‘verbal-only’ calls and domestic violence crimes. Offenders are considered “Level 1” upon an initial verbal-only call, “Level 2” after a second verbal-only call, and “Level 3” when a crime has been committed. Level 3 offenders are asked to sign a written warning that includes seven key points that the responding officer reads to them.
 

Port St. Lucie Offender Interview Questionnaire

 

Port St. Lucie Offender Interview Questionnaire

The Port St. Lucie SPI entailed an experimental test of offender-based strategies implemented in hot spots of residential burglary and theft from vehicles. The offender-based strategy involved detectives developing a response plan tailored to each offender, based on a wide variety of response strategies. Part of this effort included conducting interviews with offenders; the questionnaire used by Port St. Lucie is shared here.
 

Port St. Lucie Criminal Offender Resume Template 

 

 

Port St. Lucie Police Department Criminal Offender Resume Template

The Port St. Lucie SPI entailed an experimental test of offender-based strategies implemented in hot spots of residential burglary and theft from vehicles. The offender-based strategy involved detectives developing a response plan tailored to each offender, based on a wide variety of response strategies. Detectives, with the assistance of a crime analyst, develop criminal offender resumes; the template is shared here.
 

Port St. Lucie Link Analysis Example 

 

Port St. Lucie Police Department Link Analysis Example (packaged with Criminal Resume)

The Port St. Lucie SPI entailed an experimental test of offender-based strategies implemented in hot spots of residential burglary and theft from vehicles. The offender-based strategy involved detectives developing a response plan tailored to each offender, based on a wide variety of response strategies. Detectives, with the assistance of a crime analyst, develop criminal offender resumes with link analysis.