Setting Research Priorities for Pursuit Management

In 1996, NIJ created the Pursuit Management Task Force to examine the role of technology in high-speed police chases in response to concern about the dangers of pursuits and a startling lack of technology to help officers when a vehicle attempts to flee. The Task Force members included law enforcement officials from Federal, State, and local agencies. The Task Force made a number of recommendations that have guided the development of NIJ's pursuit management portfolio over the past decade.

Recommendations

• Allocate funds to provide high-speed driving courses to police officers.
• Aggressively develop technologies to assist with pursuits, including electromagnetic technologies.
• Fund public education programs on police pursuits.
• Enhance communications technologies and interoperability.
• Create State legislation that makes fleeing arrest a serious crime.
• Develop pursuit-in-progress emergency warning systems.

Currently, NIJ maintains a Technology Working Group on Pursuit Management that helps guide the Institute's research and development on pursuit management technologies.