Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS)

The Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) program is a comprehensive data collection initiative by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) that provides insights into the operations, management, and practices of law enforcement agencies in the United States. First launched in 1987, the LEMAS program gathers detailed information from a nationally representative sample of local police departments, sheriff's offices, and state law enforcement agencies. The data helps understand the structure and functions of law enforcement agencies across the country, serving as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and law enforcement professionals.

The LEMAS survey covers a wide range of topics related to law enforcement management and operations. This includes data on staffing levels, personnel policies, officer training, community policing efforts, use of technology, budgeting and expenditures, equipment, and crime prevention strategies. The survey also provides information on agency policies regarding use of force, officer recruitment and retention, diversity within departments, and collaboration with other agencies. The focus on administrative and management practices allows for an in-depth look at how police agencies are organized and how they respond to the needs of the communities they serve.

LEMAS is instrumental in tracking trends in policing and law enforcement administration over time. It provides valuable benchmarks for understanding changes in police staffing, resource allocation, and the adoption of new technologies or policing strategies, such as body-worn cameras or data-driven crime prevention techniques.

Policymakers and law enforcement leaders use LEMAS data to assess how well agencies are managing their resources and adapting to evolving challenges.