Full-Time Employees in Law Enforcement Agencies, 1997-2016

• NCJ Number: 251762
• Author(s): Shelley Hyland .
• Date Published: August 2018
• Length: 7 pages
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Type: Survey; Statistics; Report (Annual/Periodic); Program/Project Description

Annotation

This report provides data for 1997-2016 on full-time sworn and civilian employees of general-purpose law enforcement agencies in the United States, which includes municipal, county, and regional police departments, most sheriff's offices, and primary state and highway patrol agencies.

Abstract

Presents counts of full-time employees in general-purpose law enforcement agencies for 2016, with comparisons to prior years. General-purpose law enforcement agencies include municipal, county, and regional police departments; most sheriffs' offices; and primary state and highway patrol agencies. Results are shown by type of law enforcement agency and by sworn status. Rates of full-time sworn officers per 1,000 U.S. residents are also presented.

• The average number of full-time sworn officers per 1,000 U.S. residents decreased from 2.42 in 1997 to 2.17 in 2016 (down 11%).
• From 1997 to 2016, the number of full-time sworn officers in general-purpose law enforcement agencies increased by about 52,000 (up 8%).
• The number of full-time employees in general-purpose law enforcement agencies increased by about 174,000 (up 20%) from 1997 to 2016.
• Among local police departments, the number of full-time sworn officers increased by about 48,000 (up 11%) from 1997 to 2016.
• From 1997 to 2016, the number of full-time civilians in general-purpose agencies increased by about 121,000 (up 53%). The number of full-time civilians in sheriffs’ offices increased by 110%, or about 98,000.