National Law Enforcement Accountability Database, 2018–2023

• NCJ Number: 309614
• Author(s): Shelley S. Hyland
• Date Published: December 2024
• Length: 15 pages
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Type: Publication; Statistics

Abstract

This report describes the purpose for developing the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), a centralized repository of official records documenting instances of law enforcement officer misconduct as well as commendations and awards to help inform hiring, job assignment, and promotion decisions. It also provides statistics on the NLEAD’s records, the federal law enforcement officers included, and its usage. This is the first annual report, and it covers NLEAD records for events occurring in calendar years 2018 to 2023 and usage of the NLEAD from January 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024.

Launched on December 18, 2023, the NLEAD was established in accordance with Section 5 of Executive Order 14074, Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices To Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety. The Justice Management Division was given responsibility for developing and maintaining the NLEAD, and BJS was given responsibility for producing the annual report. 
 

Highlights:

• As of September 20, 2024: 
  • All federal law enforcement agencies required to report to the NLEAD (N=90) and four additional agencies voluntarily submitted records or submitted documentation that they had zero qualifying incidents for all their officers for 2018–2023.
  • There were 4,790 records of federal officer misconduct and 3,961 federal law enforcement officers in the NLEAD for 2018–2023.
• In 2018–2023, 63% (3,031) of incidents in the NLEAD were for sustained complaints or records of disciplinary action based on findings of serious misconduct.
• From January 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024, 9,985 searches were conducted on records in the NLEAD.