Social Media: Model Policy

• NCJ Number: 233397
• Date Published: 2010
• Length: 4 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2006-DG-BX-K004
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police/National Law Enforcement Policy Ctr
• Sale Source: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police/National Law Enforcement Policy Ctr
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This document presents a template for use by law enforcement agencies to develop a departmental policy regarding the use of social media.

Abstract

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has established a social media policy for law enforcement agencies to use to develop an individual policy for their departments. This document presents a template for departments to use to develop such a policy. A department's social media policy should include the following: 1) the purpose of the policy; 2) the department's policy regarding use of social media; 3) definitions used in the media that include blog, page, post, profile, social media, social networks, speech, Web 2.0, and Wiki; 4) the department's policy towards on-the-job use of social media; and 5) the department's policy regarding employees' personal use of social media. The template should also include the effective date of the policy, distribution of the policy, special instructions, and the expected reevaluation date for the policy.