This project will provide law enforcement agencies with practical and field-informed guidance on how to develop and operate real time crime centers (rtccs) in ways that are scalable, cost-effective,…

The Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Program awarded a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Police Executive Research Forum on October 1, 2025, under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710).

PERF will develop practical, field-informed guidance for law enforcement agencies on developing and operating Real Time Crime Centers in ways that are scalable, cost-effective, and aligned with community policing principles. Recognizing that most existing RTCC resources are vendor-driven and emphasize high-cost solutions, PERF will document a range of RTCC models spanning low-cost, small-agency setups to advanced operations. Through background research, a national questionnaire, site visits, and a stakeholder convening, PERF will produce a guidebook, case studies, checklists, and multimedia content. These resources will help agencies determine whether and how an RTCC fits their needs, identify costly missteps to avoid, and implement strategies to improve responses to high-priority public safety concerns.

Performance runs through September 30, 2027, with work performed in Washington, DC.

This project will provide law enforcement agencies with practical and field-informed guidance on how to develop and operate real time crime centers (rtccs) in ways that are scalable, cost-effective, and aligned with community policing principles. Recognizing that most existing rtcc resources are vendor-driven and often emphasize high-cost solutions, perf will document a range of rtcc models: from low-cost, small-agency setups to more advanced operations. Through background research, a national questionnaire, site visits, and a stakeholder convening, perf will produce a guidebook, case studies, checklists, and multimedia content. These resources will help agencies understand whether and how an rtcc fits their needs, costly missteps they can avoid, and how to implement common-sense strategies to improve responses to a variety of high priority public safety concerns