Police are essential. So is reform.

WHAT IS REFORM?

At the Institute for American Policing Reform, we see reform as a transformation of public safety that goes beyond fixing the past. It’s about creating innovative, collaborative, and diversified responses to today’s needs, which may or may not involve sworn peace officers. We value the dedication of current policing professionals and aim to build on their strengths while addressing areas for improvement. Our approach is about moving forward, learning from history, and fostering community ownership of public safety integrated with a professional peace officer presence. We are committed to discovering and building a system that everyone—peace officers and community residents—can trust and take pride in.

OUR APPROACH

COMPREHENSIVE

Crucial public services, especially those with life and death implications, must be subject to reasonable and comprehensive change with the goal of strengthening communities. This is why our approach is rooted in the 5 Pillars of Reform.

RESEARCH INFORMED

As an institute, we are committed to a research-informed approach to our work. We aim to discover the most promising pathway to policing reform through a practice of research, evaluation, and assessment.

COMMUNITY BASED

Our definition of community is inclusive of police. This is why we have gathered some of the brightest legal minds, community advocates, police executives, business experts, government officials, and engaged citizens to discover the most promising pathway to reform.

CURRENT PROJECTS

POLICE TRAINING

Culture is the most powerful influence in a department that leaders must understand, manage, cultivate, and hold everyone accountable for.

Our training fosters meaningful dialogue and collaboration among diverse department staff, ensuring that every voice is heard in the pursuit of lasting cultural change.

COMMUNITY WORK

We are pioneering a new community engagement model that prioritizes proactive, continuous oversight and accountability for response measures.

By focusing on systemic, transformational change, we aim to build lasting trust between communities and law enforcement.

We believe police reform is both possible and necessary.

Our vision is to see standardized, trustworthy, and human dignified policing services in all American states and territories.

“We want communities to re-invest in public safety in a way that is sensitive to the rigorous and challenging role of being a peace officer and the need for residents to be confident that policing services are predictable, trustworthy, and conducted with reverence for the life and dignity of all persons.”

Nicholas Sensley, Founder & CEO 

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