Vote for the Concepts Submitted to the NIJ

What it is

A secure app that connects school safety alerts directly to local police dispatch.

How it helps

Usually, when police are called to a school for a safety threat, they walk in blind. This app changes that by giving responding officers critical background information on their screens before they arrive—like whether the student has a known mental health condition. With this context, officers can use the right calming techniques and focus on getting the student medical help rather than arresting them. This is better for the student and saves the local police department time and money.

What it is

A smart computer program that filters out minor or false alarms from school security systems.

How it helps

Today's schools have a lot of monitoring tools, from vape detectors in bathrooms to internet search filters. These systems send out so many alerts that school police officers get overwhelmed and waste time checking on false alarms. This app fixes that by connecting all those systems together. Instead of sending an alert for every single ping, the software looks for patterns. It only alerts the officer when multiple warning signs happen together, ensuring police spend their time investigating real, serious threats.

What it is

A private, secure system that makes sure students in crisis get mental health support instead of just getting in trouble.

How it helps

When a school police officer deals with a student having a mental health breakdown, getting that student connected to a therapist often involves a lot of slow, messy paperwork. This app gives officers a fast, digital way to request help from school psychologists or city mental health services. It tracks the student's care plan and alerts staff if the student misses therapy appointments, making sure vulnerable kids actually get the help they need without falling through the cracks.

What it is

A smartphone app that helps police officers safely interview and record statements from victims of domestic violence.

How it helps

Instead of shuffling through paper forms, officers use this app to guide them through a safety checklist to determine if a victim's life is in extreme danger. While they ask questions, the app securely records the victim's video statement in a way that guarantees it cannot be altered or faked later, making it much stronger evidence in court. If the app flags that the victim is in high danger, it instantly connects them with local domestic violence support groups for immediate help.

What it is

A tool that allows regular patrol officers to uncover and prove high-tech abuse, like hidden trackers or harassing text messages.

How it helps

Usually, proving digital stalking requires a highly specialized tech team. This app lets the first officer on the scene scan a victim's surroundings for hidden Bluetooth trackers (like secretly placed AirTags) or spy software. It also gives officers a way to properly save threatening digital messages so they hold up in court, replacing the old, unreliable method of just taking blurry pictures of the victim's phone screen.

What it is

A highly secure app provided directly by the police to victims so they can safely and instantly report if an abuser violates a restraining order.

How it helps

Normally, if an abuser breaks a protective order, the victim has to manually collect evidence, print it, or email it to the police, which wastes time and risks the victim's safety. This app allows victims to discreetly take a photo or record evidence of harassment, which is then locked and sent straight into the assigned police detective's digital file. This triggers an immediate alert for the police to take action. To protect the victim, the app has a disguised screen so the abuser cannot easily find it if they get hold of the phone.