Early warning (EW) systems are data-driven management tools for identifying police officers with performance problems and for providing some intervention to correct those problems. EW systems have emerged as popular tools for enhancing police accountability. This article reports the findings of a national evaluation of EW systems. It argues that EW systems are more complex mechanisms than generally recognized. There are a variety of alternatives with regard to the proper selection criteria for identifying officers, the mode of intervention, and the form of postintervention monitoring for officers subject to intervention. This article discusses the issues related to these alternatives and to the larger goals of EW systems.
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