Since 1992, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the principal statistical agency in the U.S. Department of Justice, has conducted the Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies (CSLLEA) approximately every four years—the latest version is in the field now.1 The census is designed to identify and document changes in the number, functions, and operations of U.S. law enforcement agencies. It provides important information for law enforcement executives and researchers alike. The CSLLEA obtains information from about 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies in the United States. The survey is relatively brief and is limited to gathering information about agencies’ organization, functions, and special services. The data allow BJS to examine and describe changes in law enforcement agencies.
