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Office for Public Safety Research (OPS-R)

Last Updated: June 29, 2021 | Press Releases

Feature Article: NYC Subway Sensors Could Warn Early for Chem/Bio Threats

S&T's is working on cost-effective technologies to detect chemical and biological threats inside a subway environment.

Last Updated: May 13, 2020 | Press Releases

Snapshot: Enabling a Secure Mobile Ecosystem

Protecting mobile devices from cyber-attacks and accelerating the adoption of secure mobility for the federal government is a critical research focus of the Department of Homeland Security DHS S&T.

Last Updated: June 3, 2019 | Blog

Facing the Inevitable Storm

Over the years, S&T has developed a host of tools in preparation for the Atlantic hurricane season; the 2019 season officially began June 1.

Last Updated: April 9, 2019 | Press Releases

Snapshot: Innovative S&T Developed Training Transitioned to Border Patrol

DHS S&T worked with United States Border Patrol and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to research and develop training content and methods to enable agents to leverage knowledge, skills, and abilities of the expert trackers in their workforces.

Last Updated: December 20, 2018 | Publication

S&T Combatting Human Trafficking Through Social Science Fact Sheet

DHS S&T seeks to address the growing problem of human trafficking through social science-based research.

Last Updated: September 11, 2018 | Site Page

Accessing the Terrorism Prevention Literature Library

DHS S&T developed a comprehensive and publicly available literature review and ontology dashboard to organize Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) literature. This new capability streamlines the ability for end users and practitioners to access peer-reviewed and methodologically sound research products to develop an evidence base in the field of terrorism prevention for what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Last Updated: August 28, 2018 | Press Releases

S&T Develops the First Line of Defense Against Acts of Targeted Violence

Since 2010, the U.S. government has invested more than $20 million into understanding all forms of radicalization to violence, as well as effective prevention and intervention measures. DHS S&T and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) are at the forefront of this work.

Last Updated: August 24, 2018 | Publication

S&T Terrorism Prevention Literature Dashboard BIB File

DHS S&T developed a comprehensive and publicly available literature review and ontology dashboard to organize TVTP literature. This new capability streamlines the ability for end users and practitioners to access peer-reviewed and methodologically sound research products to develop an evidence base in the field of terrorism prevention for what works, what doesn't, and why.

Last Updated: August 23, 2018 | Publication

S&T Behavior Detection Visual Search Task Analysis Project Visual Search Battery Report

Approximately 1.2 million people fly within the United States every day. To keep these passengers safe, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employs a multilayer security system to ensure that the traveling public and the nation’s transportation systems are protected. The Behavior Detection (BD) program serves an essential function in this multilayered security approach. Unique from other security capabilities within the TSA security system, the BD program, which was previously reserved for Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) but is now comprised of Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) as well, trains officers to identify anomalous behaviors by observing passengers and comparing what they see to an established behavioral baseline. The goal of the program is to identify high-risk travelers and subject them to additional screening. This report describes the results of an empirical study that addressed these research goals and furthered DHS S&T’s understanding of the visual search process required for successful BD performance.

Last Updated: August 8, 2018 | Publication

S&T Leveraging a Targeted Violence Prevention Program to Prevent Violent Extremism: A Formative Evaluation in Los Angeles

This report represents the results of a formative evaluation conducted from December 2015 to November 2016. The data and results reflect what was learned during that time period and are not intended to represent the status of subsequent efforts in Los Angeles. “Countering Violent Extremism,” or CVE, refers to proactive actions to counter efforts by extremists to recruit, radicalize, and mobilize followers to violence.