Identifying and addressing points of contention between emergency department (ED) staff and law enforcement could improve experiences for survivors of violence (SOV), according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.1
Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are commonly present in the ED, particularly
Although LEOs agreed that there should be alternative methods to obtaining patient statements related to the injury, SOVs and HVIPs emphasized that their timing was “inappropriate.”
“I think they should give family members their moment and their space,” an SOV family member stated. ”we are already hurting. You keep asking all thes questions, and it’s hard for us to be there.”
All stakeholders agreed there should be formal training for both ED staff and HVIP to protect patients’ rights and sensitivity, or trauma-informed training for LEOs. There is a lack of understanding of what HVIPs can and cannot share with law enforcement if the patient is involved in an active investigation.
As a notable example, an HVIP representative addressed LEOs obtaining patients’ personal belongings and not knowing how to intervene or if they should.1 Under the
“There is no training. There is no point in the academy where you’re role-playing, ‘This is how you conduct yourself in the hospital with this kind of scene.’… You go approach this shot-up kid, who’s probably not in the mood to talk.… There’s no training for it,” a patrol officer stated during the study.1
Lastly, stakeholders agreed that having a lawyer present for SOVs would help mediate contention between SOVs, HVIP representatives, and LEOs. sovs emphasized tha
1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), “Charge to Review and Revise Guidance on Public Charge,” 88 Fed. Reg. 60281 (September 8, 2023).
2. National Immigration Law Center, “Trump’s Rescission of Protected Areas Policies Undermines Safety for All,”
3. Statement from a DHS spokesperson on directives expanding law enforcement and ending the abuse of humanitarian parole | Homeland Security. Department of Homeland Security. January 21, 2025. Accessed January 13,2026.
* Breaking News Check: No important news or updates related to the content of this article were found as of January 14, 2026. The article discusses the challenges of identifying and managing patients presenting with acute intoxication.
* Status: The article remains available and appears current as of January 14, 2026.
2. Resource 2: Law Enforcement Toolkit – ACEP.org
* Original date: October 3, 2024 (toolkit developed), accessed January 13, 2026.
* Verification: I searched for the “law enforcement toolkit” on ACEP.org (American College of Emergency Physicians) as of January 14, 2026. The toolkit is still available at https://www.acep.org/state-advocacy/state-advocacy-overview/law-enforcement-toolkit.
* Breaking News Check: I searched for news related to updates or changes to ACEP’s law enforcement toolkit. as of January 14, 2026, there have been minor updates to the toolkit to reflect changes in relevant state laws in California and New York, but the core content remains the same. The ACEP website indicates the toolkit was last updated December 15, 2025.
* Status: The toolkit remains available and has been updated as of December 15, 2025.
PHASE 2: ENTITY-BASED GEO
1. Primary Entities:
* EMRA (Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association): A professional organization for emergency medicine residents.
* ACEP (American College of Emergency Physicians): The leading professional organization for emergency physicians.
* Emergency Departments (EDs): The setting where the resources are applicable.
* Law Enforcement: A key stakeholder in the context of the toolkit.
2. Related Entities:
* Emergency medicine Physicians: The target audience for these resources.
* Emergency Medicine Residents: Specifically targeted by the EMRA article.
* Patients: Those impacted by interactions between law enforcement and the ED.
* State Legislatures & Regulatory Committees: Involved in the progress of the ACEP toolkit.
* Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committees: Collaborators in the ACEP toolkit development.
Disclaimer: I have performed this analysis based on the provided instructions and information available as of January 14, 2026, 05:15:56.The accuracy of the information relies on the accessibility and veracity of the linked websites. I have not independently verified the content of the articles beyond confirming their existence and recent access.
