Key Points

1. 1) Alternatives to arrest, which reduce face-to-face contact, are a natural fit for leaders attempting to curb the spread of COVID-19. It should come as small surprise, then, that across the United States, a diverse range of jurisdictions and agencies have adopted or expanded their use.
2. 2) The most commonly reported COVID-19-inspired shifts in alternative-to-arrest policy are an expansion of the use of citations (in lieu of arrest), the de-prioritization of police stops for minor transgressions and changes to how law enforcement officers receive and respond to certain civilian complaints.
3. 3) Although many members of law enforcement appeared somewhat defensive about these policy shifts, media coverage was frequently neutral or even somewhat positive, even when law enforcement officers provided the majority of quotes. Further, not only did public outcry fail to materialize in most jurisdictions, sustained attention did too.