Public Safety Initiatives

The Institute provides a 21st-century approach to public safety by adopting a multidisciplinary “whole-of-community” methodology, which informs PSI educational programs, research projects and community engagement.

Education

PSI offers several programs for public sector and community leaders to advance their knowledge of public safety best practices and strategies. PSI’s Public Safety Leadership Certificate and Executive Leadership Certificate programs, for example, offer law enforcement and other public safety professionals high-level courses on a range of topics, challenges and priorities. As part of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, PSI also offers several courses on a range of public safety topics.

Research

Through research partnerships and projects with other universities, as well as public and private organizations, PSI fellows, advisors and instructors seek to find solutions to the most pressing public safety priorities. From studying and mitigating the rising threat from homegrown violent extremism to understanding tension between law enforcement and the communities they serve, PSI research projects provide resources and insights to the professionals and communities who need them to enhance community safety.

Engagement

Effective leadership and collaboration between public safety disciplines and communities is essential to meeting the complex challenges facing society. PSI helps public sector leaders and public safety professionals identify the strategies and approaches that build trust with communities. PSI also engages faith-based institutions, community organizations, academia, and organizations from throughout the public and private sectors via conferences, symposia, working groups and specialized committees.

Christopher Boone

Dean of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

C. Erwin and Ione L. Piper Chair

Frank V. Zerunyan

Professor of the Practice of Governance
Director, Center for National Defense and Public Safety
Director, Executive Education
Director, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and Nautical Science Programs

Jessie Redd

PSI Managing Director

The Public Safety Initiative (PSI) has been contributing to public safety through education and research for more than 70 years. Called the Delinquency Control Institute (DCI) when it was founded in 1946 by the Tyler family through an endowment to USC, the institute was created through the joint effort of law enforcement, social workers, educators, and involved citizens who were concerned with increasing juvenile delinquency in Los Angeles during the World War II era. Over time, understanding of and approaches to addressing public safety have evolved, as has the Institute.