About AELE
Mission Statement
The Americans for Effective Law Enforcement, Inc. (AELE) is a resource center and legal educational provider dedicated to offering interested parties objective, timely, accurate, legal, scientific, and evidence-based information and operational guidance for the enhancement of the criminal justice community and to reduce potential criminal and civil liability of criminal justice professionals and their employers.
Building Integrity and Confidence through Research and Education
AELE incorporated in 1966 and is a not-for-profit organization. In its initial charter it is dedicated to establish an “organized voice” for the law-abiding citizen regarding the United States’ crime problem, and to lend support to professional law enforcement. Growing and transitioning with changes in society and the demands of the law enforcement community, AELE is focused upon providing education seminars to law enforcement professionals, the attorneys who represent municipalities and their employees, public agency union representatives, and other interested parties. AELE is proud to offer the highest caliber of legal- scientific-, and evidence-based programs, including its Certified Litigation Specialist® designation.
Amicus Curiae Program
AELE became functional in early 1967 after receiving a tax-exempt ruling from the IRS. The first project undertaken was the filing of a “friend of the court” (amicus curiae) brief in the Supreme Court.
By Summer 2010, AELE appeared as amicus in 165 cases. Only 52 were decided unfavorably to our position. About three-fourths of the cases were in the Supreme Court of the United States, and the remaining were in federal appeals or state supreme courts.
One measure of our success and prestige is the fact that 35 state attorney generals have joined AELE briefs in behalf of their state. In addition, 14 national organizations, 30 state associations and 8 local groups or entities have also joined AELE briefs.
Two national associations regularly join our briefs, which are written by AELE counsel; the NSA and IACP represent most of the country’s police chiefs and county sheriffs. AELE briefs actually represent the views of law enforcement leaders throughout America. (Click here for more about the amicus program).
Educational Publications
Another important project of AELE has been the regular publication of legal information.
AELE publishes three monthly law periodicals: the Law Enforcement Liability Reporter (since 1973), the Jail and Prisoner Law Bulletin (since 1975) and the Fire, Police & Corrections Personnel Reporter (since 1975). Although these were available only by paid subscriptions, beginning in July, 2006, the publications became free and are no longer password protected. AELE also began a Monthly Law Journal in 2007.
In 2012, AELE launched a web portal for research on Electronic Control Weapons (ECWs), consisting of case summaries, articles and other resources.
Additionally, there are three digests of case summaries in more than 700 topics, with more than 33,000 entries. A search engine also is provided.
Educational Seminars
AELE conducts seminars and workshops for law enforcement officials and their attorneys to apprise them as to what the police can and cannot lawfully do in the performance of their law enforcement functions. Over twelve thousand police chiefs, sheriffs, senior administrators, police legal advisors, fire chiefs, and municipal attorneys have registered for these three-day programs.
One is on Legal, Psychological and Biomechanical Aspects of Officer-Involved Lethal and Less Lethal Force, another is on Jail and Prisoner Legal Issues, and a third is on Discipline and Internal Investigations for law enforcement and corrections. AELE has also sponsored special programs on the “Exclusionary Rule,” criminal appellate advocacy, racial profiling, criminal justice compliance & management auditing, police civil liability, non-disciplinary employment law, trial tactics in police liability lawsuits and critical incident response. AELE speakers are committed to our mission of “Building integrity and confidence through research and education.” (Click here for more about AELE seminars).
Taking Positions
At various intervals AELE has issued “Position Papers,” bulletins or papers regarding current criminal justice issues of national importance. The officers and staff, on request, also have appeared before legislative committees to present reasoned practical viewpoints respecting contemplated legislative action.
Some of our position papers were distributed nationally; others were prepared for matters of statewide concern or which effect particular segments of society, such as the banking industry.
Exclusionary Rule
Due to a 5 -to- 4 decision in 1961, “illegally” seized evidence was no longer admissible in state prosecutions. Since 1980 AELE has strongly advocated for a good faith exception to the application of the rule.
AELE drafted a Model State Statute which was distributed to 7,363 state legislators, all members of Congress, and to nearly 18,000 prosecutors, police chiefs, sheriffs and other criminal justice professionals. Several states have adopted such legislation, including Illinois. The AELE Model Statute was used to draft the Illinois law and nearly all of the wording is taken from our model statute.
AELE, in a series of briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, urged recognition of a good faith exception. The Supreme Court has done so, in two cases in which AELE filed as “friend of the court” in support of the exception.
AELE will not defend police practices that are in bad faith or which wantonly violate citizen rights. Where, however, the police have acted in apparent good faith, we believe any evidence of guilt, which is of a reliable nature, should be admissible in court. The court should concentrate their attention upon the real purpose of a criminal trial -- the search of the truth: Is the accused guilty or innocent?
Research Requests
AELE staff attorneys receive many hundreds of telephone calls or e-mails each year, from law enforcement executives and their attorneys. The calls and e-mails need legal research assistance, guidance or advice — all of which is available and promptly offered without fees or user charges. (Click here for information about research requests).
Financial and Tax Status
AELE's annual operating budget varies, based on the number of seminars and attendance.It is a not-for-profit educational corporation, with a 501(C)(3) designation by the I.R.S. Archived financial information, including our tax returns, is available on the Guidestar website.
Although AELE began as a membership organization, it no longer solicits members or contributions.
AELE, as an independent non-partisan entity, does not solicit or receive grants from public or private sources.
The Americans for Effective Law Enforcement, Inc. (AELE) is a resource center and legal educational provider dedicated to offering interested parties objective, timely, accurate, legal, scientific, and evidence-based information and operational guidance for the enhancement of the criminal justice community and to reduce potential criminal and civil liability of criminal justice professionals and their employers.
Building Integrity and Confidence through Research and Education
AELE incorporated in 1966 and is a not-for-profit organization. In its initial charter it is dedicated to establish an “organized voice” for the law-abiding citizen regarding the United States’ crime problem, and to lend support to professional law enforcement. Growing and transitioning with changes in society and the demands of the law enforcement community, AELE is focused upon providing education seminars to law enforcement professionals, the attorneys who represent municipalities and their employees, public agency union representatives, and other interested parties. AELE is proud to offer the highest caliber of legal- scientific-, and evidence-based programs, including its Certified Litigation Specialist® designation.
Amicus Curiae Program
AELE became functional in early 1967 after receiving a tax-exempt ruling from the IRS. The first project undertaken was the filing of a “friend of the court” (amicus curiae) brief in the Supreme Court.
By Summer 2010, AELE appeared as amicus in 165 cases. Only 52 were decided unfavorably to our position. About three-fourths of the cases were in the Supreme Court of the United States, and the remaining were in federal appeals or state supreme courts.
One measure of our success and prestige is the fact that 35 state attorney generals have joined AELE briefs in behalf of their state. In addition, 14 national organizations, 30 state associations and 8 local groups or entities have also joined AELE briefs.
Two national associations regularly join our briefs, which are written by AELE counsel; the NSA and IACP represent most of the country’s police chiefs and county sheriffs. AELE briefs actually represent the views of law enforcement leaders throughout America. (Click here for more about the amicus program).
Educational Publications
Another important project of AELE has been the regular publication of legal information.
AELE publishes three monthly law periodicals: the Law Enforcement Liability Reporter (since 1973), the Jail and Prisoner Law Bulletin (since 1975) and the Fire, Police & Corrections Personnel Reporter (since 1975). Although these were available only by paid subscriptions, beginning in July, 2006, the publications became free and are no longer password protected. AELE also began a Monthly Law Journal in 2007.
In 2012, AELE launched a web portal for research on Electronic Control Weapons (ECWs), consisting of case summaries, articles and other resources.
Additionally, there are three digests of case summaries in more than 700 topics, with more than 33,000 entries. A search engine also is provided.
Educational Seminars
AELE conducts seminars and workshops for law enforcement officials and their attorneys to apprise them as to what the police can and cannot lawfully do in the performance of their law enforcement functions. Over twelve thousand police chiefs, sheriffs, senior administrators, police legal advisors, fire chiefs, and municipal attorneys have registered for these three-day programs.
One is on Legal, Psychological and Biomechanical Aspects of Officer-Involved Lethal and Less Lethal Force, another is on Jail and Prisoner Legal Issues, and a third is on Discipline and Internal Investigations for law enforcement and corrections. AELE has also sponsored special programs on the “Exclusionary Rule,” criminal appellate advocacy, racial profiling, criminal justice compliance & management auditing, police civil liability, non-disciplinary employment law, trial tactics in police liability lawsuits and critical incident response. AELE speakers are committed to our mission of “Building integrity and confidence through research and education.” (Click here for more about AELE seminars).
Taking Positions
At various intervals AELE has issued “Position Papers,” bulletins or papers regarding current criminal justice issues of national importance. The officers and staff, on request, also have appeared before legislative committees to present reasoned practical viewpoints respecting contemplated legislative action.
Some of our position papers were distributed nationally; others were prepared for matters of statewide concern or which effect particular segments of society, such as the banking industry.
Exclusionary Rule
Due to a 5 -to- 4 decision in 1961, “illegally” seized evidence was no longer admissible in state prosecutions. Since 1980 AELE has strongly advocated for a good faith exception to the application of the rule.
AELE drafted a Model State Statute which was distributed to 7,363 state legislators, all members of Congress, and to nearly 18,000 prosecutors, police chiefs, sheriffs and other criminal justice professionals. Several states have adopted such legislation, including Illinois. The AELE Model Statute was used to draft the Illinois law and nearly all of the wording is taken from our model statute.
AELE, in a series of briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, urged recognition of a good faith exception. The Supreme Court has done so, in two cases in which AELE filed as “friend of the court” in support of the exception.
AELE will not defend police practices that are in bad faith or which wantonly violate citizen rights. Where, however, the police have acted in apparent good faith, we believe any evidence of guilt, which is of a reliable nature, should be admissible in court. The court should concentrate their attention upon the real purpose of a criminal trial -- the search of the truth: Is the accused guilty or innocent?
Research Requests
AELE staff attorneys receive many hundreds of telephone calls or e-mails each year, from law enforcement executives and their attorneys. The calls and e-mails need legal research assistance, guidance or advice — all of which is available and promptly offered without fees or user charges. (Click here for information about research requests).
Financial and Tax Status
AELE's annual operating budget varies, based on the number of seminars and attendance.It is a not-for-profit educational corporation, with a 501(C)(3) designation by the I.R.S. Archived financial information, including our tax returns, is available on the Guidestar website.
Although AELE began as a membership organization, it no longer solicits members or contributions.
AELE, as an independent non-partisan entity, does not solicit or receive grants from public or private sources.
AELE is rated A+ as a not-for-profit Accredited Business member of the
Better Business Bureau of Chicago & Northern Illinois
Better Business Bureau of Chicago & Northern Illinois