The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to law enforcement: Law enforcement – subsystem of society that promotes adherence to the law by discovering and punishing persons who violate rules and norms governing that society. Although the term may encompass entities such as courts and prisons, it most frequently applies to those who directly engage in patrols or surveillance to dissuade and discover criminal activity, and those who investigate crimes and apprehend offenders.

Essence of law enforcement

Disciplines

Basis of law enforcement

The reasons law enforcement exists:

Law enforcement agencies

Law enforcement agency (list) – government agency responsible for enforcement of laws. Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while some have other names (e.g. sheriff's office/department; investigative police services in the United States are often called bureaus (e.g. FBI, USMS, ICE, CBP, ATF, DEA, USSS etc.).

Law enforcement officers

Law enforcement by region

History of law enforcement

History of law enforcement

Law enforcement equipment

Law enforcement techniques and procedures

Criminal investigation

Criminal Investigation – applied science involving the study of facts, used to identify, locate and prove the guilt of a criminal. Modern-day criminal investigations commonly employ many scientific techniques known collectively as forensic science.

Components of a crime

Law enforcement training

Law enforcement issues

Law enforcement organizations

Law enforcement leaders and scholars