Abhayanand, the additional director general of police in the state of Bihar, India, recounts some notable successes during his tenure, including the recruitment of former members of the military to supplement the police force on a contract basis. The recruitment and amalgamation of former military personnel, specifically to deal with organized crime and extremist groups, quickly addressed a need for greater numbers of trained police. Another notable success was the institution of the "speedy trial," in which it became practice for police to become invested in the judicial process by securing and sometimes protecting witnesses for deposition. Abhayanand also elaborates on the importance of the media as a tool for building public support for reform and improving public perception of the police. He notes that much of the impetus for reform, particularly to curb kidnappings for ransom and installing a general sense of law and order, derived from election promises. One area of attempted reform that was deemed a failure was the rehabilitation of convicts.

Case Study:  Clearing the Jungle Raj, Bihar State, India, 2005-2009