About the Project
The National Policing Institute (NPI), in partnership with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR), is assisting the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and other Department of Justice (DOJ) partners in establishing a standards-based process and platform for the review and approval of de-escalation and related training curricula for law enforcement officers and covered mental health professionals as outlined by the bi-partisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act of 2022 (LEDTA).
De-escalation training has consistently been identified by policymakers, community members, and subject matter experts as a valuable tool to enhance officers’ responses and reduce the use of force in their interactions. Research shows, however, that a wide variety of de-escalation training curricula exist, and they can vary considerably in their content, delivery methods, and duration. The current gap in consistent, comprehensive guidance around evidence-informed and best practices for de-escalation training highlights the value of a national, standards-based process for reviewing and approving training curricula for law enforcement officers and covered mental health professionals. The expert review and tracking of curricula that align with national standards for de-escalation training will provide a critical resource for the law enforcement field, namely, identifying effective training that agencies may adopt to reduce officers’ use of force and enhance the safety of law enforcement responses for all.
Throughout the project, NPI and IIR will:
Contribute to the development of national standards to guide the approval of de-escalation training curricula.
Develop a process for de-escalation training review.
Launch an online platform for the submission, review, and approval of training curricula.
Release a public catalog of approved de-escalation training curricula.
Develop resources for the field to enhance access to evidence-informed and best practices guiding effective de-escalation and crisis response.
You can access more information about this project and NPI’s ongoing work with the Department of Justice on the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act (LEDTA).
Resource Library
The Resource Library is intended to provide law enforcement leaders, rank and file officers, community members, and policymakers with evidence-informed and best practice resources on de-escalation and crisis response. Use this interactive library to search and filter resources by title and core topic area.
Community-Driven Crisis Response: A Workbook for Coordinators
This workbook contains worksheets, charts, discussion questions, and relevant resources for planning…
PAARI Promising Practices Guide
This guide is designed to help law enforcement, public safety, and public…
Emerging Practices to Elevate and Replicate Community Responder Programs Nationwide: Expanding First Response National Commission Report
This report details some of the emerging practices that program leaders can…
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