The results are in: Education and training are key to cultivating an effective police officer.
Last month, we asked you—NPI’s community of law enforcement professionals, members of academia, and those dedicated to public safety—what you think about education and its role in strengthening a police officer’s performance. Many responses to our survey came from active policing professionals, 77% of whom believe education impacts officer performance and enhances communication, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
We also asked those surveyed what the universal education requirement for officers should be. Most responses from those actively serving in policing indicated that a high school diploma or an associate’s degree is sufficient. Diversity and the importance of widening the pool of candidates were the main reasons mentioned for this requirement. Of course, true research is needed to confirm this.
The majority of responses indicated that education plays a role in police performance—especially as officers progress in their careers. The survey revealed that many community members think either an associate’s degree or enrollment in the police academy and some college is the perfect recipe. Coursework and training look different at academies throughout the nation, but one thing is certain—training is a vital component of the curriculum.
Millions are invested annually into law enforcement training. From implicit bias training to de-escalation, crisis intervention, and more. But what’s the return on this investment? And perhaps, more importantly, is there any evidence suggesting that training may backfire and worsen some problems?
To see more survey results, click here.
What science says: Training is vital to advance policing, but more research is needed to understand what works.
Advancing policing requires continuous improvements to law enforcement practices, and measuring the impact of police training is one way to support this Many training programs are currently being evaluated nationwide. This ongoing research can support agencies in identifying and obtaining evidence-informed training for police officers.
For context, the most recent census of training academies in the US suggests that entry-level recruits for municipal agencies complete an average of 936 hours of basic training, while the average number of hours for field training is 630. Additionally, the average number of hours for in-service training is 21 hours a year. While research examining the impact of police training is limited, a growing number of studies are adding to what we know about its effects:
- Procedural justice training aims to provide officers with the skills needed to interact with citizens in a fair and effective manner. Research* shows that this training has a positive impact on officer attitudes and behaviors, as well as use of force rates. A study published by NPI, conducted by Dr. David Weisburd and colleagues, analyzed officer behavior with and without procedural justice training. The study determined that the training increased officers’ knowledge of procedural justice, improved procedurally just behavior in the field, and resulted in a reduction in arrests and crime.
- Implicit bias training seeks to enhance officers’ awareness of implicit biases and support the use of strategies to limit bias in decision-making. Research* suggests that people hold unconscious biases based on life experiences which may unknowingly influence their behavior. Previous studies have examined the effectiveness of this training, but more research is needed to determine its impact. The National Institute of Justice is currently funding an active research study on the topic.
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training aims to enhance officers’ ability to recognize and de-escalate situations involving individuals experiencing behavioral health or disability-related crises and prioritize referrals to services when possible. The structure of individual CIT programs varies but commonly includes a 40-hour training for officers on crisis recognition, stigma reduction, de-escalation skills, and knowledge of available services. Research* indicates this training has increased officers’ knowledge of behavioral health conditions. Other findings suggest that officers tend to support and use de-escalation techniques more in the field.
- De-escalation training varies nationwide but often involves teaching officers verbal and nonverbal skills and tactics to reduce the use of force and support safe, effective resolution of incidents. Research suggests that de-escalation training can lead to positive changes in officer knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. One study has demonstrated that a de-escalation training program was associated with reductions in officer use of force and injuries to officers and community members.
There is more to learn, and studies are currently underway to help further inform the field.
Chief Trucillo
Leading the charge: The New Jersey Transit Police Department invites researchers to evaluate the impact of training.
The New Jersey Transit Police Department was among the approximately 550 agencies mandated to implement new de-escalation and use of force policy, training, and reporting. Chief Trucillo met with NPI President Jim Burch to discuss training, evaluation, and culture. Dive into their conversation.
The bottom line: Training is mandatory, but there is more work to be done to understand its effects.Â
Individual researchers and organizations like NPI are working diligently to measure the impact of current police training. While there is still uncertainty and curiosity around making training evidence-informed, resources exist. Continue reading to understand what’s out there, what the research says, and what science is doing to help:
- Visit the Lab’s library. The Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab has a collection of no-cost research and evidence-based resources. Are you looking for de-escalation training that works? How about crisis response training? Access these resources and more here.
- Implement crisis response training. Agencies are encouraged to implement training that can enhance officers’ responses to people experiencing behavioral health- and disability-related crises in their communities. Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) is one example.
- Are you implementing CRIT or other crisis response training and interested in an evaluation? NPI is looking for agencies to partner with us in research. Contact NPI’s Michael Hatch at mhatch@policinginstitute.org to learn more.
- Dive into ICAT. In 2022, NPI’s Hannah McManus, PhD, and Gabrielle Isaza, PhD, contributed to the evaluation of the impact of Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) de-escalation training at the Louisville Metro Police Department. Read the full report.
- Duty to intervene. Calls for reform in 2020 included officer intervention when unnecessary or excessive use of force occurs. ABLE teaches officers effective ways to intervene and helps agencies create a culture that supports these interventions. Learn more.
- Additional training. The Bureau of Justice Assistance’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center offers a catalog of in-person and virtual webinars and training on a variety of topics, including corrections, crime prevention, substance abuse, and more. Browse what’s available.
*Review research citations used in this issue here.
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