InFocus

Slowing It Down: How De-Escalation Is Changing Policing

November 14, 2025

In recent years, there has been a growing national push to incorporate de-escalation tactics into standard police training. A 2019 survey of 155 large U.S. police departments found that nearly all responding agencies offered some form of de-escalation training to their officers (CBS, 2019). In 2022, the U.S. Congress passed the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act, which authorized federal funding for training on alternatives to the use of force, including scenario-based exercises for officers (NPI, 2023).

These moves reflect widespread recognition by law enforcement leaders, policymakers, and the public that de-escalation has the potential to enhance safety for officers and community members alike.

However, important questions remain about how de-escalation is defined, how it’s implemented and taught in agencies, and whether it works—and if so, under what conditions. This blog explores the current state of de-escalation in policing, drawing on recent research from the National Policing Institute and its partners. We’ll highlight key findings, identify remaining gaps, and share how NPI is helping agencies implement what works.

What Is De-Escalation—and Why Does It Matter?

One challenge is that there is no single, agreed-upon definition of “de-escalation” across policing agencies (NPI, 2023). Generally, de-escalation refers to a broad set of verbal and tactical skills officers use to slow down the sequence of events, enhance situational awareness, and create conditions for safer outcomes (NPI, 2023).

At the National Policing Institute, we define de-escalation as “taking action or communicating verbally or non-verbally during a potential force encounter in an attempt to stabilize the situation and reduce the immediacy of the threat so that more time, options, and resources can be called upon to resolve the situation without the use of force or with a reduction in the force necessary” (IACP, 2025).

In practice, this can include techniques such as:

  • Maintaining calm body language and tone
  • Issuing clear warnings or advisements while allowing time to comply
  • Creating physical distance or cover
  • Active listening
  • Calling for additional resources (like specialized units or mental health professionals)

De-escalation isn’t about backing down; it’s about gaining control, preventing harm, and honoring the sanctity of life. And it applies to more than just mental health crises: de-escalation tactics are relevant in a wide range of calls, from domestic disturbances to public intoxication to emotionally charged protests.

Today’s de-escalation training curricula are often grounded in evidence-based principles and behavioral science, emphasizing realistic scenario-based exercises rather than lectures alone. Officers are placed in lifelike simulations to practice slowing down encounters, making critical decisions under stress, and choosing tactics proportional to the situation. This experiential approach helps build officers’ judgment and confidence in using de-escalation during actual high-pressure incidents.

Another modern shift is integrating de-escalation throughout use of force training: de-escalation is woven into use of force training more broadly, rather than treating it as an isolated topic. Many agencies reinforce de-escalation concepts in regular firearms or defensive tactics training, stressing that using time, distance, and communication can often resolve situations more safely.

What the Research Shows

For years, the biggest challenge in understanding de-escalation in policing was a lack of evidence. Early evaluations often relied on officer self-reports or training simulations, rather than analyzing outcomes in real police encounters.

But that’s changing. In the past few years, several rigorous studies have emerged—including randomized controlled trials—offering new insight into de-escalation’s effects on policing outcomes.

In 2018–19, the Louisville Metro Police Department partnered with researchers to conduct the nation’s first randomized controlled trial of the ICAT training program. Officers who received ICAT training had 28% fewer use-of-force incidents, 26% fewer citizen injuries, and 36% fewer officer injuries compared to controls, a “statistically significant decline” in all three measures (Engel et al., 2022). These reductions persisted even after accounting for prior trends and changes in arrests.

Subsequent studies show that de-escalation training can influence key factors in police-citizen interactions. In Tempe, AZ, researchers evaluated a customized de-escalation course using phone interviews and body-worn camera footage. They found that trained officers were more likely to employ de-escalation skills and procedural justice techniques, resulting in improved perceptions of community members regarding encounters with trained officers (White et al., 2023). Using the same study data, White and colleagues (2025) also found that trained officers were less likely to use force techniques that increased the risk of injury and were 58% less likely to injure community members. Another randomized-controlled trial of a different de-escalation curriculum in Virginia Beach demonstrated improved officer interpersonal skills, but no changes in the overall frequency of use of force (McLean et al., 2025).

Together, these results suggest that more evidence is still needed to understand the impact of different de-escalation trainings on the frequency of use of force incidents. However, current research suggests that de-escalation training can improve how officers interact with community members and make encounters safer for both officers and citizens.

Results from NPI’s Examination of New Jersey’s Use Of Force Reform

Earlier this year, NPI published a multi-year, multi-method evaluation of New Jersey’s Use of Force Reduction Initiative, one of the most comprehensive statewide use of force reform efforts in the nation, launched in 2020. It included policy changes to emphasize de-escalation and mandated in-person de-escalation and peer intervention training. Our team examined both implementation and impact and was one of the first studies to explore long-term trends related to police training, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, including:

  • Over 17,000 officer surveys before and after training.
  • Interviews with training coordinators and executives.
  • Analysis of use of force reports and injury data from 2018 to 2024.

When our researchers examined use of force data statewide, we found no consistent overall decline following reform implementation (Corsaro et al., 2025). Some agencies saw decreases, some saw increases, and many remained stable. Importantly, most New Jersey agencies record very few use of force events in a typical year, making it statistically difficult to detect meaningful change at the local level.

From 2021 to 2024, total reported use of force rose by about 9.5%, though arrests and serious offenses also increased by similar margins. This indicates that rising community interactions—not necessarily policy failure—may have influenced statewide trends.

However, officers showed strong receptivity to the new required de-escalation and peer intervention training implemented by the state:

  • 88% found ICAT useful; 83% said they learned new skills (Isaza et al., 2025).
  • 86% found ABLE useful; 87% said they learned new skills (Isaza et al., 2025).
  • More than 85% said they would recommend each training to peers (Isaza et al., 2025).

These figures are striking, given that mandated training can often face resistance. Officers also reported improved attitudes about peer intervention, responding to people in crisis, and community interactions—key outcomes aligned with both curricula’s goals.

Gaps in Knowledge and Practice

Significant challenges remain:

  • Inconsistent Standards: There are more than 50 distinct de-escalation training programs in use today, with wide variation in content and quality. Agencies need guidance on what works—and why.
  • Lack of Long-Term Data: Many evaluations focus on short-term outcomes. We need more longitudinal studies to understand the lasting impact of training.
  • Translation to Practice: It’s one thing to learn skills in a classroom. It’s another to use them under pressure. Without ongoing coaching and refreshers, training effects may fade.
  • Measurement Gaps: Many agencies don’t track when officers use de-escalation successfully. That means we miss opportunities to learn from what went right.

Expanding the evidence base is critical, as echoed by NPI researcher Dr. Gabrielle Isaza: “Given the wide variety of de-escalation training programs and delivery methods, it is imperative that we learn more about how to optimize the impacts of de-escalation training for law enforcement.”

NPI’s Role: Bridging Research and Practice

At the National Policing Institute, we’re working to close these gaps. Here’s how:

  • Building the Evidence Base: The Louisville ICAT study, which included NPI researchers, conducted a statewide evaluation in New Jersey, the most extensive of its kind. We’re also cataloging what’s known through the Knowledge Lab.
  • Setting Standards: Under a U.S. Department of Justice initiative, NPI is helping develop a national model curriculum for de-escalation training and a review process to certify quality programs.
  • Innovating in the Field: Through pilots like Spokane County’s use of AI and body-worn cameras, we’re helping agencies use real-world footage to improve training. We’re accepting applications for a new pilot opportunity, ACCT Training, which combines scenario-based learning with behavioral science.
  • Providing Practical Support: From technical assistance to policy guidance, we help departments integrate de-escalation into policies, training cycles, and performance evaluations.

What Agencies Can Do Now

Whether you lead a large urban department or a small rural agency, there are steps you can take today:

  1. Evaluate Your Current Training: Is your de-escalation program grounded in evidence? Does it include scenario-based skill practice? Are instructors well-prepared?
  2. Reinforce Training in the Field: Use body-worn camera reviews, after-action debriefs, and supervisor coaching to make de-escalation part of daily culture.
  3. Update Policy Language: Explicitly include de-escalation principles in your use of force policy.
  4. Track Positive Outcomes: Begin logging successful de-escalation attempts—not just uses of force—to create a full picture of officer response.
  5. Ask for Help: Contact NPI for training assistance, evaluation support, or guidance on choosing the right program for your community.

The Path Forward

Overall, the emerging research paints a cautiously optimistic picture. De-escalation training can improve officer outcomes, but results have not been uniform across all settings. De-escalation is not a magic solution on its own; it must be part of a larger continuum of tactics and supported by agency culture and policy, and how training is designed, delivered, and reinforced in the field likely determines much of its impact. The challenge is to implement it in ways that are consistent, measurable, and sustained over time.

At NPI, we’re committed to helping agencies meet that challenge with the tools, training, and research they need. Because when officers are equipped to slow things down, everyone benefits.

Sign Up by Nov. 28 for ACCT Training

U.S. law enforcement agencies have till Nov. 28 to sign up for Advanced Crisis Communication and Tactics (ACCT) Training, a consecutive, three-day (8 hours per day, 24-hours total) in-service de-escalation training for law enforcement officers.

This program is designed to:

  • Build officers’ skills and judgment to prevent and de-escalate crises
  • Improve recognition of behavioral health, IDD, and crisis indicators
  • Support officer wellness and awareness of how stress affects performance
  • Strengthen connections to community resources and best practices in crisis response

Applications Due by November 28, 2025.

Apply Now

References

Other Research-Based Sources and References:

Key Resources in De-escalation: https://www.policinginstitute.org/de-escalation/#resources

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