Why police should be trained in de-escalation strategies?
What does de-escalation training include?
Deescalation training teaches officers to slow down, create space, and use communication techniques to defuse a potentially dangerous situation. De-escalation training provides officers with strategies to calmly deal with people who are experiencing mental and emotional crises.
Why is de-escalation important police?
Police officers who develop proper de-escalation techniques, use them when appropriate, and mitigate the need for force will see improved job performance. Most importantly, individual officers will reduce their chances of being assaulted, mitigate their risk of being sued, and become more effective at their job.
Are police trained in de-escalation?
De-escalation training for police officers is becoming more common every year. Although police officers have gone through deescalation training in the past, a number of states are mandating refresher and updated training for in-service officers.
What are de-escalation techniques for police officers?
- Slowing down an encounter by “backing off” from immediate intervention or action.
- Be compassionate but firm, in communicating and “defusing” a tense situation before escalation by either an officer or citizen occurs.
- Use discretion to the officer's advantage.
Does de-escalation training work?
New ASU research says officer de-escalation training works. Officers who received the one-day training last year were 58% less likely to injure someone in a use of force encounter than those who didn't do the training.Nov 3, 2021
Is de-escalation training mandatory?
Studies have shown that teaching officers to de-escalate confrontations can reduce violent encounters, but many states don't mandate it. De-escalation training for police can save lives, but more than 20 states in the U.S. don't require it.
Why is de-escalation important?
In psychiatric settings, de-escalation is aimed at calmly communicating with an agitated client in order to understand, manage and resolve their concerns. Ultimately, these actions should help reduce the client's agitation and potential for future aggression or violence.
Why is conflict de-escalation important?
Altercations happen when small provocations, or threats, escalate into more heated conflicts. But this progression can be disrupted by actively de-escalating. By de-escalating, we can keep ourselves and others at a manageable threat level—one that allows us to hear others, and respond calmly and productively.