Police Training: Less Force, More Crisis Support
New law mandates training for law enforcement officers and mental health professionals. The goal is to teach alternatives to force, de-escalation techniques, and effective responses to individuals in mental health crises or with disabilities. This aims to enhance safety for citizens and officers, and provide better support for those in need.
Key points
Police officers and mental health professionals will receive training in de-escalation tactics and alternatives to using force.
Training will cover responding to individuals in mental or behavioral health crises, including suicidal crises, and those with disabilities.
Crisis intervention teams, combining law enforcement with mental health experts, will be established to better assist in difficult situations.
The act provides funding for states and local governments to implement these training programs and foster collaboration with mental health organizations.
Reporting requirements on the use of de-escalation tactics are introduced to assess the effectiveness of the new training.
2022-12-15
For
264
Against
162
Abstain
0
Full voting results
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Became Law
Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_4003
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Process start date: 2022-04-05
Voting date: 2022-12-15
Meeting no: 2
Voting no: 525