Remote mental health first aid training for correctional officers: A pilot study.

Mental health first aid (MHFA) training is a low-cost, evidence-based intervention that teaches trainees to recognize signs of mental distress. Thirty correctional officers (COs) were recruited to participate in a remote MHFA intervention study. The COs were divided into three MHFA training sessions, with no more than 10 COs per group. Data collection assessments included pretest and posttest surveys and a focus group meeting. Of the 30 eligible CO participants, 27 completed the study, including follow-up assessments. Nine COs participated in a focus group meeting-one third (n = 9) of the CO participants identified as female, and the remaining identified as male. Most CO participants self-identified as White (n = 17), and two thirds (n = 18) of the CO participants were 35-54 years old. There was a strong military influence, with about close to half (48%) of COs identifying as a veteran. A paired sample t test was used to analyze whether there were any differences in mental health knowledge scores from pre- and postintervention. There were no significant differences between the pre- and postintervention results for the five MHFA knowledge items. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze differences in pre- and postintervention data for mental health referral items. From pre- to posttraining, COs reported that it would be easier to make a mental health referral for someone experiencing a mental health challenge (Z = -2.087, p = .037). At 12 weeks, COs referred 2.6 (SD: 4.30, range 1-20) people incarcerated for mental health services. The reasons for referral included: "suicidal thoughts," "experiencing anxiety over being incarcerated during COVID," and "considering self-harm." A phenomenological approach was used to analyze the focus group meeting. The themes identified were: (a) COs experience with MHFA training was viewed positively (facilitators); (b) there is a need to improve mental wellness in correctional settings (barriers); and (c) mental health referral process for incarcerated individuals needs enhancement when implementing MHFA (barriers). MHFA training for COs is necessary to equip COs with the skills to safely support and refer incarcerated people experiencing a mental health crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Firefighters and police search dog handlers' experiences working closely with paramedics in urban search and rescue incidents: a qualitative focus group study from Oslo.

BACKGROUND: Rescue operations are in Norway defined as situations where patients are difficult to access or that more resources are needed than the health services alone possess and can put in operation (Bull A, Redningshåndboken er endelig her! [Internet]. Hovedredningssentralen. 2018 [cited 2023 May 15]. Available from: https://www.hovedredningssentralen.no/redningshandboken-er-endelig-her/ ). Rescue operations after large incidents may include civil protection, military forces, non-governmental organizations and other resources, but the initial rescue effort must be performed by the emergency services as time often is of essence. The central area of an accident where special training and personal protection equipment is necessary or mandatory is called the Hot Zone. This study examines Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) firefighters and police officers reported experiences from ambulance personnel's contribution in the Hot Zone. METHODS: We conducted five focus group interviews with USAR-trained firefighters and police officers. The interviewees were those on duty on the agreed dates. The interviews were taped, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis as described by Braun & Clarke. RESULTS: Three themes were identified; Feeling safe during missions, Building USAR capacity, and Trust-building within USAR-teams. The firefighters and police officers reported their and the patients' safety are best managed by EMS-personnel, whose presence strongly contributes to their own feeling of safety in a dangerous area. When EMS handles victims and injured emergency workers, firefighters and police officers can focus on their own primary tasks. Indeed, interviewees reported that building a USAR capacity depends on having USAR-trained EMS-personnel in the Hot Zone. The interviewees have clear and consistent opinions on how to establish an interagency USAR capacity effectively. Trust is paramount to the interviewees, and they express a high degree of trust within USAR Oslo. CONCLUSIONS: Firefighters and police officers regard USAR-trained EMS-personnel as a natural and integrated part in urban search and rescue teams. EMS-personnel in the dangerous area deliver safety and medical professional assistance to both rescue workers and patients. Informants in this study had clear opinions on how to establish and maintain such a service.

Knowledge and Perspectives of Developmental Language Disorders: The Pilot Development of a Survey of Professionals Working in Law Enforcement.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to pilot test a survey of professionals within the justice system about their knowledge and perceptions of developmental language disorders (DLDs) and to gather initial data supporting their knowledge and perceptions. METHOD: One hundred thirty-six adults in Texas with law enforcement jobs, primarily police officers, participated in this study. Participants completed a survey consisting of 78 questions about their background, experiences with DLD, and beliefs about communication. Additionally, 42 adults who did not work in law enforcement completed the survey twice to establish the initial measures of survey reliability. RESULTS: This survey demonstrated sufficient test-retest reliability with adults not in law enforcement, and results indicated the emergence of two subscales within the survey. Law enforcement professionals appeared to have limited knowledge of DLD, and many linked language-related behaviors with credibility. A majority did agree with giving accommodations to individuals who struggle with language and reported interest in receiving training to recognize and accommodate DLD. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates a need for collaboration between speech-language pathologists and law enforcement professionals and provides data for a survey that could be used across professional groups in the justice system to measure knowledge and perspectives of DLDs. This work represents an initial step in an iterative process of survey development for law enforcement professionals. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25033718.

Changing perspectives: enhancing learning efficacy with the after-action review in virtual reality training for police.

The After-Action Review (AAR) in Virtual Reality (VR) training for police provides new opportunities to enhance learning. We investigated whether perspectives (bird's eye & police officer, bird's eye & suspect, bird's eye) and line of fire displayed in the AAR impacted the officers' learning efficacy. A 3 x 2 ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of AAR perspectives. Post hoc pairwise comparisons showed that using a bird's eye view in combination with the suspect perspective elicits significantly greater learning efficacy compared to using a bird's eye view alone. Using the line of fire feature did not influence learning efficacy. Our findings show that the use of the suspect perspective during the AAR in VR training can support the learning efficacy of police officers.Practitioner summary: VR systems possess After-Action Review tools that provide objective performance feedback. This study found that reviewing a VR police training scenario from the bird's eye view in combination with the suspect perspective enhanced police officers' learning efficacy. Designing and applying the After-Action Review effectively can improve learning efficacy in VR.

Evaluating the impact of a training program in prehospital trauma care and mental health for traffic police in Arusha, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Tanzania does not have a formalized prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response. As a result, traffic police play an integral role in the emergency response system. This study examines the potential impact of a brief training program in prehospital trauma care and mental health to improve knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice intentions related to trauma care among police officers. METHOD: A cohort of 45 police officers were enrolled to participate in the training and accompanying evaluation. The training was 12 h long, held over 3 days, and included education on how to manage traumatic injuries in a prehospital environment. The course included classroom instruction, hands on skills practice, and a training simulation. Officers received instruction on conducting a primary survey, managing common airway, spinal cord, and bleeding emergencies, as well as coping strategies for their own mental health. Before and after the course, a 26-item assessment was administered to measure knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice intentions specific to the training. The study used paired-samples t-tests to compare scores in each of the three domains before and after the training. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated significantly improved knowledge (M = 0.30, SD = 0.27; t(34) = 6.67, p <.001), greater self-efficacy (M = 0.44, SD = 0.53; t(34) = 4.97, p <.001), and more evidence-informed practice intentions (M = 0.12, SD = 0.28; t(34) = 2.55, p <.05) at the conclusion of the course. CONCLUSION: Police officers who received the 12-hour training focused on trauma management were better prepared to respond to emergencies and demonstrated a greater understanding of prehospital trauma care. Further studies are required to assess real world impact of the training and to determine how to increase support for traffic police as emergency medical responders in low-resource settings.

Web-Based Naloxone Training for Law Enforcement Officers: A Pilot Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Training and equipping law enforcement officers (LEOs) with naloxone to reverse overdoses is one national preventive strategy to reduce overdose deaths. Web-based interventions can offer convenience, flexibility of use, and can be readily disseminated. OBJECTIVES: This paper describes our community-academic partnership in developing and evaluating a web-based naloxone training for LEOs. METHODS: Using a community-engaged approach, we created a web-based training (www.overdoseaction.org) and conducted a pilot feasibility test using surveys and individual interviews with ten LEOs. RESULTS: The median time to complete the web-based naloxone training, including the pre- and post-tests, was 45 minutes (range, 37-80 minutes). A significant difference in the pretest and post-test scores of overdose knowledge was observed. The LEOs found the training helpful in responding to overdoses and sustained their attention. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of a web-based naloxone training for LEOs that can be easily disseminated and alternative to in-person trainings.

Police Stigma toward People with Opioid Use Disorder: A Study of Illinois Officers.

BackgroundFatal opioid overdoses continue to break historical records. Stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) can negatively impact treatment access, retention, and recovery. Attitudes and beliefs of police officers can profoundly shape key discretionary decisions. Therefore, we examined police officer views indicating stigma toward those with OUD.ObjectivesWe administered an online survey to select Illinois police departments using a stratified random sampling strategy with a final sample of 248 officers from 27 police departments. We asked officers questions measuring stigmatizing attitudes toward people with OUD including distrust, blame, shame, and fear. We found officers held somewhat stigmatizing views with a mean score of 4.0 on a scale of 1 (least stigmatic) to 6 (most stigmatic).ResultsRegression results showed certain officer characteristics were associated with more stigmatizing attitudes of blaming and distrust of those with OUD, including gender, education, race, years in policing, and department size.Conclusions/ImportanceSince most officers in the sample held at least some stigmatizing views toward people with OUD, this may impede the feasibility and acceptability of criminal justice interventions meant to improve behavioral health, such as police deflection programs that link people who use drugs to treatment in lieu of arrest. Departments should offer officer training and education on substance use disorders, treatment for addiction, and the potential for a person's recovery. Training should allow officers to hear directly from, or learn about, personal experiences of people who use drugs and have been in recovery, as this type of interaction has been shown to reduce stigma.

Implementation and evaluation of a juvenile mental health training for law enforcement in a medium-sized jurisdiction.

The need for specialized training programs that are focused on youth mental health needs, awareness of community-based services, and de-escalation skills is growing across law enforcement agencies due to calls for service that involve youth in mental health crisis. The current study evaluates a juvenile mental health training for law enforcement that was developed based on agency needs. The training was completed by 159 officers and a pre-/post-test design was used. Findings suggest that officers were satisfied with the training and improvements were seen across several training constructs (confidence, preparedness, stigma, resource awareness, and de-escalation skills). Satisfaction with the training predicted change in confidence and preparedness. Recommendations for future research and the implementation of juvenile mental health trainings are discussed.

Preparing Law Enforcement Officers to Engage Successfully with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Evaluation of a Performance-Based Approach.

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) may use physical force unnecessarily or escalate problem behavior when attempting to gain the compliance of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Copenhaver & Tewksbury in American Journal of Criminal Justice 44:309-333, 2019). Although specialized training may remedy this problem, the relatively small literature on such training programs indicates the need for further research (Railey et al. in Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 2020). This study used simulations with actors to evaluate the outcomes of performance-based instruction on strategies to promote compliance when LEOs respond to calls involving individuals with ASD. Results for three LEOs and 24 police cadets demonstrated the efficacy of behavioral skills training (BST) for teaching LEOs how to interact more effectively with individuals with ASD. Results also suggested that hands-on training should supplement commonly used forms of didactic instruction.

An Initial Development and Evaluation of a Culturally Responsive Police Interactions Training for Black Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The purpose of the current study was to conduct a qualitative and experimental analysis of a culturally informed police safety skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study focused primarily on meeting the unique training needs of Black adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A single case design was used to evaluate the initial efficacy and acceptability of a culturally responsive training method. Preliminary evidence about the physiological ramifications of police contact were also collected to begin to examine the broader behavioral and psychophysiological nature of youth's experiences. The current experimental design included in-person simulated contexts that youth, and caregivers, endorsed as relevant to their normal lives, which greatly strengthened the ecological validity of the approach.

Pilot Survey: Police Understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This piliot study assessed the experiences of police officers related to persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) via a survey assessing prior experience, comfort, knowledge, and ability to identify autistic persons. Fifty-one officers completed the survey: 52.9% reported previous ASD training, 34.8% reported personal experience with ASD, and 56.9% endorsed low overall knowledge of ASD. Officers reported neutral comfort (mean 3.24) and moderate practical knowledge (mean 3.74) [Likert scale 1-5; 5 = highest]. Those with previous training or with personal experience reported higher comfort and knowledge. Those with personal experience were more likely to recognize features of ASD in clinical vignettes. Further study is necessary to understand what additional training about ASD may be helpful to police officers.

Comparisons of beliefs in mental health stigma in communities and those who police them.

The police response towards people with mental illness (PwMI) is coming under increasingly intense scrutiny. Numerous jurisdictions have experienced incidents where the police have used force against persons who were exhibiting symptoms of severe mental illness. PwMI are subject to long-held stereotypes and stigma, and recent research indicates these negative attitudes remain, even with training and awareness campaigns. Available literature provides research on citizen and police perceptions of PwMI separately, but no recent studies have compared perceptions of police officers to those held by the members of the communities they patrol. The current study involves a comparison of residents in five southern New Jersey counties and police officers working in these same counties. Both sets of participants responded to a series of statements about perceptions of PwMI. Police were more likely to report supporting stigmatizing views of PwMI than were community members. Negative community response and rejection of police tactics may be rooted partly in differing expectations of treatment towards PwMI in crisis.

Autism Training for Law Enforcement Officers: A Scoping Review.

Law enforcement officers are the primary individuals called and who respond to situations of heightened concern. They make split-second observations and decisions based on how best to react to given safety situations and those involved. Characteristics of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), if not properly understood and reacted to, may quickly escalate a law enforcement officer call in a negative way, making autism training for law enforcement officers imperative. To ascertain what is known about autism training for law enforcement officers, a scoping review was conducted. Five studies met final inclusion criteria. The trainees, context and development of the training, evaluation procedures, and training outcomes are synthesized to provide guidance for future training implementation teams. Areas for future research are presented.

Law enforcement officers' interactions with autistic individuals: Commonly reported incidents and use of force.

Little research exists examining interactions between law enforcement officers (LEOs) and autistic individuals. The present study includes responses from 130 LEOs who participated in autism-specific training and completed surveys assessing professional experiences responding to calls that involved individuals with known autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. The purpose of the present study was to determine the types of incidents LEOs respond to involving autistic people, and the level of force used in response to the incident. Analysis revealed four categories captured the majority of reported incidents: disruptive behavior, suspected abuse/neglect, elopement, and noncriminal behavior. The most commonly reported responses by LEOs included providing support and extreme controlling behaviors, with female officers more likely to report utilizing supportive behaviors and less force compared to male counterparts.

Profiling the Typical Training Load of a Law Enforcement Recruit Class.

Law enforcement academies, designed to prepare recruits for their prospective career, represent periods of high physical and mental stress, potentially contributing to recruits' injuries. Managing stress via monitoring training loads may mitigate injuries while ensuring adequate preparation. However, it is vital to first understand an academy's typical training load. The aim of this study was to profile the typical training load of law enforcement recruits over the course of 22 weeks. Data were prospectively collected using global positioning system (GPS) units placed on recruits during a portion of the academy training, while a desktop analysis was retrospectively applied to six other classes. A Bland-Altman plot was conducted to assess the agreement between the two methods. A linear mixed model was conducted to analyse the difference in distances covered per week, while other variables were presented graphically. Adequate agreement between the desktop analysis and GPS units was observed. Significant differences (p-value < 0.01) in distance covered (9.64 to 11.65 km) exist between weeks during early academy stages, which coincide with increases (~6 h) in physical training. Significant decreases in distances were experienced during the last five weeks of academy training. Most acute:chronic workload ratios stayed between the proposed 0.8 to 1.3 optimal range. Results from this study indicate that large increases in training occur early in the academy, potentially influencing injuries. Utilizing a desktop analysis is a pragmatic and reliable approach for instructors to measure load.

Naloxone administration by law enforcement officers in New York State (2015-2020).

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need for wide deployment of effective harm reduction strategies in preventing opioid overdose mortality. Placing naloxone in the hands of key responders, including law enforcement officers who are often first on the scene of a suspected overdose, is one such strategy. New York State (NYS) was one of the first states to implement a statewide law enforcement naloxone administration program. This article provides an overview of the law enforcement administration of naloxone in NYS between 2015 and 2020 and highlights key characteristics of over 9000 opioid overdose reversal events. METHODS: Data in naloxone usage report forms completed by police officers were compiled and analyzed. Data included 9133 naloxone administration reports by 5835 unique officers located in 60 counties across NYS. Descriptive statistics were used to examine attributes of the aided individuals, including differences between fatal and non-fatal incidents. Additional descriptive analyses were conducted for incidents in which law enforcement officers arrived first at the scene of suspected overdose. Comparisons were made to examine year-over-year trends in administration as naloxone formulations were changed. Quantitative analysis was supplemented by content analysis of officers' notes (n = 2192). RESULTS: In 85.9% of cases, law enforcement officers arrived at the scene of a suspected overdose prior to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. These officers assessed the likelihood of an opioid overdose having occurred based on the aided person's breathing status and other information obtained on the scene. They administered an average of 2 doses of naloxone to aided individuals. In 36.8% of cases, they reported additional administration of naloxone by other responders including EMS, fire departments, and laypersons. Data indicated the aided survived the suspected overdose in 87.4% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: With appropriate training, law enforcement personnel were able to recognize opioid overdoses and prevent fatalities by administering naloxone and carrying out time-sensitive medical interventions. These officers provided life-saving services to aided individuals alongside other responders including EMS, fire departments, and bystanders. Further expansion of law enforcement naloxone administration nationally and internationally could help decrease opioid overdose mortality.

Assessment of Energy Expenditure of Police Officers Trained in Polish Police Schools and Police Training Centers.

Knowledge of the energy expenditure related to the training of policemen allows for assessment of the intensity of the work performed and is an indispensable element of planning and implementing nutrition. This study on energy expenditure comprised a total of 280 persons, students of two Polish police schools and two police training centers. The energy expenditure of policemen was determined based on measurements of the heart rate using Polar RC3 GPS heart rate monitors. The energy expenditure of policemen associated with the training process in the police schools and training centers ranged from 1793 to 3043 kcal/8 h and amounted to 2314 ± 945 kcal/8 h during training on average. The values of energy expenditure related to a typical training day in Polish institutions conducting police training are diverse and depend on the specificity and nature of the training. According to the criteria for assessing the burden of work, the work performed by police officers can be classified as hard work and very hard work.

Modeling the effects of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for police officers: How knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy drive de-escalation skills and referral decisions.

OBJECTIVE: Prior research on Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for police officers has demonstrated improvements in knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and stigma, but how these factors work together to influence behavioral outcomes like de-escalation skills and referral decisions remains unstudied. METHOD: 251 CIT-trained and 335 non-CIT officers completed in-depth surveys measuring these six constructs. We used structural equation modeling to test fit of the data to our hypothesized model and made indicated changes to improve fit. RESULTS: An alternate 8-path model (with three paths originally hypothesized being removed) fit reasonably well, and allowing path coefficients to differ for CIT and non-CIT groups resulted in models with similar fit statistics. CONCLUSION: CIT training enhances knowledge and attitudes, both of which have beneficial effects on stigma. Though an important outcome itself, lower stigma does not have an effect on de-escalation skills and referral decisions, though self-efficacy clearly does.

Law Enforcement Perceptions About Naloxone Training and Its Effects Post-Overdose Reversal.

BACKGROUND: Law enforcement officers (LEOs) often are the first responders to arrive at a scene of an opioid overdose. Thus, equipping LEOs as first responders with naloxone is necessary to prevent overdose deaths and a recommended strategy. However, little is known about how LEOs perceive naloxone training and their feelings after using naloxone to save a life. It is important to understand LEOs' experiences with naloxone so as to develop additional training materials that are relevant to the LEO experience. METHODS: A descriptive exploratory study was conducted to explore the perceptions of LEOs about using naloxone in the field and to identify areas that should be included in future naloxone trainings. Interview data were obtained through face-to-face interviews with LEOs (N = 14) and analyzed using manifest content analysis. RESULTS: LEOs changed their attitudes and beliefs toward naloxone after receiving training and experiencing a successful resuscitation. The change in attitudes was enhanced after saving a life. However, misconceptions about naloxone and lack of understanding about disease of addiction persisted even after training. CONCLUSION: Future naloxone curriculum could benefit from additional lessons on the stigma of addiction, the disease of addiction, misconceptions about the safety of naloxone, strategies for postoverdose responses, and the role naloxone, which might play in a hopeful recovery.

Impact of SHIELD Police Training on Knowledge of Syringe Possession Laws and Related Arrests in Tijuana, Mexico.

Between 2015 and 2018, we provided training for 1806 municipal police officers in Tijuana, Mexico, in an effort to improve their knowledge and behaviors related to HIV and injection drug use. Correct knowledge of syringe possession laws improved from 56% before training to 94% after training and was sustained at 24 months (75%). Knowledge improvement was associated with decreases in arrests for syringe possession over time (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.85, 0.90). Officers with correct knowledge had significantly lower odds of reporting arrests (AOR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.44, 0.89). Training was associated with sustained improvements in knowledge and practices that advance public health. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(6):860-864. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306702).