The Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act is now a reality. This law amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.
It will develop scenario-based training curricula (or identify existing curricula) that include topics such as alternatives to the use of force, de-escalation tactics, and safely responding to an individual experiencing a mental, behavioral health, or suicidal crisis.
The curriculum will involve scenario-based exercises, pre-training and post-training tests to assess relevant knowledge and skills covered in the training curricula; and follow-up evaluative assessments to determine the degree to which participants in the training apply, in their jobs, the knowledge and skills gained in the training.
This law will strengthen relationships between healthcare services and law enforcement agencies. The goal is to safely respond to an individual experiencing a mental or behavioral health or suicidal crisis or an individual with a disability, including techniques and strategies that are designed to protect the safety of that individual, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, and the public.
The law directs DOJ to make grants to states for costs associated with providing training to law enforcement officers or mental health professionals. And these updates come with a cost. The Act authorizes the appropriations of:
(A) $3,000,000 for the fiscal year 2023;
(B) $20,000,000 for the fiscal year 2024;
(C) $10,000,000 for the fiscal year 2025; and
(D) $1,000,000 for the fiscal year 2026.