De-escalation: Virginia Training Requirements
Training
Citation
Summary & Notes
Relevant Excerpt
First enacted Oct. 28, 2020
Effective date Mar. 1, 2021
Recently enacted (2020 Special Session I) legislation amending the Powers and Duties of the Board and the Department to require compulsory training regarding de-escalation techniques and use of deadly force.
§ 9.1-102. Powers and duties of the Board and the Department.
38. Establish compulsory training standards for basic training and the recertification of law-enforcement officers to ensure (i) sensitivity to and awareness of racism, cultural diversity, and the potential for racially biased policing, which shall include recognizing implicit biases in interacting with persons who have a mental illness, substance use disorder, or developmental or cognitive disability; (ii) training in de-escalation techniques; and (iii) training in the lawful use of force, including the use of deadly force, as defined in § 19.2-83.3, only when necessary to protect the law-enforcement officer or another person;
First enacted Oct. 28, 2020
Effective date Mar. 1, 2021
N/A
59. Establish compulsory in-service training standards for law-enforcement officers in the following subjects: (i) relevant state and federal laws; (ii) awareness of cultural diversity and the potential for bias-based profiling as defined in § 52-30.1; (iii) de-escalation techniques; (iv) working with individuals with disabilities, mental health needs, or substance use disorders; and (v) the lawful use of force, including the use of deadly force, as defined in § 19.2-83.3, only when necessary to protect the law-enforcement officer or another person;
Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish minimum training standards for law-enforcement officers serving as school resource officers, and these standards shall specifically include de-escalation techniques.
54. Establish compulsory minimum training standards for certification and recertification of law-enforcement officers serving as school resource officers. Such training shall be specific to the role and responsibility of a law-enforcement officer working with students in a school environment and shall include (i) relevant state and federal laws; (ii) school and personal liability issues; (iii) security awareness in the school environment; (iv) mediation and conflict resolution, including de-escalation techniques; (v) disaster and emergency response; (vi) awareness of cultural diversity and implicit bias; (vii) working with students with disabilities, mental health needs, substance abuse disorders, or past traumatic experiences; and (viii) student behavioral dynamics, including current child and adolescent development and brain research.