As a forensic psychology professional, there are a multitude of ways in which you may provide professional development training to law enforcement agencies. When doing so, it is important that you stay within your area(s) of expertise. Of course, you can—and should—strive to expand your expertise by completing trainings yourself. As you expand your expertise, increasingly your skillset will resonate with law enforcement professionals who may hire you. Additionally, you should also strive to gain firsthand experience working with law enforcement agencies directly. There is no substitute for this type of real-world experience, so much so that many forensic psychology professionals get their foot in the door by volunteering or providing their services pro bono. Learning the intricacies of law enforcement agencies (such as, the roles of command staff and administration, the roles of line deputies and officers, the goals and missions of special units, and the department’s current challenges and training needs) will position you for success. As you learned in Week 1, law enforcement culture is markedly different from civilian culture, and every department has its own unique subculture as well. Understanding the cultural aspects specific to the agency with which you work will enable you to provide them with customized, actionable professional development training.
When looking for opportunities, it can be useful to peruse the Peace Officer’s Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) requirements in your state to see if there is a need for various kinds of training. For instance, many states have incorporated Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) within their departments. Similarly, Crisis/Hostage Negotiation Teams (CNTs/HNTs) may be looking for specific training related to mental health conditions impacting the negotiation process. Furthermore, many departments today want to create or improve their existing peer-support programs. You might consider developing your own peer-support training that focuses on the mental health challenges that law enforcement agencies typically encounter. Other potential opportunities include resiliency trainings, emotional intelligence trainings, and other types of wellness trainings.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Analyze training needs of law enforcement personnel
Create evidence-based trainings to meet the needs of law enforcement personnel
Final Project Outline
For your Final Project, you will assume the role of a forensic psychology professional who has been tasked with creating a professional development training for law enforcement personnel addressing one of the following training areas: resiliency, mental health, or emotional intelligence.
For this Week’s Discussion, you will create and share an outline of your Final Project. This is an opportunity to receive valuable feedback from your colleagues and your Instructor that should inform how you develop your Final Project due at the end of Week 10.
Your Final Project Outline should include the key concepts and topics you intend to address in your Final Project, as well as your plans for the development, implementation, and outcomes of the training you propose. Please refer to the Final Project Overview document, located in the Learning Resources for this Discussion, to be sure that you understand what is being asked of you.
Note on licensure: The MS and PhD in Forensic Psychology programs are non-licensure programs. They do not prepare an individual to become a licensed psychology professional; or to evaluate, do therapy with, or treat individuals in correctional or related settings. In addition, the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Committee on Accreditation (CoA) does not accredit master’s-level programs and only accredits doctoral programs in professional psychology (clinical, counseling, and school). If you have questions about licensure, please contact: psyclicensure@mail.waldenu.edu.
Disclaimer: Before you begin, a word of caution: This course contains content which may be disturbing and/or triggering. If you find yourself struggling with the content, you may want to reach out to Walden’s Student Assistance Program, which offers students free and confidential counseling on a variety of personal and professional issues that may be affecting the quality of their learning experiences.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Required Readings
Document: Final Project Overview (PDF)
Nisar, S. K., & Rasheed, M. I. (2020). Stress and performance: Investigating relationship between occupational stress, career satisfaction, and job performance of police employees. Police Practice and Research, 20(1), Article e1986. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1986
OASIS. (n.d.). Writing a paper: Outlining [Multimedia]. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/outlining#s-lg-box-3032375
Required Media
CoolPixxMedia1. (2015, January 15). Crisis intervention team officer training—2015 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/4SbVP-JvxPk
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes.
University of California Television (UCTV). (2021, May 3). Crisis intervention team training and the role of law enforcement [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/xwLI5RrvujI
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 29 minutes.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health. (2020, May 26). Psychological first aid part 1: Introduction to psychological first aid [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/uS_SvkbqxMo
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health. (2020, May 26). Psychological first aid part 2: The impact of trauma [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/16wuLVWd54Y
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health. (2020, May 26). Psychological first aid part 3: Principles of psychological first aid [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/4p9zBC6eChw
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health. (2020, May 26). Psychological first aid parts 4 and 5: Techniques and the “dos” and “don’ts” of PFA[Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/vOJ2KMHoj7A
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 10 minutes.
Law Enforcement Training Topics
In this media program, Dr. Lori Lacivita and Dr. Jana Price-Sharps discuss training opportunities for forensic psychology professionals
Launch External Tool
Review Resources for Final Project
Emotional Intelligence Resources (Review)
Fitch, B. D. (2009, August). Emotional intelligence: Practical advice for law enforcement officers Download Emotional intelligence: Practical advice for law enforcement officers. The Police Chief, 76(8), 104–106, 108, 111.
Note: This resource is seminal to the field.
Kumarasamy, M. M., Pangil, F., & Isa, M. F. M. (2016). The effect of emotional intelligence on police officers’ work–life balance: The moderating role of organizational support Download The effect of emotional intelligence on police officers’ work–life balance: The moderating role of organizational support. International Journal of Police Science and Management, 18(3), 184–194. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355716647745
Magny, O. (2022). Emotional intelligence and the future of police personnel Download Emotional intelligence and the future of police personnel. In J. A. Schafer & R. W. Myers (Eds.), Rethinking and reforming American policing (pp. 311–336). Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88896-1_13
Credit Line: Rethinking and Reforming American Policing, by Schafer, J.; Myers, R. Copyright 2022 by Springer International Publishing. Reprinted by permission of Springer International Publishing via the Copyright Clearance Center. Licensed in 2023.
Niles, J. K., Dukes, A. T., Mullen, P. R., Goode, C. D., & Jensen, S. K. (2022). Experiences of law enforcement officers in an emotional and belief intelligence leadership training: A consensual qualitative reporLinks to an external site.t. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511253.2022.2131857
Rajan, S. K., Thomas, M. W., & Vidya, P. (2021). Emotional intelligence as a predictor of police operational stress: A pilot study Download motional intelligence as a predictor of police operational stress: A pilot study. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 36, 568–578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-021-09456-9
Credit Line: Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor of Police Operational Stress: A Pilot Study by Rajan, S.; Thomas, M.; Vidya, P., in Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, Vol. 36/ Issue 1. Copyright 2021 by Springer. Reprinted by permission of Springer via the Copyright Clearance Center. Licensed in 2023.
Resiliency Training Resources (Review)
Andersen, J. P., Papazoglou, K., Nyman, M., Koskelainen, M., & Gustafsberg, H. (2015). Fostering resilience among the police Download Fostering resilience among the police. Journal of Law Enforcement, 5(1), 1–13.
Credit Line: Andersen, J.P., Papazoglou, K., Nyman, M., Koskelainen, M., & Gustafsberg, H. (2015). Fostering resilience among police. Journal of Law Enforcement, 5(1). Retrieved from http://jghcs.info/index.php/l/article/view/424
Center for Mindfulness in Public Safety. (n.d.). Mindfulness-based wellness and resiliency training for public safety personnelLinks to an external site.. https://www.mindfulpublicsafety.org/
Note: You are not required to enroll in or complete any of these training programs; however, they are valuable resources of which you should be aware.
Elkins, F. (2020, January). Improving officer morale and job performance with a head to toe wellness programLinks to an external site.. Community Policing Dispatch, 13(1). https://cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/01-2020/officer_morale.html
Koenig, A. (2022, January 31). UC-led research first to show benefits of police de-escalation training: Researchers at top-ranked criminal justice program focus on making police interactions saferLinks to an external site.. UC News. https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2022/01/police-training-reduces-certain-incidents-study-says.html
Pair, J. M. (2018). A qualitative inquiry into the phenomenon of vicarious resilience in law enforcement officersLinks to an external site. [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University]. Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5244/
Note: Please review this dissertation. While you are not required to read it in its entirety, it is a valuable resource of which you should be aware.
American Red Cross. (n.d.). Psychological first aid: Supporting yourself and others during COVID-19 online courseLinks to an external site..
Note: This online class is designed to help individuals build resilience, support themselves, and lend support to others during and following the COVID-19 crisis.
Also Note: You are not required to enroll in or complete this online class; however, consider doing so since it is a valuable free resource of which you should be aware.
Mental Health Issues in Law Enforcement Resources (Review)
Dockstader, J. (2019, June 6). What is the extent of the mental health crisis in law enforcement?Links to an external site. Police 1. https://www.police1.com/health-wellness/articles/what-is-the-extent-of-the-mental-health-crisis-in-law-enforcement-cllCyo3PZxD3vy3z/
Lane, J., Le, M., Martin, K., Bickle, K., Campbell, E., & Ricciardelli, R. (2022). Police attitudes toward seeking professional mental health treatment Download Police attitudes toward seeking professional mental health treatment. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 37, 123–131 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-021-09467-6
Credit Line: Police Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Mental Health Treatment by Lane, J.; Le, M.; Martin, K.; Bickle, K.; Campbell, E.; Ricciardelli, R., in Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, Vol. 37/ Issue 1. Copyright 2022 by Kluwer Academic Publishers. Reprinted by permission of Kluwer Academic Publishers via the Copyright Clearance Center. Licensed in 2023.
Newell, C. J., Ricciardelli, R., Czarnuch, S. M., & Martin, K. (2022). Police staff and mental health: Barriers and recommendations for improving help-seekinLinks to an external site.g. Police Practice and Research, 23(1), 111–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2021.1979398
Richards, N. K., Suarez, E. B., & Arocha, J. F. (2021). Law enforcement officers’ barriers to seeking mental health services: A scoping review Download Law enforcement officers’ barriers to seeking mental health services: A scoping review. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 36, 351–359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-021-09454-x
Credit Line: Law Enforcement Officers’ Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Services: a Scoping Review by Richards, N.; Suarez, E.; Arocha, J., in Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, Vol. 36/ Issue 1. Copyright 2021 by Springer. Reprinted by permission of Springer via the Copyright Clearance Center. Licensed in 2023.
Papazoglou, K., & Tuttle, B. M. (2018). Fighting police trauma: Practical approaches to addressing psychological needs of officersLinks to an external site.. SAGE Open, 8(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018794794
Walden University. (n.d.). 5 reasons the mental health of police officers needs to be a priorityLinks to an external site.. https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/criminal-justice/resource/five-reasons-the-mental-health-of-police-officers-needs-to-be-a-priority
Peer Support Resources (Review)
Millard, B. (2020). Utilization and impact of peer-support programs on police officers’ mental healthLinks to an external site.. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1686. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01686
Intervention Training Resources (Review)
Abramson, A. (2021, July 1). Building mental health into emergency responses: More cities are pairing mental health professionals with police to better help people in crisisLinks to an external site.. Monitor on Psychology, 52(5), 30. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/07/emergency-responses
Rogers, M. S., McNiel, D. E., & Binder, R. L. (2019). Effectiveness of police crisis intervention training programsLinks to an external site.. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 47(4), 414–421. https://doi.org/10.29158/JAAPL.003863-19
International Association of Chiefs of Police, & University of Cincinnati Center for Police Research and Policy. (2021). Assessing the impact of crisis intervention teams: A review of research: Academic training to inform police responses: Best practice guideLinks to an external site.. https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/MHIDD/Review%20of%20CIT%20Evaluations%20FINAL_Updated%2010.21.pdf
Note: Please review this paper. While you are not required to read it in its entirety, it is a valuable resource of which you should be aware.
Library Search Skills Resources (Review)
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Keyword searching: Finding articles on your topic: IntroductionLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/keyword/intro
Note: Focus on the following sections:
Identify Relevant Databases
Select Keywords
Connect Keywords
Set up Your Search
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Database search skills: IntroductionLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/databasesearchskills
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Psychology library research: Basic article searchLinks to an external site.. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/psychologyresearch
Walden University Library. (n.d.) Top psychology journals: Forensic psychologyLinks to an external site.. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/subject/psychology/journals/lists?preview=65b2e42b21fc5f125df4b99d02e4dbe7#s-lg-box-27525329
Walden Writing Center Resources (Review)
OASIS. (n.d.). APA style: OverviewLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. Walden University.
OASIS. (n.d.). Using evidence: SummaryLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/evidence/summary
OASIS. (n.d.). Walden templates: General templatesLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general
Note: As you review this webpage, you will find different types of Walden templates to help guide you through your writing. For this course and in the rest of your program, you will focus on using the graduate course templates. For this week’s Assignment, download the APA Course Paper Template (APA 7).
To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources for this Discussion. Pay special attention to the Final Project Overview document and multimedia resource, Writing a Paper: Outlining Resources, provided by the Walden Writing Center.
Select one of the following training areas on which to focus:
Resiliency
Mental Health
Emotional Intelligence
Develop an outline of your Final Project, which should include the key concepts and topics you intend to address in your Final Project, as well as your plans for the development, implementation, and outcomes of the training you propose.
By Day 3
Post your Final Project Outline for feedback from your colleagues and Instructor.
Read your colleagues’ postings.
By Day 5
Respond to at least two of your colleagues by offering each constructive feedback on their outline (e.g., suggesting additional resources to consider, potential content to include, or alternative topics to address, etc.).
Note: Your responses to colleagues should be substantial (250 words minimum), supported with scholarly evidence from your research and/or the Learning Resources, and properly cited using APA Style. Personal anecdotes are acceptable as part of a meaningful response but cannot stand alone as a response. Your responses should enrich the initial post by supporting and/or adding a fresh viewpoint and be constructive, enhancing the learning experience for all students.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights that you have gained because of your colleagues’ comments.
Week in Review
This week, you created an outline of your Final Project on which you received feedback from your colleagues.
Next week, you will analyze the training needs of law enforcement personnel. You will also create evidence-based trainings designed to meet the needs of law enforcement personnel and analyze their outcomes.
Requirements: 1 page with 4-5 references and in text citations
