

Law Enforcement Personnel and Implicit Bias During Interactions with Citizens and Suspects
July 23, 2020 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
| $125.00Over the last few weeks law enforcement agencies including chiefs, sheriffs and trainers have turned to consider training that has been recommended for the last several years on the concept of implicit bias and how implicit bias may impact law enforcement decision making at a number of different levels. This session focuses on implicit bias in the law enforcement operation and how implicit bias might subconsciously impact an officer’s decision making.
In all of the studies on implicit bias it is recognized that this process is part of the human condition and is present in persons of all races and ethnicities. In fact, because of the way the human brain works, humans categorize and stereotype through a process of association. This process is why you may look at someone’s appearance and immediately begin to draw conclusions about the person.
The purpose of this session is to identify in a meaningful way the concept of implicit bias and have an open discussion of how implicit bias may impact law enforcement investigations, decision-making and response to crime. It is noted that implicit bias is not limited to the law enforcement or even the justice system. Implicit bias exists in all of us, in every profession, and in all aspects of life.
It is not believed that a one-hour session can change implicit bias that has been imprinted on a person since they were a baby. Instead, this session focuses on bringing each participants awareness on implicit bias to a level where they can recognize that all persons have implicit bias. Participants will also recognize that the only way to overcome or control implicit bias in the decision-making process is to be aware of their personal biases that impact the lens through which they see things. Consciousness of implicit bias over time will lead officers to confront those biases and ensure that implicit bias does not impact the law enforcement decision-making process.
- Identifying the concept of implicit bias and how stereotypes and unconscious associations shape our view
- Acknowledging that all persons have make associations and categorizations that sometimes act as a distorting lens to reality
- Understanding Confirmation Bias: As Sherlock Holmes is quoted as saying: ‘It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.’ Ironically Holmes, through Sir Arthur Conan Doyle recognized the problem with confirmation bias with respect to the investigation of crime.
- The hard questions-Stereotypes based on race and ethnicity
- How do officers of different races and ethnicities feel when they have a foot in two worlds
- The concept of social capital-building it up so you have it when you need it
- A word or two on explicit bias
- Building relationships
Instructors: Jack Ryan, George Dalton & Thomas Bullock
Date: July 23, 2020
Time: 1-2:30 pm Eastern
Cost: $125
PLEASE NOTE: Your registration for this webinar will give you access to the live session, as well as 30 days of access to the recorded version of the webinar once the live session has ended.
Group Viewing Encouraged: As few as just one attendee or a training room full; multiple attendees can view the webinar from one single location and each attendee can receive a certificate