A Multi-Disciplinary Systematic Review of De-escalation Training

• In Event: Translating Police Research to Policy and Practice: Initial Work of the IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy

Abstract

In response to recent controversial police use of force incidents in the United States; police agencies, academic researchers, and criminal justice policymakers have advocated for the adoption of de-escalation training for police officers. Unfortunately, policing research offers little consensus on the definition of de-escalation or the most effective components of de-escalation training. There are few empirical evaluations of police de-escalation tactics. Other disciplines – for example, education, nursing, and business – have further developed and explored the effectiveness of de-escalation-related training programs used in their respective fields. This presentation reports findings from a multi-disciplinary systematic review of de-escalation training program evaluations. Overall, this review highlights effective practices for de-escalation training, translates the findings into a set of clear actionable recommendations for police, and identifies outstanding questions that require future research.

Authors

• Hannah D McManus, University of Cincinnati

• Tamara D Madensen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas