Cultural Competency for Law Enforcement
To help meet the critical need of increasing diversity, cross-cultural competency, and minimizing biased-based policing, the Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) has developed a Cultural Competency for Law Enforcement certification program in partnership with the Museum of Tolerance.
This course is designed to explore the evolving role of law enforcement in a rapidly changing, and increasingly diverse society. The modules will include interactive activities and critical reflection exercises. LEIC’s research-based curriculum will include content in the following areas: cultural diversity, de-escalation, critical decision-making, ethics, and bias mitigation in policing.
We are looking for host agencies for this course. Tuition is waived thanks to partnership funding sources.
Cultural Competency for Law Enforcement Course Objectives:
1. Understand Implicit Bias: Recognize and comprehend the concept of implicit bias and its impact on decision-making, including how it can influence interactions with individuals from different cultures.
2. Examine Racism and Prejudice: Explore the historical context and contemporary manifestations of racism and prejudice within society and the criminal justice system, with a specific focus on law enforcement.
3. Promote Procedural Justice: Understand the principles of procedural justice and their application in law enforcement interactions, emphasizing fair and unbiased treatment of all individuals, regardless of their cultural background.
4. Study Acculturation and Assimilation: Explore the concepts of acculturation and assimilation and their relevance to policing diverse communities, including understanding the challenges faced by individuals adapting to new cultural environments.
5. Address Microaggressions: Identify and address microaggressions, both overt and subtle, that can occur in law enforcement encounters, and develop strategies to prevent and respond to them in a culturally sensitive manner.
6. Challenge Biased Policing: Critically examine the issue of bias-based policing and its impact on marginalized communities, with a focus on developing skills and knowledge to reduce bias and ensure equitable treatment of all individuals.
7. Enhance Self-Awareness: Utilize a toolkit provided to increase self-awareness and develop a deeper understanding of personal biases and cultural assumptions, fostering a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to law enforcement.
8. Foster a Global Cultural Perspective: Encourage participants to broaden their view of other cultures, promoting a global cultural perspective that recognizes and appreciates the diversity within communities and enhances effective communication and collaboration.
9. Develop Interpersonal Skills: Enhance participants’ interpersonal skills in cross-cultural interactions, emphasizing active listening, effective communication, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.
10. Implement Best Practices: Apply best practices and evidence-based strategies to reduce bias-based policing and promote cultural competency within law enforcement organizations, fostering a more inclusive and equitable approach to community policing.
By the end of this course, participants will have acquired the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to challenge their own biases, promote cultural sensitivity, and contribute to the reduction of bias-based policing within their law enforcement agencies.
To host this course or attend please contact Jeff Hundley at jeff.hundley@tennessee.edu or 865-946-3234
