Traumatic Brain Injury and Law Enforcement. by Antonio L. Fernandez

Transcription

1 Traumatic Brain Injury and Law Enforcement by Antonio L. Fernandez

2 Problem every year, at least 1.7 million Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) occur. Most TBI patients have emotional or behavioral problems. Many of these citizens with brain injury will come in contact with law enforcement at some point in their lives.

3 Question Can specific traumatic brain Injury training help law enforcement recognize the characteristics of TBI in citizens in their communities? Hypothesis: Training is vital to recognizing characteristics of TBI

4 There are an estimated 5.3 million residents in the U.S are living with TBI-related disabilities (CDC). Most patients with severe TBI suffer from cognitive disabilities, including the loss of many higher level mental skills (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2012).

5 At some point in time most citizens with TBI will come in contact with law enforcement. There have been numerous case examples where poor understanding of brain injury has resulted in ineffective policing practices (Brown and Kelly, 2012). Examples include assuming a person with brain injury is drunk because they are unsteady on their feet (ataxic) and their speech is slurred(brown and Kelly, 2012).

6 Police training nationwide Memphis Model Memphis Tennessee created the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) in The Memphis CIT program now serves as a national model for taking a proactive approach to assisting individuals in crisis who might otherwise serve jail time.

7 Memphis Model To become CIT-certified, law-enforcement officers undergo 40 hours of training in which they are taught the signs of crisis and deescalation skills. officers are also provided with resources for diverting people in crisis from jail by linking them to treatment when this can be done at little risk to public safety (Kate Murphy, 2012).

8 Washington Model Communities around the state of Washington have identified the need to have teams of individuals that bring special skills in dealing with and helping people in crisis. The goal of this training is to refer individuals to proper community resources rather than incarceration (Washington Crisis Intervention Training, 2013).

9 Washington Model Brain Disorders PTSD Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness Risks to Self and Others Psychotropic Medications Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) Community Resource Communication Techniques Needs of Mental Health Consumers Community Perspective Co-Occurring Disorders Resiliency for the Officers PTSD

10 Pennsylvania In the fall of 2012, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed a law that required the Commission, in cooperation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health, and other agencies with expertise in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to assess the training needs of police officers in recognizing and interacting with veterans and other individuals suffering from TBI or PTSD (Temple University, 2014).

11 California In September 2010, SB 1296 (Correa) was signed into law, adding California Penal Code Section , which requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to create a training course for peace officers on how to recognize and interact with persons suffering from Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) illness (California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training).

12 New Mexico In January 1997, the Albuquerque Police Department incorporated the Crisis Intervention Team concept. Highly trained uniformed specialists patrol the streets of Albuquerque providing rapid response to these often-volatile calls for service (Borum, R, 2000).

13 Research Design This study will conduct a cross sectional survey before and after the training has been concluded. This cross-sectional survey will collect information from a sample of 25 Albuquerque Police Crisis Intervention Team Officers after TBI training. An explanation of the purpose of the survey will be provided before the survey is administered and there will be someone on hand to answer questions.

14 Next Steps Continue research and find current measurable data the prove these training programs are effective. Just saying doesn't make it so. Conduct training and provide pre and post training survey in order to measure effectiveness.

15 What I learned

16 References Adekoya, N., & White, D. D. (2002). Surveillance for traumatic brain injury deaths--united States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Traumatic Brain Injury: Hope Through Research (n.d.). In National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from Brown, S., & Kelly, G. (2012). Issues and inequities facing people with acquired brain injury in the criminal justice system. Retrieved April 14, 2014 Murphy, K. (2012). Crisis Intervention teams and mobile crisis management.mental Health, 73(3). Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Suggested Course Materials (2013). In WASHINGTON STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINIG COMMISSION. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from Police Officers' In-Service Training for 2014 (2014). In Criminal Justice Training Programs. Retrieved April 14, 2014, from California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (2012). In Report to the Legislature: Peace Officer Training on TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Retrieved April 14, 2014, from Bower, D. L., & Pettit, W. G. (2001). The Albuquerque police department s crisis intervention team. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 70(2), 1-6.

17 QUESTIONS?