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Effective Police Interactions with Youth Training

Two trainings were held in the fall of 2008, one in Bangor and another in Lewiston. Municipal Police Officers, Maine State Troopers, County Deputy Sheriffs, Assistant District Attorneys, Police Chiefs, School Resource Officers and Juvenile Community Corrections Officers learned

  • The role of patrol officers in helping to eliminate the problem of disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile justice system (DMC).
  • Why adolescents tend to test boundaries, challenge authority, and have difficulty controlling impulses and making sound decisions.
  • Strategies for communicating more effectively with young people and improving police/youth relations.

This training curriculum addresses the problem of disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile justice system at the earliest point in the system: initial contact between patrol officers and young people. It provides patrol officers with information to better understand youth behavior and with practical strategies for interacting with all young people in positive ways.

Presenters of the training, Sergeant Andre Parker of the Waterford, CT Police Department and Officer George Grauer of the Plainfield, CT Police Department provided participants with an interactive learning experience.

Our evaluation of the training indicated that participants thought the information gained was interesting and useful to them in the performance of their duties. They indicated that the program was successful in increasing their awareness of disproportionate minority contact, increasing their knowledge of youth behavior, increasing their knowledge of strategies for interacting with youth and influencing their attitudes toward young people.

“The training brought humanity back into officers’ behaviors. The robotic “Joe Friday” behavior of officers is ineffective and a new approach will improve relations with adults as well.”

“It corresponded well with other training seminars that I’ve attended about communication.”

“It helped me understand why kids act out. The instructors were great.”

“(I liked how) the thought process of kids was explained.”

“Good new information for working with kids.”

“Very good information and refresher. Should be molded in the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.”

 

With widespread implementation, participants believe Effective Police Interactions with Youth would be successful in increasing the likelihood that police/youth interactions would have positive outcomes for youth and increasing the likelihood that youth would respond positively toward police officers.

The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group plans to offer a ‘train the trainer’ course to interested law enforcement personnel and others to spread Effective Police Interactions with Youth training state-wide. If you are interested please contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The JJAG prepares the State juvenile justice plan; manages funds awarded to the State under terms of the federal act; monitors State compliance with national juvenile standards; and advises State policy makers on juvenile justice issues.