Published by the International Association of Police, this article discusses the Texas Department of Public Safety’s continued effort for the interdiction of protected children. Law enforcement’s collective ability to respond quickly and effectively in times of crisis has proven to be a formidable force in combating crimes against children.  In 2006, members of the Texas Highway Patrol at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) began asking how they could improve their efforts to locate missing children during roadside traffic stops. The discussion that immediately followed brought about more questions than answers and identified a critical need that had been unrecognized, and thus unaddressed, prior to that point. Born from curiosity, the initial inquiry led to committed action, and members of the Texas Highway Patrol began to form partnerships with experts in the areas of missing, exploited, and at-risk children to determine the appropriate next steps. Soon, they developed training and the Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC) program. As of May 2020, Texas DPS can account for 488 child rescues as a result of the IPC program.

Hosted by the Justice Clearinghouse, the webinar focuses on the importance of building resilience in your organization. The presenter will discuss the importance of staying mentally healthy and examine how the mind works and interacts with the body and environment. Using research-based evidence, the webinar examines the unique damage that can be done to the mind and how it affects an individual’s well-being. The presenter then discusses resiliency and why you need to build resiliency BEFORE something bad happens. By the end of the webinar, you will have a better understanding of how the mind works and a list of actionable solutions to make yourself and coworkers more resilient and mentally strong.

When: Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., ET

The Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI), a Bureau of Justice Assistance program, is hosting a webinar to explore how SPI sites are using multiple technologies, combined with evidence-based strategies, to improve responses to violence. The technologies under focus include gunshot detection systems, closed-circuit television (CCTVs), and mobile surveillance units, along with the use of real-time crime centers. By integrating technologies, these sites hope to improve the coordination and sharing of data, boost the quality of evidence and investigation of violent crimes, and expand collaboration with partners.

When: Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., ET 

Sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center, this training will discuss commonly broached topics in the court process, how to defend practice in court, and the scope of direct and cross-examination. The training emphasizes that testifying in court is a process that often sparks anxiety, even for the most seasoned professional. Consequently, understanding how to discuss the forensic interview protocol and process and the research behind it is a critical skill.

When: Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Time:  3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., ET

This report, published by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) and its Partner Advisory Committee (IPAC), serves as a reference point for chiefs, sheriffs, mayors, risk managers, Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) directors, training academy directors, and all those who have an investment in police training and education. Topics covered in the report include evidence-based training, the science of human performance and skills development, sustaining a science-based approach, enhancing online learning, and measuring performance outcomes.