The 9th Annual Women in Law Enforcement Conference December 17, 2010

Sponsored by:
Roger Williams University Justice System Training & Research Institute and the New England Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc. 

Friday, December 17, 2010
Registration 8:30 - 9:00 am
Presentation 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Developing Personal and Professional Resiliency Workshop -

Secondary trauma is very real and often difficult to manage.  Working on the edge of danger and responding to situations of abuse and victimization on a daily basis can have serious consequences for the police officer.  There are also issues internal to working within a traditionally male-dominated field that can have an impact on the lives of female officers.  In the morning workshop we will review the phenomena and process of secondary trauma (also known as compassion fatigue), and will cover indicators, resiliency, and coping strategies designed to assist officers who may often feel overwhelmed in their complex roles as police officers and as officers who are also women.

Police Response to People with Mental Health Issues Workshop  -

The need to assess the mental status and intentions of individuals has become a routine requirement of police officers performing enforcement and investigation functions.  The more typical and traditional police response often results in injuries, escalation in crisis behavior, and public incidents.  In the case of persons diagnosed with behavioral health issues, it is critical that police officers are able to recognize when they encounter someone with these issues, and that the officers have the skills necessary to balance their personal and public safety concerns with the safety and care of the person with mental illness.  This afternoon session will include communication tips, the signs and symptoms of mental illness, as well as officer safety tips for dealing with people who are mentally ill. 

Registration:http://www.rwu.edu/academics/schools/sjs/jstri