Implementing Mandatory Bias Awareness Training

As high-profile incidents make national news, the community calls for police reform. Reform efforts call for agencies to modernize training and take into consideration the needs of the community. Implicit bias awareness training has been recognized in reform efforts as significantly relevant to 21st Century Policing and is a recommended training for all police agencies. Despite the recommendation, police agencies are slow to implement mandatory training for implicit bias. Reasons for why bias awareness has not been a training topic vary among all police agencies. Some agencies are constrained by budgets while others struggle with negative feelings surrounding the topic. Racial profiling has consistently been among police training topics; however, the topic does not explore other bias that can affect police officers. Replacing racial profiling training and implementing mandatory implicit bias training will benefit police officers, police agencies, and the communities they serve.