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REMARKS
Detailed NYPD training programs for investigators
1:34:57
ยท
3 min
NYPD representatives provide a comprehensive overview of their training programs for investigators dealing with trafficking victims:
- 3-day trauma-informed investigations and interviewing training twice a year
- 5-day child forensic interviewing practices training three times a year
- Annual refresher courses on trauma-informed practices and victim interaction
- Scenario-based training to test investigators' skills
- Vicarious trauma training to help investigators cope with the emotional toll of their work
- Careful selection process for special victims division investigators, focusing on candidates with relevant experience
These training programs have led to significant improvements in victim interaction, as reported by advocate partners.
Kathleen Baer
1:34:57
Sure.
1:34:57
So we actually were allotted money for the trauma informed investigations and interviewing training.
1:35:04
So we have an outside organization who is hired.
1:35:07
It's a law enforcement professional and a survivor advocate who come in and train, and that's a 3 day training that we're able to give to our investigators twice a year.
1:35:19
We were also just allotted funds.
1:35:21
The the department sees the importance in the trauma informed training and especially around youth.
1:35:26
So we were just allotted funds to have the National Child Advocacy Center come in and do trainings that are 5 days a week, 3 times a year.
1:35:35
That way we can get all of our investigators that are working with minors trained in child forensic interviewing practices.
1:35:43
So that was really huge for us because we used to go through partner agencies like Safe Horizons and ask them, can we have some spots when the National Center comes to to train your people?
1:35:55
But now the NYPD is giving us the ability to give that training to all of our investigators 3 times a year.
1:36:03
In our mandatory annual refresher courses for the child squads, including the human trafficking squad and the adult squads, we have advocate partners who come in and train on trauma informed practices, how trauma affects the brain, how we see that manifest in survivors.
1:36:20
So, and and ways to sit down, with the survivors and really be able to talk to them in that trauma informed manner.
1:36:28
We also do scenario based training so that we're testing our investigators to see we give them a scenario and they have to critiquing them to see how they would interact in certain situations.
1:36:43
Another thing that we recently added as of when I started was vicarious trauma training, which is extremely important for the investigators.
1:36:52
These investigators are handling the most horrific crime investigations every single day.
1:36:59
They're seeing child sexual assault materials.
1:37:01
They're hearing from children.
1:37:03
They're hearing from adults that have been through horrific rapes, and we need to give them the tools to identify how that's manifesting in them.
1:37:10
Because if they're feeling burnout from that or or just in them.
1:37:12
Because if they're feeling burnout from that or or just taking every case, like, they need to be able to identify this is what's happening in my personal life.
1:37:20
How can I fix this so I could be the best investigator on my case?
1:37:24
So we're really paying attention to that as well.
1:37:27
So, also, in the chief's interviewing practices, chief and I interview everybody who's going to be an investigator within special victims division, and that's important because we're looking for people who have a demonstrated history, working with children when it's going to be someone who goes in the child squad.
1:37:46
Is this a former ACS worker or someone who has shown some sort of passion?
1:37:50
Is this a person who worked with underprivileged youth or a person who worked with children who have mental health issues?
1:37:57
Because we want that person because it shows that they have this demonstrated history of wanting to work with these type of people and these type of victims and not just I wanna go and get my detective shield and special victims.
1:38:09
So everything in our training goes goes to the trauma informed practices, and and we hear from the different advocate partners that we work with and that come in and we allow them to review our cases for victim interaction and how we're doing.
1:38:25
And they are seeing major improvements since all of this training has, has come to fruition and special victims.