Course Details

Course TitleSPCP 2025 - Build Connections Between Law Enforcement and Clinicians
Date 9/25/2025
ProviderSociety for Police and Criminal Psychology
Phone 
Emailconference@policepsychology.org
Website https://www.policepsychology.org/conference
LocationAnaheim, CA
Credit Hours0.25
Instructor(s)Matthew Rensi, Western Seminary, Professor; Saul Jaeger, PsyD, Bolante.net, Researcher; Mindi Barta, Bushnell Univ., Program Director
Method of InstructionWorkshop/Seminar
Approving AgencyAPA
Course Syllabus

Course Description

It is a well-documented and ubiquitous experience that law enforcement agencies struggle to develop productive and trusted relationships with mental health providers. This effect is compounded by the fact that law enforcement agencies rightly desire "culturally competent" clinicians, yet there limited measures and no standard training programs that certify what a culturally "competent clinician" is or should be. Adding to the challenge are administrative changes within cities, counties or departments which can bring sweeping shifts to department policies on mental health treatment. Lastly, there is the financial burden of mental health treatment for law enforcement which can often fall upon the department's EAP or the individual officer's primary insurance. This presentation covers many of the barriers that law enforcement agencies face with finding culturally competent clinicians, combined with the challenge for culturally competent clinicians face in engaging law enforcement agencies, addressing the problem from both perspectives. We will then cover specific strategies that clinicians can use to build connections with law enforcement agencies, and strategies they can use to engage individual officers. We'll also cover what law enforcement agencies can do to vet clinicians and build lasting relationships with trusted clinicians.

Course Objectives