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 General Laws of Massachusetts (Last Updated: January 16, 2020)
 PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
 TITLE II. EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
 CHAPTER 6. THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL, CERTAIN OFFICERS UNDER THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL, AND STATE LIBRARY

  SECTION 116G. In-service training program for local law enforcement officials; bias-free policing; de-escalation and disengagement tactics; incidents impacted by mental health or developmental disability issues  

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  • (a) As used in this section, ''bias-free policing'' shall mean decisions made by law enforcement officers that shall not consider a person's race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, mental or physical disability, immigration status or socioeconomic or professional level.

    (b) The municipal police training committee, in consultation with the executive office of public safety and security, shall establish and develop an in-service training program designed to train local law enforcement officials in the following areas:

    (i) practices and procedures related to bias-free policing which shall include, but not be limited to, examining attitudes and stereotypes that affect the actions and decisions of law enforcement officers;

    (ii) practices and techniques for law enforcement officers in civilian interaction and to promote procedural justice, which shall emphasize de-escalation and disengagement tactics and techniques and procedures that build community trust and maintain community confidence; and

    (iii) handling mental health emergencies and complaints involving victims, witnesses or suspects with a mental illness or developmental disability, which shall include training related to common behaviors and actions exhibited by such individuals, strategies law enforcement officers may use for reducing or preventing the risk of harm and strategies that involve the least intrusive means of addressing such incidences and individuals while protecting the safety of the law enforcement officer and other persons; provided, however, that training presenters shall include certified mental health practitioners with expertise in the delivery of direct services to individuals experiencing mental health emergencies and victims, witnesses and suspects with a mental illness or developmental disability.

    (c) The committee shall determine training requirements and minimum standards of the program that all local law enforcement agencies throughout the commonwealth shall implement in their practices and training of law enforcement officials.