Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training: assessment of training requirements.
AB 390 will establish a permanent academic review board within the Commission to regularly update and refine training standards and curriculum to align with the latest scientific research. Additionally, it emphasizes continuous assessment of training mandates and encourages adjustments as necessary, including the reduction or elimination of ineffective training programs. This proactive approach is designed to strengthen law enforcement preparedness and adaptability in California.
Assembly Bill 390, introduced by Assembly Member Haney, aims to enhance the effectiveness of peace officer training in California. The bill mandates the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to partner with academic researchers to assess existing training requirements. This effort is directed at evaluating how well current training programs prepare peace officers for their duties in the field. The findings of this assessment must be reported to the legislature by January 1, 2026.
The legislation generates discourse around the confidentiality of data collected during the assessment. While the bill aims to improve training through rigorous analysis, it mandates that personal identifying information related to peace officers and trainees be kept confidential. This provision, justified as protecting individual privacy rights, may lead to concerns about transparency in the training evaluation process. Critics could argue that such limitations might inhibit public oversight of law enforcement training practices.