The Mentally Impaired Offender

This course is designed for all levels of law enforcement (Sheriffs, Police, Corrections, and other groups) who may benefit from this specialized training). Though the topic of Mental Health is vast, there are common mental health problems that law enforcement officers encounter. We will focus on those common mental health diagnoses and the most recent strategies for dealing with those afflicted by these concerns. We also understand that Mental Health is an area of negative stigmas, therefore individuals may be under-diagnosed or may behave in way that appears as though there are some other underlying concerns. We know that certain drugs can give the appearance of mental health symptoms, so we recognize this as we intervene in the current behavior and in the current situation. We do not expect, nor do we desire for law enforcement to diagnose individuals who may exhibit symptoms, this course will provide guidance and steps to perform as an officer, not as a therapist. Your safety is paramount, so the idea is to intervene, in each instance, as professional as possible while abiding by your agencies polices and training requirements as you perform your duties.