The social psychologists who study bias and prejudice accidentally discovered implicit bias in the late 1980s. We learned from these social scientists that implicit bias is different from explicit bias and that even well-intentioned people have implicit biases that can affect their perceptions and behavior. This recognition‒that there are two ways (not just one) that bias/prejudice could manifest in law enforcement officers‒led to the development and implementation of implicit bias training (IBT).

The purpose of this webinar is to report on the current state of implicit bias training within the law enforcement arena. Dr. Lorie Fridell will describe the content and form of high-quality IBT, share what we know about the effectiveness of such training, and report on common myths. She will also share what chiefs and sheriffs need to do to support and promote impartial policing in their agencies beyond merely providing IBT for their sworn personnel. It is important for individuals who provide oversight for police agencies to understand the various elements of the “comprehensive program to produce fair and impartial policing” so that they can ensure that the agencies they monitor are implementing promising practices in the realm of recruitment/hiring, policy, training, leadership/supervision, measurement, operations and outreach to diverse communities.