This study reports the development and evaluation of a police training workshop on de-escalating situations with trauma-exposed youth. The training was developed using a participatory action framework, with the goal of increasing knowledge of adolescent development and the impact of trauma, and promoting skills for de-escalating situations with adolescents. A mixed methods study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of the workshop. Participants were 98 current police officers and recruits. Following the training, knowledge about adolescents and self-efficacy for dealing with adolescents increased, and anxiety about working with adolescents decreased. Open-ended responses indicated that the training was well received. A brief intervention can promote police officers’ knowledge of adolescents, self-efficacy, and ease in interacting with adolescents. Future research should build on these findings to determine if these changes lead to a decrease in the use of force in interactions with adolescents.

本研究报告了警察培训讲习班的发展和评估，以缓解遭受创伤的青年的情况。培训是使用参与式行动框架开发的，目的是增加对青少年发展和创伤影响的了解，并提高缓解青少年局势升级的技能。进行了一项混合方法研究，以探索研讨会的有效性。参与者是98名现任警察和新兵。培训后，对青少年的了解和与青少年打交道的自我效能感增加，与青少年打交道的焦虑减少。不限成员名额的答复表明培训受到好评。简短的干预可以促进警察对青少年的了解、自我效能感、并且容易与青少年互动。未来的研究应以这些发现为基础，以确定这些变化是否会导致在与青少年互动时减少使用武力。