1. a. The Police Training Commission shall, pursuant to its statutory authority to certify correctional police officers as set forth in subsection e. of section 6 of P.L.1961, c.56 (C. 52:17B-70), establish and incorporate throughout the required basic training course for State correctional police officers the concept that the core mission of these officers is to treat every inmate with dignity, fairness, and respect.

b. To implement the core mission established in subsection a. of this section, the commission shall ensure that the basic training course for State correctional police officers includes, at a minimum, comprehensive training and education on the following topics:

(1) de-escalation, including training in interacting with combative or threatening inmates and inmates experiencing mental health crises;

(2) minimization of use of force against inmates;

(3) cultural diversity and implicit bias;

(4) appropriate methods of engaging with inmates of diverse cultures and religions and inmates who are members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) community and gender nonconforming inmates;

(5) the rights of inmates;

(6) lifestyle stressors, self-awareness, and self-regulation;

(7) maintaining officer and inmate safety;

(8) communication skills; and

(9) any other topic deemed necessary by the commission to advance the core mission of treating inmates with dignity, fairness, and respect.

L.2021, c.305, s.1.