Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project
The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission has been accepted into the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project, Georgetown University Law Center. This is a national training and support initiative for U.S. law enforcement agencies committed to building a culture of peer intervention that prevents harm. By demonstrating agency commitment to transformational reform with support from local community groups and elected leaders, The Commission joins a select group of 30 other law enforcement agencies and statewide and regional training academies chosen to participate in the ABLE Project’s national rollout. To date, hundreds of agencies across the country have expressed interest in participating.
ABLE training is a project of the Innovative Policing Program (IPP) at Georgetown Law. The IPP is a national hub for launching new and innovative police training programs.
The ABLE Project Train-The-Trainer events have already begun. Training Commission instructors are being certified as ABLE trainers; and over the coming months, all our recruit officers and deputies will begin receiving 8 hours of evidence-based active bystandership training designed not only to prevent harm, but to change the culture of policing.
To apply, complete Train-The-Trainer application request and include your agencies letters required per ABLE standards.
CJTC does not currently offer the 8-hour training to those that are not recruits in BLEA.
Goals of ABLE
- Prevent misconduct
- Avoid police mistakes, and
- Promote officer health and wellness
Resources
- See the complete list of the ABLE Project Board of Advisors.
- For more information about the ABLE Project, visit the program’s website.
- See a list of the ABLE Standards to which every participant must adhere.
For more information regarding the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s implementation of ABLE, contact Chris Clark at chris.clark@cjtc.wa.gov.
Contact the Georgetown ABLE media team at mediarelations@georgetown.edu or (202) 662- 4199.
If you, or your agency is interested in learning more about the training, ABLE would be available to set up an executive session, which is a 1–2-hour overview of ABLE and describes the standards to which agencies must agree. However, the session is targeted toward command staff/decision-makers in the department. Please contact Lisa Kurtz if you would like more information at Lisa.Kurtz@georgetown.edu .
Refer to Georgetown Law ABLE FAQ for more information.
FAQ
Question | Answer |
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What are the ABLE course requirements? |
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How does an agency become ABLE Certified? |
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What is the WSCJTC's role in SSB 5066? |
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What is Substitute Senate Bill 5066, Peace Officers - Duty to Intervene? |
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Why do you require an agency to submit four letters in support of its application? |
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What is ABLE? (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) |
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What agencies are ABLE Certified? |
The most current list of ABLE Certified Agencies in Washington State is stated below.
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An agency becomes certified, what’s next? |
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