2007 Minnesota Statutes

626.8451 TRAINING IN IDENTIFYING AND RESPONDING TO CERTAIN CRIMES.
    Subdivision 1. Training course; crimes motivated by bias. The board must prepare a
training course to assist peace officers in identifying and responding to crimes motivated by the
victim's race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or characteristics identified as sexual
orientation. The course must include material to help officers distinguish bias crimes from other
crimes, to help officers in understanding and assisting victims of these crimes, and to ensure that
bias crimes will be accurately reported as required under section 626.5531. The course must be
updated periodically as the board considers appropriate.
    Subd. 1a. Training course; crimes of violence. In consultation with the school of law
enforcement, the board shall prepare a training course to assist peace officers in responding to
crimes of violence and to enhance peace officer sensitivity in interacting with and assisting crime
victims. For purposes of this course, harassment and stalking crimes are "crimes of violence."
The course must include information about:
    (1) the needs of victims of these crimes and the most effective and sensitive way to meet
those needs or arrange for them to be met;
    (2) the extent and causes of crimes of violence, including physical and sexual abuse, physical
violence, harassment and stalking, and neglect;
    (3) the identification of crimes of violence and patterns of violent behavior; and
    (4) culturally responsive approaches to dealing with victims and perpetrators of violence.
    Subd. 2. Preservice training requirement. An individual may not be licensed as a peace
officer unless the individual has received the training described in subdivision 1. An individual
is not eligible to take the peace officer licensing examination after August 1, 1994, unless the
individual has received the training described in subdivision 1a.
    Subd. 3. In-service training; board requirements. The board must provide to chief law
enforcement officers instructional materials patterned after the materials developed by the board
under subdivisions 1 and 1a. These materials must meet board requirements for continuing
education credit and be updated periodically as the board considers appropriate. The board must
also seek funding for an educational conference to inform and sensitize chief law enforcement
officers and other interested persons to the law enforcement issues associated with bias crimes
and crimes of violence. If funding is obtained, the board may sponsor the educational conference
on its own or with other public or private entities.
    Subd. 4. In-service training; chief law enforcement officer requirements. A chief
law enforcement officer must inform all peace officers within the officer's agency of (1) the
requirements of section 626.5531, (2) the availability of the instructional materials provided by
the board under subdivision 3, and (3) the availability of continuing education credit for the
completion of these materials. The chief law enforcement officer must also encourage these peace
officers to review or complete the materials.
History: 1988 c 643 s 2; 1992 c 571 art 15 s 14; 1993 c 326 art 2 s 27; 2007 c 13 art 1 s 19