Encounters involving the use of force are often very brief and violent. Law enforcement officers must give their utmost in response, perception, decision-making, and performance to protect themselves and ensure the public’s safety. Judgments passed on actions in these situations, whether in administrators’ offices, courts, media coverage, or among citizens, are often made quickly before the facts are gathered and without foundation in the science of human behavior or performance under stress.
The Force Science Certification Course uses the combined knowledge of a team of world-class experts to explore the complex mix of human dynamics involved in the often complicated, confusing, and controversial uses of force by law enforcement personnel.
The primary objective of this intensive course is to prepare law enforcement professionals to understand human factor dynamics more thoroughly and completely while investigating cases involving the use of force. Participants will learn to promote peak performance in pressurized situations and understand what actually occurs in tense and emotionally charged use-of-force events. This preparation allows graduates to draw clear, accurate, and concise conclusions in their investigations.
The course will use research and input from a group of experts to teach the following concepts and more:
There is a tremendous need for the application of human science in force investigations. Without it, controversial officer-involved shootings and other uses of force–even pursuits, which also involve split-second decision-making in highly stressful, rapidly evolving circumstances–can easily be misjudged, with devastating consequences.
The course materials are delivered through a series of learning blocks, including lectures, visual presentations, and clinical case studies. Expert instructors will help learners identify and understand physical and psychological phenomena associated with human behavior and demonstrate how these can impact performance under stress. Some of the main learning blocks include:
The certification materials will also explore the latest unique and scientifically based insights on hot law enforcement topics such as:
A participant’s ability to complete this certification course and earn the designation of Force Science Analyst is dependent on their ability to perform satisfactorily the following:
What does it mean to be a Force Science Analyst? Individuals who complete all the course requirements receive this certification, which attests that the holder has been trained to recognize and articulate important psychological, biological, and physiological factors that can affect behavior and memory in force encounters and pursuit situations.
Force Science is a science like accident reconstruction or blood-spatter analysis. Professionals certified in Force Science Analysis will have a foundational understanding of human dynamics they can apply to determine how and why a force confrontation proceeded and evolved as it did. Investigators also know how to extract relevant recollections from participants’ and witnesses’ memories. The information produced by these analysts can be vital to administrators, internal affairs personnel, chiefs, review board members, prosecutors, judges, and jurors – all the individuals who must judge the nature of a force incident.
A team of staff and partnering experts assembled the Force Science Certification Course curriculum to give participants a window into the latest science on performance and behavior. This group was brought together to deepen the scientific research into the circumstances of force encounters and the psychological and physiological factors that affect them. In addition to leading courses, these experts provide data, resources, and tools to professionals brought in to investigate officer-involved shootings (OIS) and other use of force incidents.
Dr. Lewinski’s groundbreaking work is the foundation for the Force Science Certification Course, and the individuals responsible for the continuation of this program are listed below.
Tuition Fee
Pick how you want to learn! The Force Science Certification Course is now offered both in-class and online.
In-Person Learning
Online Learning