Criminal Justice Training Commission Training.

The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) provides basic law enforcement training for new recruits prior to certification as well as advanced training and educational programming for officers. 

Trainings offered by the CJTC include the following:

• An intensive, integrated training on investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases, which emphasizes the development of professionalism and sensitivity towards the victim and the victim's family.  The training must be an integrated approach to sexual assault cases so that prosecutors, law enforcement, defenders, and victim advocates can benefit.
• A specialized training for persons responsible for investigating sexual assault and other gender-based violence involving adult victims, and the highest ranking supervisors and commanders overseeing sexual assault and other gender-based violence investigations.  The training must include content on the neurobiology of trauma and trauma-informed interviewing, counseling, and investigative techniques.

In providing the training on investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases, the CJTC must seek advice from the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA), the Washington Defender Association (WDA), the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), and the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (WCSAP).  The CJTC must consult with the WAPA to design training with consistent elements for all professionals engaged in interviewing and interacting with sexual assault victims in the criminal justice system. 

In developing the training for peace officers on responding to calls involving gender-based violence, the CJTC must seek advice from the WASPC, the WCSAP, and experts on sexual assault, gender-based violence, and the neurobiology of trauma.  All peace officers must complete the training at least once every three years.  Officers assigned to regularly investigate sexual assault and other gender-based violence involving adult victims and the highest ranking supervisors and commanders overseeing those investigations must complete the training within one year of being assigned. 

Trainings offered by the CJTC are clarified; the CJTC is required to develop two curricula for peace officer training:

• for peace officers working on patrol on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to interacting with victims and responding to calls involving sexual violence; and
• for peace officers generally on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to interacting with victims and responding to calls involving gender-based violence.

In developing the training for interacting with victims and responding to calls involving sexual violence, the CJTC must seek advice from the WASPC, the WCSAP, and experts on sexual assault and the neurobiology of trauma.  All peace officers working on patrol must complete the training within one year of patrol assignment and at least once every three years thereafter.

In developing the training for interacting with victims and responding to calls involving gender-based violence, the CJTC must seek advice from the WASPC and experts on gender-based violence and the neurobiology of trauma.  All peace officers must complete the training at least once every three years. 

Separately, in providing the integrated training on investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases, the CJTC must seek advice from the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), in addition to the WAPA, WDA, WASPC, and WCSAP.  The integrated approach of the training must also benefit persons who investigate prohibited conduct at institutions of higher education under Title IX.  The training must include a reference to the possibility that a court may allow children under the age of 18, rather than 14, to testify in a room outside the presence of the defendant and the jury.  

The CJTC's training for persons responsible for prosecuting sexual assault cases is expanded to include training for prosecuting sexual assault cases involving minor victims, in addition to adult victims.

The specialized training provided by the CJTC for persons responsible for investigating sexual assault and other gender-based violence involving adult victims must also be provided to persons who investigate prohibited conduct at institutions of higher education under Title IX.  In designing the training to be consistent with elements for all professionals engaged in interviewing and interacting with sexual assault victims, the CJTC must consult with the WSAC, in addition to the WAPA.