Criminal Justice Training Commission. The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) offers an annual intensive, integrated training session on investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases for prosecutors, law enforcement, public defenders, and victim advocates. The training is self-supporting through fees charged to the participants of the training.

The CJTC also provides advanced training and educational programming for law enforcement officers, including the following:

• training for officers on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to interacting with victims and responding to calls involving gender-based violence, which applicable officers must complete once every three years; and
• specialized training for officers who are responsible for investigating sexual assault and other gender-based violence involving adult victims, which applicable officers must complete within one year of being assigned. The training must be based on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to responding to sexual assault and include content on the neurobiology of trauma and trauma-informed interviewing, counseling, and investigative techniques.

The annual intensive, integrated training session on investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases, and the specialized sexual assault and gender-based violence investigative training involving adult victims for law enforcement officers, are expanded to include persons responsible for regularly investigating prohibited conduct under Title IX at institutions of higher education. The CJTC will consult with the Washington Student Achievement Council regarding such training. 

Peace officers working on patrol are also required to complete training on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to interacting with victims and responding to calls involving sexual violence once every three years.

• Clarifies that CJTC investigative training on sexual assault and gender-based violence is available to Title IX investigators who serve institutions of higher education rather than all institutions.
• Adds an effective date of July 1, 2026.

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  PRO: We have tried hard in our state to have a trauma-informed system that supports survivors. Training was enacted for people doing this work, including for law enforcement and prosecutors. Three to four years ago, when changes were made to the trainings for law enforcement, a component was accidentally removed. This bill puts back that requirement to ensure that an officer interacting with a survivor has the skillset to support the survivor and encourage the survivor if they decide to move forward in the process. Title IX investigators would also benefit from the training, since high rates of sexual assault happen in higher education institutions and we have heard from students that they often do not get the resources they need.

OTHER: The Title IX investigator training would be a little better as a standalone training. This way, the criminal justice investigation training and materials for law enforcement and Title IX investigators can be more tailored. The other parts of this bill will help clarify training requirements around gender-based violence and sexual assault for patrol office.

PRO: Senator Tina Orwall, Prime Sponsor.

PRO: This bill references three valuable training programs. Two are already created and require no additional resources. The third training mentioned in the bill in RCW 43.101.272, which expands course participation to title IX and is a new class. CJTC plans to offer a separate course. Initial development of the training is $60,000. We anticipate four classes a year, each costing $15,000. On behalf of survivors we serve, we strongly support this bill. Campus to campus investigation methods vary with some being outdated and problematic. Having Title IX investigators included in CJTC trainings is beneficial, and ensures cross collaboration. It allows Title IX investigators to be trained in trauma informed practices. This is cost effective. This avoids state dollars being spent on trainings out of state. this bill brings into alignment campus and public safety.

OTHER: We have concerns around some of the language that requires 40 hours of training to all peace officers on patrol and is in the final section of the bill.  This will have significant negative impact on our larger counties. As an example, for King County, which has 750 deputies and patrol officers, at $57,000 a class, it would take 38 classes to get them trained up on this every three years. It would cost $2.1 million, in addition to the instruction costs. Not opposed to the concept, just worried about the requirements. Language gives us pause.