2017 -

Use of Force Training

Every day when an officer goes to work, he or she hopes for a calm, peaceful day. Unfortunately, in today’s world, violence is everywhere, and officers must be able to make on-the-fly decisions to keep themselves and the general public safe. Judgmental use of force training is a great way to prepare officers for a variety of events, allowing them to make better, faster decisions when it truly counts.

Force Is Not Always Required

Today’s media tends to focus on the negative aspects of an officer’s job, and this influences not only the general public, but the officers themselves. Law enforcement training specific to judgmental use of force does much more than simply teach officers how to fire their weapons like firearm training simulators do; it also trains officers to talk to people, observe their surroundings, and tailor their reactions appropriately. In many cases, situations can be resolved without the use of force, but officers must be trained to recognize when that force is justified and necessary.

Making the Right Choice

Judgmental use of force video training can often be quite simple. For example, at Winona State University, those interested in the criminal justice field participate in simulations as part of their education. Individuals watch a video projected on a screen, and it is up to that individual to interact with the scene appropriately. These individuals may have three tools from which to choose. For example, they may have access to an Axon® TASER®, a rifle, or pepper spray. The individual must assess the situation, choose the appropriate tool, and the act accordingly in the simulation. Afterward, the individual receives a debriefing that explains whether his or her choice was effective.

More than Just Weapons

Whereas officers on the firing range or using firearm training simulators are merely learning to fire their weapons and become comfortable with them, judgmental use of force video training takes things a few steps further. It’s less about how to utilize a weapon and more about how to interact with people to de-escalate the situation peacefully. It starts with language, keen observation, and the ability to determine what a subject might do next. When officers can learn these things and practice them regularly, they can better judge when they must use force and when they can de-escalate the situation using other means.

Training for Changing Environments

One of the best aspects of judgmental use of force training videos is the ability to train officers to react to situations that seem to change in an instant. For example, one moment, it may seem as if the officer is making progress with a subject simply by talking him or her down. The next, that subject may pull a gun and aim it at the officer. It’s situations like this that can often backfire on officers and result in injuries or deaths. Judgmental use of force videos can help officers learn to react to situations like these, which can save many lives, in turn.

Judgmental use of force training videos are vital to any department’s training arsenal. They go above and beyond traditional training methods, like firearm training simulators, by teaching officers how to interact with people in various situations, and they even help officers make better decisions when situations take a turn for the worse.

Use of Force Training

It seems that almost every time you turn on the news, listen to the radio, or even scroll through your social media feeds, there is yet another huge debate over an officer-involved shooting death. Officers are under more scrutiny than ever these days, and lawsuits are on the rise. Because of this, departments are turning away from firearms training simulators and focusing on use of force training and force options training to help better prepare their officers for things they may encounter in the field.

Shooting Deaths & the Mentally Ill

When officers put on their uniforms and go out into the field, they never know what they will encounter. To many officers, anything out of the ordinary presents an immediate danger, and this can lead to unjustified injuries and shooting deaths. In fact, some claim there is a crisis in Ontario, Canada; some 65 mentally-ill people have died during their interactions with officers in Ontario alone since 1978. Because of this, the families of the deceased, the police departments, and even the officers themselves agree that more use of force training is urgent even with such a low yearly incident rate.

A Police Officer’s Basic Training

Police officers in both the US and Canada receive basic training through a Police Academy before they put on their badges and their firearms. This training covers only the basics, though, and rarely does it include in-depth de-escalation or crisis intervention techniques, which appear to be seriously lacking. Unfortunately, it is lack of use of force training that leads to most unwarranted deaths. The good news is that increasing the amount and type of training available to officers could save lives.

Are the Mentally Ill Truly Dangerous?

This is the biggest question when it comes to the use of force against someone who is mentally ill. Is it objectively reasonable? For most police officers who have never received any kind of formal training on how to de-escalate situations or even intervene when someone with a mental illness is obviously having a crisis, the answer remains unclear. Of course, if someone who is mentally ill brandishes or fires a weapon, then use of force may be necessary. However, many people killed during their interactions with police officers were completely unarmed.

How Use of Force Training Can Reduce Shooting Deaths

Use of force training is a wonderful tool for teaching officers how to de-escalate situations and intervene when someone is clearly in the midst of a crisis. VirTra’s V-300 simulated training can provide officers with the opportunity to interact with such people in a virtual world. Officers may be given the opportunity to interact with armed and unarmed subjects. What’s more, instead of just the traditional debriefing, officers also have the ability to see how their actions play out right in front of them on the 300-degree screen.

The rise in shooting deaths has become a media sensation, and people around the globe tend to get involved in one debate after another over whether use of force was justified in certain situations. Fortunately, with use of force training, officers can better prepare themselves for a variety of situations they might encounter and make better decisions on the fly.

Law enforcement agencies around the country are facing a severe shortage of quality recruits. The U.S. economy has enjoyed steady job growth, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent numbers putting the latest unemployment rate at 4.1 percent – the lowest level since 2000. Government and legislative budget constraints and pension-funding shortfalls are contributing to the decline of competitive wages and benefits for law enforcement. Shortages in sworn officer ranks lead to increased overtime costs, which further strain agency budgets and complicates policing priorities. Candidates can also readily find work in new or expanding fields such as the solar industry or healthcare that have better wages and benefits and are far less dangerous than being a police officer.

Influences from Society

There are societal influences as well. The wave of negative media attention around use of force and police-involved shooting incidents are a factor, and in some areas of the country there is an outright mistrust of law enforcement that also contributes to the lack of interest in a career in law enforcement. More relaxed attitudes around recreational marijuana use and the introduction of new medical marijuana laws can disqualify candidates, as law enforcement demands individuals with a clean drug history and high moral character.

The process of becoming a police officer is also extremely demanding compared with other industries. Evaluation can take more than a year, and generally includes personal interviews, written and oral exams, medical and psychological examinations, a fitness test, a polygraph test, drug screening, credit checks and an extensive background investigation. Any shortcomings or questionable findings in any of these areas can rule out seemingly qualified candidates.

Are the Dangers Deterring New Recruits?

The dangers that front line officers face every day also makes law enforcement less attractive to potential recruits. Officers that have long had the reality of getting shot or stabbed in the line of duty are now faced with emerging threats that are just as deadly. The national opioid epidemic brings a new set of dangers to everyday law enforcement, as officers are often first-responders in situations involving subjects who are intravenous drug users. Increased opioid abuse also makes contracting diseases such as hepatitis-C, tuberculosis and MRSA a real possibility, and exposure to miniscule amounts of powerful drugs such as fentanyl and other designer drugs can cause an overdose in officers not even directly involved with a subject.

In addition to all these factors, law enforcement must adapt to the new reality that newer officers expect frequent training opportunities to improve their abilities, since research has shown that showed that without such training, officers could lose confidence. A lack of confidence or hesitation can contribute to making mistakes, which unfortunately can have deadly consequences.

How VirTra’s Simulators Help

One way that VirTra is assisting in this regard is by providing law enforcement with the most advanced use of force simulator technology in the world. Forward-thinking agencies can use VirTra technology to ensure accurate and more realistic training that mirrors real-world threats officers face. This in turn allows agencies to put forward more highly trained officers who are better able to respond to often stressful real-world situations. Officers that have been through VirTra scenarios featuring an active shooter or a subject with a mental health issue and undergone the rigorous debriefings that follow can have the confidence knowing that “they’ve been there before” when they’re confronted with the real thing in the field.

Agencies with better training are able to attract more qualified candidates, so it’s critical that law enforcement not make funds for training an afterthought in their budgeting process. Ultimately proper training saves the department money in the long run, but more importantly, it saves lives. Better-trained officers make fewer mistakes — reducing risk for the department and enabling them to better serve the public.

Use of Force Simulators

Throughout the years, law enforcement officials have had access to a variety of training. Not only do they take to the firing range to learn how to properly handle and fire their weapons, but they can also participate in live training, where actors pretend to be assailants and give officers a realistic view of scenarios they may encounter. However, virtual reality use of force simulators are quickly becoming the norm when it comes to law enforcement training for several important reasons.

Live Simulations with Actors

Police officers and other law enforcement officials can certainly benefit from roleplaying. Typically, this involves bringing in a team of actors to stage some sort of scenario that an officer may face in the line of duty. All kinds of scenarios can be simulated in a live-action manner, including things like active shooters, hostage situations, standoffs, armed robberies, and more. While this form of training can be quite effective, it is also quite expensive, and this limits the amount of training an officer can receive in any given year. Aside from this, many jurisdictions still rely on an old-fashioned simulation that allows for few, if any, variables.

Firing Range Practice

Another important means of law enforcement training is firing range practice, which simply means that officers take the firearms they may be required to use in the line of duty to a range and fire them at targets. Again, there are a few variables here, including the option to shoot at targets at varying distances, or in some specially designed ranges even at moving targets. Though this can certainly benefit an officer by allowing him to understand the capabilities of his or her firearm, it does very little to teach that officer how and when to apply use of force, and it does not teach officers what to expect if they are wounded in the line of duty.

Filling in the Gaps

While live action simulations and firing range practice are both beneficial in their own way, they both come with limitations at the same time. For example, live-action simulations are expensive; multiple actors to run through dozens of scenarios with officers can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Firing ranges do give officers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their firearms, but not in a real-life scenario. This is where virtual reality use of force simulators can fill in the gaps and offer the best of both worlds – and a little extra at the same time.

Benefits of Virtual Reality Use of Force Simulators

Virtual reality use of force simulators is much like live action, but rather than live actors, the operators simply program a scenario into a computer where it can play out on a 300-degree surround screen. Much like a firing range, officers have the ability to use modified weapons that provide the sensation of recoil when fired, and they can even wear specialized items designed to mimic the effects of being injured in the line of duty. A virtual reality use of force simulator allows for on-the-fly customization, which is vital for teaching officers judgmental use of force. No two simulations ever have to be the same, which keeps officers on their toes and helps prepare them for things they may come across in the field.

Over the last decade or so, virtual reality has become more and more prevalent. It is a common factor in today’s video games, and even medical students use it to simulate operations before taking lives into their hands. These days, virtual reality use of force simulators is truly changing the way law enforcement officials receive their training, and it is saving lives at the same time.

Everyone knows prisons and jails are commonly used to house criminals, where freedom, movement, and access to basically everything is restricted. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there are over two million people in the U.S. prison population and over 400,000 people working at them. In 1983, two guards at a federal prison in Marion, Illinois were murdered in separate incidents on the same day.

When one hears “use of force simulator training” their first thought may be, training simulators for police officers “shoot or don’t shoot” training, and may dismiss the benefit of simulator training for correction officers. In an environment where the smallest mistake could turn deadly, it is imperative that our correction officers receive the most realistically, beneficial training as possible. Incorporating VirTra use of force simulator training into existing training curriculum will meet the needs of today’s corrections professionals.

The Ever-Changing Prison Environment

There is a constant flow of activity within the walls of prisons, as criminals become more sophisticated and a steady rise in the treatment of serious mental health issues, our correction officers must be well trained and prepared as a first responder for many dangerous incidents. It is vital that correction officers stay aware of their environment at all times, one slight change in the environment could signal a fight or riot. The VirTra 300 use of force simulator scenarios prepares correction officers to utilize all senses while being acutely aware of peripheral vision.

Use of Force Scenarios Training Can Add Benefit to Current Training

The best tool a detention officer has is his/her verbal communication skills combined with the ability to correctly identify situational awareness.

Verbal De-Escalation – In some instances, a correction officer’s choice of words and tone of voice is all it takes to resolve a potentially violent situation. VirTra’s use of force scenarios offers numerous situations that can be peacefully resolved through communication only.

Depending on the agency and policy, many correction officers may be equipped with basic equipment such as a flashlight, key clips, handcuffs, pepper spray, and Axon® TASER®.

Choice of Equipment – Use of force scenarios allow officers to use his/her flashlight and deploy pepper spray or taser to successfully resolve the situation currently exist. These circumstances could be a location within the facility the officer is assigned.
Firearms – Most transportation correction officers carry a firearm and VirTra’s force option simulator has several scenarios that could be used to assist with training, to include hostage, escapee and assisted escapee. VirTra marksmanship training would be beneficial and cost-effective to incorporate into training programs that require live fire qualification.
Injury Simulation –Working in a prison environment often means correction officers are in confined spaces which is where incidents are more likely to occur. VirTra has a patent technology that allows the operator of the simulator to “zap” the participant anytime he/she is “shanked” by the suspect, instead of moving off, backing off, locking down, waiting for back up, etc. this tool is not to be used as a punishment. It is designed to be used in an effort to teach the participant to work through the surprise and/or pain, to keep fighting. Only through debriefing are better choices defined.

In the prison system, avoiding potentially deadly confrontation is mainly about keeping control over the facility at all times. Nonetheless, unexpected events can and do occur, and the more prepared a corrections officer is for those events, the better he or she will handle them. VirTra’s use of force training simulators are designed to do just that.

Patent Pending, Less-Lethal Training Simulator Cartridges for TASER X2 and X26P Expand VirTra’s Offerings

Tempe, Ariz. — December 5, 2017 — VirTra, Inc. (OTCQX: VTSI), a global provider of training simulators for the law enforcement, military, educational and commercial markets, today announced a new series of training cartridges for the Axon® X2 and X26P TASER® handles. The VirTra® less-lethal training accessories utilize patent pending, state-of-the-art electronic sensing technology that enhances the safety, durability, and maintenance of the cartridges and addresses the full and accurate deployment of training points within VirTra’s virtual reality training simulator.

“Almost every law enforcement officer trains with a TASER or similar conducted electrical weapon (CEW), less-lethal option for de-escalation training which is a vital portion of the training program,” said Jason Mulcahy General Manager of VirTra. “Real training goes beyond the daily spark test to learning to manage target distance with a cartridge’s 8-degree spread. VirTra prides itself on providing the most accurate and realistic training system, with the goal of saving lives and supporting law enforcement officers around the world, and bolstering our product line improves our ability to meet this important goal.”

The newest non-lethal force options in the VirTra product offering, the training kits for the X2 have cross link arcing, arcing of two individual characters, and re-arc capability features. These cartridges interact dynamically with the new custom VirTra training scenarios recently released and newly created interactive characters.

The cartridges use an officer’s own X2 or X26P handles, have patent pending electronic sensing and filtering and employ rechargeable batteries. There is no on-off switch to worry about. Instead, an embedded smart motion sensor automatically turns the unit on when picked up, puts it to sleep when stationary, and turns the unit off when inactive for extended periods of time. The new, user-friendly RGB LEDs let the trainer know the status of the batteries, mode of operation, and indicate charge status. All of this technology combines to provide a trainer-friendly device that is easy to operate, prolonging training times between charges, and making the cartridge easy to maintain. The internal rechargeable battery and charging circuitry has been selected to provide years of training activity, uses a standard micro-USB charger that is supplied as part of the kit, and is also designed so that the end user could use almost any standard micro-USB cell phone charger if needed.

The VirTra cartridges are factory aligned to match the AXON X2 and X26P TASER handle’s red laser dots that aim onto the screen for real life training similarities. The quality of the laser components and factory alignment process improves precision, accuracy, and reliability within the VirTra software. The lasers are class 1A (<0.850mw) skin hazard from direct beam and eye hazard when viewed directly. Each TASER laser or ECW device can be assigned a unique ID, to individually track and score each cadet or officer.

The kits are more durable than ever for the training realism covers verification of cartridge readiness, transitioning rapidly to other force options and re-loading without fear of harming the VirTra cartridges. The VirTra technology enhancements solve today’s industry training issues by enhancing the safety, durability and maintenance of taser training, while addressing the full and accurate deployment of training points.

About VirTra

VirTra is a global provider of training simulators for the law enforcement, military, educational and commercial markets. The Company’s patented technologies, software and scenarios provide intense training for de-escalation, judgmental use-of-force, marksmanship and related training that mimics real world situations. VirTra’s mission is to save and improve lives worldwide through realistic and highly-effective virtual reality and simulator technology. Learn more about the company at www.VirTra.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release includes certain information that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by terminology such as “could,” “may,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “proposed,” “planned,” “potential” and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements about VirTra’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although VirTra believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. VirTra cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Accordingly, due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions inherent in forward-looking information, readers and prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof, and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof and is subject to change. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update forward-looking information to reflect new circumstances, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Media contact:

Susan Lehman
Slehman@virtra.com
(510) 599-6555

Investor relations contact:

Brett Maas
vtsi@haydenir.com
(646) 536-7331

*AXON, TASER, X2 and X26P are registered trademarks of AXON ENTERPRISE, INC which can be referenced at www.TASER.com/legal

Thanks to the media – both social and otherwise – the use of force by the military and police is under more scrutiny than ever. Any use of force deemed unnecessary can result in costly lawsuits and a tarnished reputation, as well. Simulation technologies are vital for allowing police and military to experience various scenarios that could occur in real life, and that’s why VirTra with its Immersive Use of Force Simulator Technology is an investment you should consider.

Protecting Officers and Civilians

The unwarranted or unnecessary use of force is rarely due to misuse or abuse of power. Oftentimes, it is due to the misreading or misinterpreting of a situation. When officers and military officials can put themselves into virtual scenarios, including things like hostage situations, robberies, and even mass shootings, they can train themselves over time to respond more effectively with the goal of reducing loss of life. Things like reading body language carefully and being able to make accurate decisions under stress saves not only the officers’ lives, but often the lives of bystanders, as well. There is no training like realistic training, and with immersive simulators like VirTra, it is almost like the real thing.

Real-Life Reactions to Real-Life Situations

Though there are many simulators on the market today, VirTra works to create scenarios that are as realistic as possible. With a 300-degree immersive wrap-around screen to dozens of predesigned and customized scenarios, it is possible for offers to practice and learn how to react appropriately in these scenarios before they occur. There is even a firearms training mode in which officers can utilize weapons that mimic the real weapons they would use in the field, but all without the potential for lethality.

Upgrades to Meet Client and Market Changes

VirTra use of force simulator allows its clients to upgrade as their needs change. For example, clients may start out with a single or three-screen configuration to start, then later upgrade to the fully-immersive five-screen configuration that allows for one of the most realistic and challenging sets of scenarios in the industry. When officers can train in advance for some of the most difficult real-world situations through virtual simulation, they can learn to handle themselves appropriately should those situations occur in real life. Whether it is an ambush or an active shooter situation, VirTra does it all as realistically as possible. As additional scenarios are created, VirTra makes those available to existing clients as well to give them the most up-to-date realistic training situations available.

Training to De-Escalate Through Non-Lethal Means

VirTra’s goal is to provide technology that allows it clients to enhance their sense of situational awareness. In turn, they can better understand when it is necessary to use force and when non-forceful de-escalation is possible. VirTra incorporates communication skills training, the use of Axon® TASER®, officer presence, and even the use of deadly force in its scenarios.

When officers go into the field each day more prepared than they were the day before, lives are saved. What’s more, fewer uses of force result means fewer lawsuits and investigations, which can save departments’ time and money. We believe VirTra is the most advanced and most immersive use of force simulation training platform available today, and an investment in VirTra is an investment in an advanced technology company set to deliver growth and enhanced officer and civilian safety.

For more information on investing with VirTra, please visit our Investor Hub.

Virtual Simulator Brings Immersive Training for De-escalation and Crisis Situations

Tempe, Ariz. — December 4, 2017 — VirTra, Inc. (OTCQX: VTSI), a global provider of training simulators for the law enforcement, military, educational and commercial markets, today announced that Missouri’s O’Fallon Police Department has installed a VirTra V-300™ simulator in its newly built Justice Center, which houses the police department, training center and vehicle fleet. The facility held its grand opening on Saturday, December 2.

The O’Fallon, Missouri, Police Department serves 86,000 residents. With the national focus on use of force and police training, the department saw an opportunity to better prepare its officers with training equipment designed to improve decision making in high-pressure situations. After significant research on the various options, the O’Fallon Police Department chose to include the VirTra V-300 judgmental use of force simulator as a major component in its new training facility.

“The new facility is the product of 10 years of planning and hard work and demonstrates O’Fallon’s commitment to protecting the public with advanced training that will prepare our officers to make good decisions in potentially volatile situations,” said Major Kyle Kelley of the O’Fallon Police Department. “The V-300 will also help members of our community see and understand some of the split-second decisions O’Fallon officers face on the street every day.”

Along with the VirTra V-300, the 97,000-square foot building’s training area has a seven-lane indoor firearms range, and a nearly 80-seat training room equipped with smart electronics. Each aspect is designed to make use of force and de-escalation training central to everything the department does.

The O’Fallon V-300 system includes Sig, Glock, TASER^® and rifle options, along with Threat-Fire^™ and V-Author^™ accessories that allow trainers to customize content to local area scenarios.

“The addition of the Threat-Fire option was an important consideration for the department, since its previous single screen simulator was old technology with a tethered weapons system that could hinder training at times,” said Officer Ed Smith, O’Fallon’s range master and training officer. “The ability to incorporate local scenes and landmarks also was imperative, since O’Fallon is part of a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team that will make heavy use of the V-300 in the Justice Center facility to train its members.”

The VirTra V-300 system is capable of simulating hundreds of different scenarios that can convey body language and other non-verbal threat cues that are a crucial part of progressive judgmental use of force training. The V-300 also has multiple screens that offer a 300-degree view, and includes peripheral vision and weapons that closely match those used in the field to enhance the transferability of the training to real-life scenarios.

Each training scenario in the VirTra V-300 is based on real-life incidents and is professionally produced with content that is carefully vetted by subject matter experts to rigorously test a trainee’s critical thinking skills, weapons skills under pressure, and psychological responses to the stresses of life-like situations.

About VirTra

Forward-looking Statements

Media contact:

Susan Lehman
Slehman@virtra.com
(510) 599-6555

Today, VirTra kicks off the week-long 2017 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. I/ITSEC is the world’s largest modeling, simulation, and training conference and is organized by the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA).

This year’s conference focuses on Harnessing New Technologies to Win in a Complex World, which emphasizes the need to embrace non-traditional technologies for training military and civilian personnel on the complex tasks enabled by today’s technological advances.

More than 75 training, seminars, papers and workshops covering topics such as cyber security, training, modeling, simulation and augmented reality/virtual reality are offered. Some 3,000 attendees are expected at the conference.

The V-300 Simulator

On the Expo’s show floor, VirTra will be demonstrating its V-300 MIL training simulator in booth 2439. The V-300 MIL simulator is the most challenging, immersive and advanced combat training simulator. Inside the 300-degree, wrap-around simulator, teams can train for the most difficult real-world situations such as ambushes, checkpoints, CBQ, suicide bombers, threat recognition and survival skills while maintaining situational awareness during extreme stress.

VirTra simulators also train for marksmanship. This is especially important in hostile, split-second, situations.

And, VirTra’s V-Author software enables trainers to customize their courses, while changing backgrounds, tactics and interactions.

Please join us at VirTra’s booth #2439 and see how VirTra’s state of the art simulator training systems can improve your training needs.

Students studying criminal justice typically seek employment in one of three of the major components: law enforcement, the court system, or the criminal corrections system. In any of these three cases, use of force simulators in the classroom can enhance their knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of criminal justice in several ways.

The Criminal Justice System in the Media

Criminal justice students, just like everyone else, pick up the newspaper, read stories online, or watch the news. Thanks to the prevalence of media today, there are plenty of stories about how a police officer made the wrong choice, costing someone his or her life, or how a judge was too lenient (or too harsh) with a sentence, or even how a corrections officer abused his or her authority. Sometimes, these stories are founded in truth. Other times, they are media observations and second-hand stories of events. Either way, police officers, judges, and even corrections officers spend a lot of time in the limelight, and more often than not, it’s negative.

How Use of Force Simulators Help Each of the Three Components

Because not all criminal justice students will inevitably become law enforcement officials, it is important to examine how the students destined for the judicial and corrections systems can benefit from judgmental use of force training simulators.

Law Enforcement – Students who will inevitably go into law enforcement are on the front lines. These are the individuals who will face dangerous situations each and every day, even during routine traffic stops. Judgmental use of force simulation trains them to deescalate situations appropriately depending on the suspect’s behaviors, actions, and the unique situation.
Judicial System – Though judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and others aren’t directly in the line of fire, they can also benefit from use of force training simulation. When these individuals better understand the pressures and the situations law enforcement officials face, they can make better decisions themselves, whether their duties involve prosecuting a criminal, defending a criminal, or even handing down a criminal’s sentence.
Corrections System – Most students going into the corrections line of work will not have access to firearms due to the inherent dangers of carrying a firearm in a jail or prison setting. However, this does not take away from these students’ need to learn more about how to deescalate situations. Simulations can train corrections officers how to handle everything from an aggressive inmate to psychological preparation for close quarter encounters. When these officers are better prepared, they can make better decisions and get things under control more quickly.

Real-World Training and Preparation

In the end, judgmental use of force simulator training is beneficial to anyone and everyone considering a job in the criminal justice system. It is all about giving these students access to what really happens each day – not just what the media tells them. Though reporters work hard to provide only the facts, it is easy for facts to be misleading, and it can give criminal justice students a false sense of the real world. By incorporating use of force simulators in the classroom, and by properly training these students to handle various scenarios, they can have a better understanding of what the job is truly like, not only for themselves, but for others, too.

Judgmental use of force simulator training is not just for police officers and military officials. In fact, this training can serve anyone in criminal justice well by providing them with true-to-life experiences and training them how to react. It is highly customizable to serve each student’s personal needs, as well, which can make it an invaluable learning tool.