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Responding to First Amendment-Protected Events--The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement Officers

NCJ Number
248773
Date Published
October 2012
Length
1 page
Annotation
This training Web page of the National Criminal Intelligence Resource Center describes the content of two videos on "Responding to First Amendment-Protected Events - The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement Officers."
Abstract
The videos instruct law enforcement officers in three areas associated with policing first-amendment protected events. First, they assist officers in understanding their roles and responsibilities as they prepare for and respond to such events. Second, they are responsible for protecting the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of persons and groups participating in these events. Third, the videos reinforce fundamental concepts learned at law enforcement training academies and through in-service programs. There are two versions of the video, the training video and the officer roll call video. The longer training video (9 minutes long) is designed as an overview to assist law enforcement personnel prepare for and respond to an event protected by the first amendment. It focuses on the concepts of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties as they apply to events that involve the peaceful expression and support for concepts and causes. The video has a short quiz on its content at the end, and there is an option to print a certificate of completion. The second version of the video, which is suitable for officer roll calls, is shorter than the training video (4 minutes). It presents an overview of law enforcement officers' roles and responsibilities at an event protected by the first amendment. This short version can also be used at pre-event officer meetings. Other resources which address enforcement responsibilities in protecting privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties are accessible through this Web site.