CA SB494

Requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to develop and implement courses on advanced interpersonal communication skills by January 1, 2023, to be incorporated into basic law enforcement training.

Mandates development of a science-based interviewing course by January 1, 2023, for officers training to become detectives and criminal investigators, to be included in the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation core course.

Defines advanced interpersonal communication skills as deliberate communication strategies emphasizing rapport-building, active listening, empathy, and nonjudgmental approaches rather than confrontational techniques.

Defines science-based interviewing as an empirically-supported process focused on separating facts from inferences, minimizing cognitive biases, and seeking truth rather than confessions.

Requires each law enforcement agency to adopt policies and provide regular training on both advanced interpersonal communication and science-based interviewing.