Police officers play a crucial role in society. They are primarily tasked with maintaining law and order through various ways, including patrolling and arresting lawbreakers in society. Thus, individuals are bound to interact with police officers daily. In some cases, situations often escalate to innocent youth losing their lives because of police shootings. Training and educating police officers on handling civilians is the first step to tackling the problem. Teenagers also require a lot of training, civic education, and desensitization on dealing with police encounters. Thus, society benefits from creating awareness through programs such as the NYPD youth education programs. Below are a few reasons why individuals should attend an NYPD youth education program:
They Will Learn an Arrestee's Rights
An NYPD youth education program educates people on their rights. Arrestees have legal rights that must be respected. For instance, people have the right to remain silent after getting arrested. Understanding this right is crucial because it shields individuals from self-incrimination. Anything someone says during the arrest process is admissible in court. Arrestees are also entitled to legal representation and can contact their attorney while still in custody. Individuals who cannot afford legal representation are often afforded legal counsel at the state's expense. Thus, people should attend awareness seminars like the NYPD youth education program to understand their rights.
They Learn How to Behave During an Arrest
The NYPD youth education program is also essential because it trains youths how to behave during police encounters. For some people, encountering the police is stressful. While it's normal to feel afraid, individuals should relax when they meet police officers because they provide security. However, some police encounters can become catastrophic, depending on people's conduct. Thus, an NYPD youth education program helps youth avoid sudden movements and keep their hands visible to reassure the officers they are not armed or dangerous.
They Learn How to Interact with the Police
Police officers need a valid reason to stop a citizen. Such reasons include reasonable suspicion, probable cause, witnessing a crime, or executing an arrest warrant. However, people should not resist arrest, even if they are innocent. Resisting arrest leads to unwanted consequences, including a forceful arrest. An NYPD youth education program educates the youth on how to interact with police officers by keeping a safe distance and avoiding physical contact. People should also avoid running away from the police once they have been stopped. Thus, NYPD youth education programs enable the youth and police officers to establish a cooperative relationship that reduces the number of shootings.
Keep these tips in mind when looking for an NYPD youth education program near you.