Law and Human Behavior Project

What Is This Project?

In this project, you will give a 79 minute professional presentation on a realistic law enforcement situation involving violence, abuse, or victims.

Your goal is to show that you understand:

• How people behave during stressful or violent situations
• How Minnesota law guides officer decisions
• How peace officers should respond professionally
• How officers support and protect victims

This is not a research paper and not a narrated slideshow.

It is a briefing-style presentation, similar to how officers speak in training, court, or to supervisors.

What Can I Do My Presentation On? (Examples)

You must choose ONE topic area below.

You may use a real case or a realistic scenario.

Option 1: Domestic Violence Call (Very Common Choice)

Example topics:

• A 911 call for a domestic assault where the victim does not want charges
• Identifying the primary aggressor
• Why victims recant or stay with the offender
• Officer arrest decisions and reporting requirements
• Use of Orders for Protection or DANCOs

Option 2: Child Abuse or Neglect Call

Example topics:

• Welfare check leading to suspected child abuse
• Indicators of physical or emotional abuse
• Drug Endangered Children
• Mandated reporter responsibilities
• Child development considerations on scene

Option 3: Sexual Assault Response

Example topics:

• Delayed reporting of sexual assault
• Why sexual assault is underreported
• Victim trauma and memory
• Evidence collection and victim care
• Myths about sexual assault and how they affect investigations

Option 4: Predatory Offender Registration

Example topics:

• What qualifies someone as a predatory offender
• Risk levels and community notification
• Officer role in compliance checks
• Challenges offenders face with registration
• Community safety considerations

Option 5: Stalking or Crimes of Violence

Example topics:

• Technology-facilitated stalking (texts, GPS, social media)
• Power and control behaviors
• Psychological intimidation
• How stalking cases escalate
• Officer response and documentation

Option 6: Victims Rights & Victim Response

Example topics:

• Victim trauma responses during police contact
• Victims rights under Minnesota law
• Cultural considerations with victims
• Why compassion and communication matter
• Connecting victims with advocacy services

What You Must Talk About (Every Presentation)

Every presentation must include ALL SIX of the following sections:

1. The Situation

• What happened?
• Who is involved?
• Why does this matter for officers?

1. The Law

• What Minnesota law applies?
• What are officers required to do?

1. Human Behavior

• How trauma, fear, power, or control affect behavior
• Why victims or offenders act the way they do

1. Officer Response

• What officers should do on scene
• Arrest decisions, safety, communication, documentation

1. Victim Support

• Resources or referrals officers should provide
• Why follow-up matters

1. Key Takeaway

• One lesson future officers should remember

Presentation Rules (Read Carefully)

• 79 minutes total
• You must be on camera the entire time
• Slides are required
• Slides should help the audience follow along do not read them
• Professional appearance and clear speech are required

Slide Expectations (Simple Version)

Good slides:

• Bullet points
• Keywords
• Diagrams or visuals
• 58 bullets max per slide

Bad slides:

• Paragraphs
• Reading statutes word-for-word
• Entire presentation written on slides

If your audience could understand the presentation without listening to you, your slides are doing too much.

Simple Slide Structure (Example)

Students may follow this format:

1. Title slide
2. Scenario overview
3. Applicable law
4. Human behavior / trauma
5. Officer response
6. Victim resources
7. Key takeaway

1. Scenario / Case Overview

10 Points

• Clear explanation of the scenario or case
• Establishes relevance to law enforcement
• Demonstrates situational understanding

2. Minnesota Law & POST Standards Application

15 Points

• Correct identification of applicable Minnesota statutes
• Accurate connection to POST learning objectives (Sections 1318)
• Explains how the law guides officer action (not just definitions)

3. Human Behavior & Victim Dynamics Analysis

15 Points

• Demonstrates understanding of trauma, power and control, victim behavior
• Explains why victims or offenders behave the way they do
• Applies behavioral concepts to officer decision-making

4. Officer Response & Decision-Making

15 Points

• Realistic and professional officer actions
• Addresses safety, communication, investigation, and documentation
• Shows understanding of what can go wrong if behavior is misunderstood

5. Community Resources & Victim Support

10 Points

• Identifies appropriate community partners or victim services
• Explains why referrals and follow-up matter
• Demonstrates victim-centered policing

6. Presentation Quality & Professional Delivery

25 Points

(Heavily weighted)

Evaluated on:

• Clear, confident speaking
• Minimal reliance on notes
• Engaging delivery
• Professional appearance and demeanor
• Ability to teach and explain, not read
• Eye contact with the camera
• Logical flow and time management

Students who read slides or read notes verbatim will lose significant points in this category.

7. Slide Design & Visual Support

10 Points

• Slides are required and must be visible during the presentation
• Slides are clean, professional, and readable
• Slides use bullet points, visuals, or diagramsnot paragraphs
• Slides clearly support the spoken content

8. Technical Requirements

5 Points

• Meets 79 minute requirement
• Clear audio and video
• Slides are legible and properly shared

Important Notes on Slides

Strong slides:

• 58 bullet points per slide max
• Keywords, not sentences
• Visuals where appropriate
• Consistent formatting

Weak slides:

• Paragraphs of text
• Entire statute copied verbatim
• Reading directly from the slide
• Overcrowded visuals

Sources Requirement

You must use at least THREE (3) credible sources.

Acceptable sources include Minnesota Statutes, government websites (.gov), academic textbooks, peer-reviewed articles, or reputable organizations.

Wikipedia, blogs, and social media are not acceptable as primary sources