No travel cost ♦ No per diem cost ♦ No hotel cost ♦ No lesson plan development time and cost.
            The use of restraint chairs in the United States has a complex history, shaped by evolving standards, legal challenges, and public scrutiny. While these devices remain a tool for managing high‑risk situations, their misuse has led to tragic outcomes and costly litigation. Understanding this history and how to avoid these missteps are essential for agency leadership, officers and municipalities committed to safe, ethical, and defensible Restraint Chair practices.
            Legal standards governing restraint chair use are clear: agencies must develop evidence‑based guidance protocols and respect limitations designed to protect both staff and individuals in custody. Recent cases have demonstrated that failure to provide proper training can result in criminal charges, civil liability, and reputational damage. This program addresses those realities head‑on, equipping participants with the knowledge needed to meet professional and legal expectations.
            The IPICD Restraint Chair Instructor four-hour qualification program is a non‑tactical, instructor‑led online training designed to equip officers with evidence‑based knowledge, policy guidance, and real‑world case analysis—without hands‑on placement instruction. Participants will engage with real‑world video examples, case studies, and legal precedents that illustrate both appropriate and inappropriate uses. This evidence-driven approach ensures that graduates leave with practical tools to reduce risk and strengthen agency accountability.
            Upon successful completion, graduates are certified to train their colleagues in the non‑tactical, User Level use of restraint chairs within their own agencies. By combining policy instruction, legal analysis, and multimedia learning, this program empowers officers and correctional staff to protect themselves, their agencies, and the communities they serve. It is a must‑have credential for any professional committed to lawful, ethical, and effective restraint practices to minimize failure-to-train claims.
TOPICS

• Restraint Chair Foundations, History, and Purposes
• Evolution of Public Perceptions
• Legal Standards, Limitations
• Recent Restraint Chair Law Analysis, litigation outcomes, and liability trends
• Policy Integration and Alignment with Agency Procedures and Evidence-Based Protocols
• Developing a Culture and Climate of Safety
• Embedding Officer Observations and Monitoring
• Group case study analysis
• Framework for Teaching User Level Content to Colleagues

TUITION:      $375 per person, non-IPICD members; $325, IPICD members. Tuition includes digital lesson guide, digital handouts, virtually led instruction, online assessment, and certificate.
 

Virtually Led
March 18, 2026 ♦ 9:00 a.m. PST – 1:00 p.m.PST

In response to evolving controversy, standards, and/or legislation, the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) no longer recognizes “excited delirium” as a cause of death. Advocacy groups, medical professionals, and even some states have criticized or prohibited the use of this controversial term, calling it outdated, unscientific, and even discriminatory. The Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, Inc. (IPICD) recommended not using the term since 2010.

Public safety personnel are now caught in a difficult position: How do you accurately and effectively document or testify about unusual behaviors without running afoul of these legal and professional shifts?

The Solution Is Here. The IPICD Developed and its Center of Excellence for Public Safety Employee-Associated In-Custody Death offers the new Perceived Unusual Behavior (PUB) instructor program. This evidence-based, scientifically supported platform empowers public safety personnel to:

• Identify and describe unusual behaviors in a legally, psychologically, and medically sound manner.
• Document and testify with confidence, avoiding terminology that could jeopardize cases or credibility.
• Stay compliant with new laws and professional standards, ensuring transparency and accuracy.

With “PUB,” you will gain the tools and knowledge to adapt to these changes and continue to serve your community effectively.

Don’t get left behind in this critical shift. Enroll in the PUB instructor program today and lead the way in public safety excellence.
Topics:

• Current political-social environment
• Perceived Unusual Behavior (PUB) defined and described
• Potential causes of PUB
• Observable-Reportable behavioral cues
• De-escalation Tactical Strategies
• Tactical and Proven Action steps
• Bullet proof recommendations for agency leadership, trainers, and personnel
• User-Level training and qualification content

Tuition: $395 per person. IPICD members: $350. Tuition includes instruction, PUB Lesson Guide, User-Level PowerPoint slide deck, PUB Learner Companion (can be reproduced for User-Level instruction), microlessons, and instructor certificate.

​Not an IPICD member?  Join today!

When: March 9-13, 2026 (last day ends at noon).
Where: The Gold Coast Hotel, West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (one hour for lunch)

This program is built for a moving target: Standards, tools, and case expectations evolve—this program educates and trains you to adapt your expert practice, not just memorize a template.

MONEY BACK
GUARANTEE*

Become the Expert Witness Judges Trust and Juries Believe
Step into the spotlight with the IPICD Expert Witness Masterclass & Boot
Camp—a transformative training experience built for public safety professionals who are ready to lead, influence, and win in the courtroom.
Whether you're just starting or have completed other expert witness programs, this is the most comprehensive, cutting-edge training available. Designed specifically for law enforcement, corrections, and public safety professionals, this immersive event delivers:

• Elite instruction from nationally recognized faculty with real-world courtroom experience.
• Technology-forward tools and strategies that are essential for surviving—and thriving—in today’s litigation landscape.
• Scenario-based learning that sharpens your credibility, clarity, and courtroom command.

✅ A full money-back guarantee* from IPICD—because IPICD staff and
presenters know this program delivers.

Curated by John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D., one of the most respected public safety
expert witnesses in the country, this masterclass is more than training—it's a
launchpad for your expert witness career.

WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR and WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE
This program is designed for potential public safety experts, experienced experts and attorneys working public safety matters (e.g., use of force, in-custody deaths, etc.) who want solid and insightful opinion reports that are well referenced and documented, and not full of ipse dixit, net opinions, deposition/trial fluency, and clear incident + policy + training + supervision linkage.

✅ Hot Topics: Learn the latest scientific findings and legal updates on current
and future hot topics.
✅ Monell and Failure to Train Municipal Liability Claims: What they are and
how you analyze and respond to these claims in your opinion report. Learn
how to define patterns of behavior and how to support or refute these claims.
✅ Interpreting, understanding, and applying findings of scientific studies and
evidence-based practices to your case analysis and opinion report.
✅ Opportunity to submit a prior, non-active, and published expert
report for detailed evaluation and feedback in advance of the program and
meet one-on-one with the reviewer at the program (involving a separate
review fee).
✅ Proven strategies for deposition and trial preparation.
✅ Proven strategies for report writing.
✅ Real-world rehearsal for depositions and trial testimony, including what to
say, how to say it, and what to avoid.
✅ Deposition and trial testimony practice in a safe, simulated environment.
✅ Rule updates on expert report requirements, contents, and courtroom
testimony.
✅ Current tools opposing counsel uses to obtain background information on
you, your prior opinion reports, depositions, and trial testimony. Whether
you are a new expert and have not testified or an experienced expert, this
information is MUST KNOW.
✅Current tools used during trial testimony to identify conflicting testimony,
changed testimony (for impeachment purposes), and more.
✅ Tech-forward strategies to make cutting-edge digital tools your trusted allies (This is a proven “secret” to writing successful reports and doing a literature review.)
✅ Tech-forward tools used by opposing counsel for developing cross-
examination questions of you and answering strategies.
✅ Using Tech-forward tools to critique and evaluate your reports prior to
submitting them.
✅ Using Tech-forward tools for critiquing and evaluating opposing expert
reports, identifying report weaknesses, methodological weaknesses, and
areas to criticize.
✅ Establishing your practice, billing rates, invoicing, who is your client,
contracts (samples will be provided), and more.
✅ Strategies for managing your client, including getting paid.

MORE TOPICS

• Establishing your expert practice, fee setting, contracts, etc.
• Initial case evaluation and staying in your lane
• Who is your client?
• What is an Expert Witness?
• What an Expert Witness is not!!
• Ethics and the Expert Witness
• Elements of the Expert Report, Supplemental Report, and Rebuttal Report.
• Preventing common report errors
• Plus, optional specialized mini sessions (Monday – Wednesday, from 5:00-5:50 p.m.)

FACULTY

• John Black D.B.A. is a retired Sergeant Major, United States Army Special Forces, a retired deputy sheriff, and is considered by many to be a polymath whose specialties are police practices, officer involved shootings, use of force, artificial intelligence, policy/training/supervision linkage, courtroom strategy, interviewing, report QA, and technology-assisted workflows. Dr. Black serves as Director of the IPICD Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence.
• James “Jeb” Brown, Esq. retired as supervising counsel for a large California county before going into private practice. For more than 20 years, “Jeb” defended municipalities and law enforcement officers.
• Gregg J. Gunta, Esq. spent his entire legal career defending municipalities and law enforcement officers. An experienced trial lawyer known for his skill in cross-examining lay witnesses, plaintiffs, and experts, his insights will escalate your insights and abilities as an expert witness.
• Jeff Martin, Esq. retired as a Sergeant from a large California police department and now defends law enforcement officers. An expert witness in Human Factors and forensic video, Jeff serves as Director of the IPICD Center of Excellence for Digital Media.
• John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D. is a former police administrator, deputy sheriff, and police officer and is considered a polymath by many in the law enforcement and career and technical educational professions. His specialties include Monell liability, competency-based training, instructional design, artificial intelligence, use of force, policy, procedures, sexual misconduct, workplace violence, defensive tactics, impact tools, internal and administrative investigations.
• Darrell L. Ross, Ph.D. is professor Emeritus, Valdosta State University, an author and co-author of several law enforcement texts and peer-reviewed publications. Internationally renown for his research into prone restraint, he is an experienced expert, and a former correctional officer.

HOTEL Information:
Gold Coast Hotel: 4400 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89013; 888.402.6278.
​
Group Code: IPIC26C. Room rate: $30 per night, plus $39.99 mandatory resort
fee, plus tax, per room, per day—Sunday, March 8, 2026, through Thursday,
March 12, 2026. Room reservations can also be booked through the Hotel’s
website by visiting, www.goldcoastcasino.com/groups. Group code expires on February 6, 2026, so please reserve your room on or before this date. Book now! You can always cancel the room reservation. Prior to the cut-off date, individuals may also call the HOTEL’s Room Reservations Department at 888-675-3267and identify as a member of the IPICD program using the discount code: IPIC26C. Without the discount code, you will not receive the special rate and you may be advised that the HOTEL is sold out during the IPICD program dates. Please note: Due to promotional offers, rates could be lower if booked by phone or on an internal hotel site without the group code.

Tuition and Payments
Early Bird Special: $695 before November 30, 2025. After November 30, $795
first person and $625 for each additional person. IPICD members receive a $100 discount on this program. Not a member? Join today!

There is a $300 cancellation fee if cancellation is made after February 13, 2026.   

*A full tuition-only refund is made within ten days after formal notification is given to the program director by Noon on the first day, and with the return of all materials at the time of notification. Offer expires at Noon on the first day.