This paper addresses major themes in psychological training for policework. Law enforcement is desperately in need of a better understanding of the psychological dynamics of crisis intervention.
1,900 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 6 sources, 2002, $ 71.95
Abstract This paper addresses major themes in psychological training for policework. Law enforcement is desperately in need of a better understanding of the psychological dynamics of crisis intervention. The paper enumerates areas in which the study of psychology and behavior can augment or drastically change law enforcement officers' approach.
Abstract This paper reviews how policing has evolved over the last half-century. Along the way, the paper examines organizational developments, changes in the relationship between the general public and police officers, and changes between rank-and-file officers and their superiors. Not to be overlooked, the paper pauses to reflect on changes in personnel and also delves into some broad theories which have proved influential. In the end, the paper concludes that policing today is better than in the past and adjusted capably to a half-century of change.
From the Paper "American policing has undergone many profound changes over the past several decades. From being authoritarian, punishment-focused and top-down only a couple of generations ago to being a more collaborative, educative and bottom-up organization today, policing in America's urban centers has changed in ways that mirror the broader changes in American society. The following paper examines the evolution of police-community interaction over the past half-century and also examine how the attitudes of police officers have changed as the world around them has changed."
Abstract This paper discusses the process of managing change when adapting information technology (IT) to new uses. It discusses the need for core technology with enabling technology, which enables the core to achieve certain specific tasks. The paper particularly focuses on a police agencies, using mobile data terminals that have been adapted to the specific needs of policework.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
IT and Change
Management and IT
Traditional v. High-Technology Companies
Mobile Data Terminals
Conclusion
From the Paper "In New York City, the NYPD is not the only police agency operating in the city. The Port Authority Police Department is another such entity, with a jurisdiction that ranges over a radius of twenty-five miles and covers all of the major arteries into New York City. JFK alone encompasses 5,000 acres with ten terminals and can be seen as being like a small city. The PAPD has an authorized strength of 1,400 police. AS in most departments, the PAPD commanding officers use the analytical data they can gather so that they can recognize anticipated public safety threats and allocate their resources to those threats. State-of-the-art communication capabilities are an important component of this preventive strategy, and to this end, the PAPD has placed mobile data terminals inside police cars to enable police to communicate immediately with motor vehicle bureaus and other government entities for fast background checks of detained persons (Morrone, 1998, paras. 9-12)."
Abstract In keeping with what he characterizes as his psychodynamic approach to policework, Phillip Bonifacio, in his work, "The Psychological Effects of PoliceWork," maintains that stress among officers is not merely a response to job-related conditions, but is an inevitable consequence of unconscious factors that draw men to policework in the first place. This report takes a look at some of Bonifacio's conclusions in terms of summary before going on to compare them with other existing sources of information.
From the Paper "As has already been noted, Bonifacio does not regard job-related stressors as sufficient in themselves to be responsible for such pathology, which is instead seen by him as a result of the psychological conflicts, which find expression in the desire to enter police work in the first place. Thus, Bonifacio cites the literature as providing support for the view that "the evidence for the existence of special stressors in police work is inconclusive," and that "the hypothesis that police work is more stressful than all other occupations is also not supported.""
Abstract This paper explains that the social technology of crisis intervention is recommended training for all law enforcement officers who are responsible for immediate management of a crisis situation; whereas, the social technology of hostage negotiations is recommended training for special teams where bargaining is required. The author points out that the immediate management in crisis intervention is essential to interrupt ineffective, maladaptive behavior brought about by stress and tension in an individual's life. The paper relates that both crisis intervention and hostage negotiations require a specialized training curriculum including special training for units working on terrorism and terrorist activities.
Table of Contents
Key Concerns that Differentiate Crisis Intervention and Hostage Negotiations
Tactics Differences Between Crisis Intervention and Hostage Negotiations
Training Similarities and Differences Between Crisis Intervention and Hostage Negotiations
Conclusion
From the Paper "Circumstances requiring hostage negotiations are more commonly publicized than those requiring only crisis intervention tactics. Hostage negotiations include such events as situations with a kidnapper in a known location, as opposed to an unknown location where control is not possible, hostage taking, barricade situations and suicide attempts.
The foregoing definitions differentiate crisis intervention from negotiation situations involving hostages in that crisis intervention focuses on immediate management whereas hostage negotiations "seek peaceful resolution of a dangerous situation" with time being a plus factor, in most instances, for negotiators."
Tags: fbi, first-aid, family, curriculum, bargaining, terror
Abstract The paper explains how Sir Robert Peel ushered in modern policing by establishing an ethical system for the police. The paper explains that while there have been significant changes in policework since Peel's time, his principles remain the foundation for modern police ethical systems. The paper identifies the nine principles, which include the primary function of police, public approval of police actions, the public in voluntary observance of the law and how physical force lessens public co-operation. The principles also discuss impartial service to the law, inappropriate use of physical force, how police are not separate from the public but part of the public, separation of the police and judiciary and finally, the test of police efficiency. The paper concludes that these principles continue to guide the actions of modern law enforcement agencies.
From the Paper "Peel's first principle states: "the basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder." (New Westminster Police Service, 2006). The primary function of police today continues to be the prevention of crime. The successful resolution of unsolved crimes can aid in crime prevention, because most crimes are committed by recidivists. Therefore, the fact that modern police spend much of their time solving crimes does not detract from the fact that the basic mission of the police is crime prevention."
Abstract The paper examines the changing relationship between police and the community over the past 150 years in the U.S. The paper discusses the function of police to preserve public order and analyzes police power. The paper explores the impact of the Civil Rights Movement concerning issues of disparate treatment and police brutality and discusses police education and training in contemporary society with the aim of encouraging greater cooperation between the police and society.
From the Paper "By the 's traditional methods of preserving public order in the face of a burgeoning population, rapid urbanization and industrialization and a constant influx of immigrants, rendered traditional methods of preserving public order inadequate. The nation's cities were then policed by a handful of unpaid, untrained and unarmed sheriffs, aldermen, marshals, constables and night watchmen. This system of maintaining public order had functioned effectively in earlier decades when rates of serious crime were low and citizens had informal mechanisms for maintaining order."
Abstract In this article, the writer looks at the correlation between occupational stress and alcoholism. The writer discusses what police departments can do to mitigate the spread of alcoholism among its officers. The writer also looks at how alcoholism among police officers impacts local communities and tears at the fabric of police families. The paper then suggests what educational and diversionary approaches should be put in place in order to thwart alcoholism from becoming an insuperable problem that can ruin lives and drive a wedge between police/community relations.
From the Paper "Another thing that Nordlicht's study reveals is just how toxic can be the unreasonable and unhealthy expectations foisted upon police officers by an authoritarian command structure that demands unblinking obedience, a "stiff" facade, and emotional distance in almost all circumstances. Clearly, police administrators who fear that their officers are succumbing to alcoholism need to look closely at how they expect officers to act with one another and with the general public; in other words, if police officers are expected by their superiors to be severe, emotionally withdrawn, fairly unapproachable, and relatively uncommunicative with the public and with each other, then emotional problems can begin to well up as the stresses of the job - stresses which demand that officers confide in someone - start to exact their toll. Consequently, police officials should make every effort to create a collegial atmosphere wherein communication is valued; at the same time, they should also institute community policing programs (if they have not done so already) that bring police officers more nearly into contact with community members. By doing this, by establishing a cooperative relationship with the local neighborhood or precinct, police officers can break down whatever barriers may exist between themselves and the public and make their days a little less stressful simply because they have personal relationships in place now that make their jobs just a little bit easier. Without question, steps such as these will lessen the stresses which can make turning to drink an attractive option."
Abstract Community policing has become a significant area of focus in policework in recent years as urban and suburban departments have fought increasing levels of crime. The effect of community policing has largely been positive, with crime rates reduced substantially in some areas (New York City, for example) and with positive reactions from both law enforcement agencies and the public at large.
From the Paper "Community policing has become a significant area of focus in police work in recent years as urban and suburban departments have fought increasing levels of crime. The effect of community policing has largely been positive, with crime rates reduced substantially in some areas (New York City, for example) and with positive reactions from both law enforcement agencies and the public at large. Despite the progress that has been made, critics charge that community policing is a vague concept that can encompass everything from merely hiring additional officers to having officers take a proactive role in preventing crime rather than simply reacting to it. Some have proposed that total quality management (TQM), a tool used in industry, can be applied to law enforcement in general, and to community policing in particular. This research..."
Abstract "This paper discusses the field of public relations as it affects society today. The paper further provides research relating to the original goals of the public relationsfield, and compares those goals to the ongoing practices of PR professionals in the United States. By determining the changes that have taken place in public relations practices this research demonstrates significant areas of concern regarding the relation of PR to society.
From the Paper "Public relations professionals work toward bringing together the organization and the public - preferably meeting the needs of both entities. Through public relations campaigns companies that strive for mass appeal can become household names, when the marketing concepts allow the company in question to be perceived with a positive image. However, Steven Goldberg (2001) contends that what matters in the public relations field is the image that is invented relating to a company, not true business information (p. 47). Goldberg (2001) suggests that real public relations is not about promoting the honest attributes of a business, but rather "a carefully manipulated public image, a clever marketing campaign, or careful attention to 'spin'" that leads American citizens to become blind patrons of an organization (p. 47)."
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of work in a man's life and sees how different work-related issues affect him or the society in general. While work has always been considered a vital part of a person's life, the paper also seeks to know how important leisure is nowadays and what does serious leisure actually stands for. Work and leisure are two essential elements, which are intricately woven in America's corporate world. Apart from these subjects, some other important issues and questions have also been discussed in this paper, including child labor, work surveillance, working from home etc. 13 pgs, bibliography lists 7 sources.
Abstract This paper explains that a critical incident is an abnormally stressful event that may be psychologically traumatic resulting in post traumatic stress disorder. The author relates that the company for which an employee named Adam worked, had a training program that was based on the social learning theory. The social learning theory focuses on learning that occurs within a social context. The paper then states that, a disadvantage of this theory is that because people can learn through observation alone, their learning may not necessarily be shown in their performance and that learning may or may not result in a behavior change. The paper stresses that if the company would have had a formal training program, as well as requiring certification for the use of all equipment, Adam's accident could have easily been avoided.
From the Paper "The critical incident I'm going to discuss involves a teenage boy named Adam. Adam had been working for a small recycling company for about two months in the stock room. On the day of his accident Adam's boss asked him to come in for a few extra hours to drive a forklift because one of his co-workers was unable to make it to their shift. He didn't get any formal training to operate a forklift and didn't even know there was such a thing as a license for operating one. The only training he received was through observing other employees."
Tags: training certification, post traumatic stress disorder, mandatory observation
Abstract This paper discusses two diverse topics, ethics in decision making and technology-induced, work-related stress. Enron is used as an example in the discussion of ethics. The paper looks at how technology is a gift, but also an extra stress factor. It uses examples such as the possibility of losing documents due to computer crashes, email, and voice-mail.
From the Paper "Let's face it: Some people think about ethics and other people think about money." (Werbel cited Chapman 2000) Werbel says that business ethics is a strong feature of nearly every business school curriculum, but that training in ethics has minimal impact on people. What has a bigger influence on people are the actions of the leadership teams in organizations."
Abstract In this paper, the writer describes what his approach would be, as a chief of police in a small midwestern town, to training the police officers working under him. First, the writer writer explains why it is important for his officers to be trained in community relations and in officer safety. The writer then discusses how officers have to appreciate the need for maintaining a police force and a positive police presence in small towns and must also keep their vehicles in good condition. Next, the writer relates that he would eliminate and discourage rogue cops, as well as discourage any individuals who think they are going to be cowboys. Lastly, the writer explains how he would acknowledge the stresses inherent in working in small town patrols, and how he would reduce them as much as possible.
From the Paper "First and foremost, I would have my officers trained in community relations. There is a lot of mistrust on both sides of the law at the street level, between the public and the police enforcement agencies. Fortunately, in this small midwestern town, there is a high level of gentility and more of a family atmosphere than in cities with large amounts of urban sprawl. This takes much of the tensions out of the relationship between the police and the public.
"However, community relations is also important because it is beneficial for the police to establish links with commuity members. While this is a small and relatively peaceful town, there are relatively few crimes, but there are also many criminals or fugitives passing through in and around the area. The way this can be addressed is through effectively communicating with people and making it clear to the community to help police and monitor not only the community but also the surrounding areas. This also supports law enforcement foremost in those areas."
Abstract This paper briefly discusses several areas of stress related to policework and its effects on police officers. After identifying stress, the paper then discusses some sources of policework stress and the results of stress when managed poorly by police officers. Next, the paper looks at post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in police officers and some of its causes. Finally, the paper points out ways that stress can be reduced, including peer support and critical incident counseling.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Stressors
Effects of Stress
Prevention
Conclusion
From the Paper "While enormous emphasis is placed on the need for an educated, professional police force, it is vital that the same type of emphasis be placed upon the well-being of that force. Law enforcement is not going to become easier in a culture which is changing at an incredible rate and becoming more complex with each change. As the demands upon police officers become more complex, his problems are going to become more complex as well. Thus, to perform effectively, it will become ever more necessary for law enforcement agencies to recognize that the stresses encountered by the officer are a major, if not critical, factor in his professional life. If police administrators wish to insure the best performance dy their policeman, they must do their utmost to make that performance as free from unnecessary stress as possible. Likewise, when administrators think police officers have succumb to the ills of stress, the supervisors should be trained how to recognize the early warning signs. Then, the officer should be strongly encouraged to seek help, professionally, and surrounded by a support group. All members of the department needs to be trained in peer counseling and reassure the officer that he is not alone. Instead of being recognized by society as an organization with a code of silence toward misconduct, law enforcement agencies should strive to earn the reputation of being there for the officers that truly need them. It is a small price to pay since the average police officer risks his health, his life and his sanity every day that he is on the job in order to protect and serve his society to the best of his ability."
