NCJ Number
99636
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 13 Issue: 9 Dated: (1985) Pages: 549-559
Date Published
1985
Length
11 pages
Annotation
In exploring the relationship between narcotics investigators and job burnout in the United States, a sample of 115 East San Francisco Bay police officers from five law enforcement departments was drawn.
Abstract
Three subgroups (current narcotics investigators, former narcotics investigators, and patrol officers were used in the survey. The findings indicate that current narcotics investigators had significantly higher burnout scores than the comparison groups on most dimensions of burnout. Both former narcotics officers and patrol officers had similar burnout scores. Conclusions reached were that: (1) narcotics officers experienced a greater degree of job burnout while in the assignment; (2) this burnout was directly attributed to the working environments of the narcotics officers; and (3) burnout decreased once an officer left the assignment. Administrative and managerial implications for dealing with job burnout are discussed along with suggested techniques for dealing with, and minimizing, job burnout among narcotics officers. Future research issues are identified. (Author abstract)