MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT (FROM URBAN POLICEMAN IN TRANSITION - A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW, 1973 BY JOHN R SNIBBE ET AL - SEE NCJ-10410)

• NCJ Number: 47068
• Author(s): J A SCHWARTZ; D A LIEBMAN
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 26 pages
• Corporate Author: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ROLES AND PROBLEMS OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

SINCE THE EARLY 1970'S, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASING INTEREST ON THE PART OF POLICE AGENCIES IN CONSULTATION WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THIS TREND CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL FACTORS, INCLUDING GROWING POLICE PROFESSIONALIZATION AND THE RESULTING EMPHASIS ON IMPROVEMENT OF RECRUIT QUALITY, THE MOVEMENT WITHIN PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY TOWARD ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND THE PROVISION OF FUNDS BY LEAA. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, MAINLY BECAUSE POLICE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EACH KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE OTHER FIELD. IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEMS, MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR BRINGING ABOUT MANY USEFUL INNOVATIONS IN POLICE WORK. TESTING AND SELECTION IS THE SINGLE MOST COMMON ROLE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN POLICE AGENCIES. PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AND PSYCHIATRIC INTERVIEWS ARE OFTEN USED IN SCREENING RECRUIT CANDIDATES. COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR POLICE OFFICERS MAY BE REGARDED AS AN ASPECT OF MEDICAL CARE FOR WHICH THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE, AS THE STRESS OFFICERS UNDERGO AS PART OF THEIR WORK IS HIGH. THE GREATEST PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED BY THE CONSULTANT THERAPIST IS USUALLY THAT OF RESISTANCE BY THE OFFICERS TO THE IDEA OF PSYCHOTHERAPY. MANY POLICE AGENCIES ALSO USE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN TRAINING AND EDUCATION. THE FACT THAT MOST OF A POLICE OFFICER'S ACTIVITIES ARE SERVICE-RELATED RATHER THAN ARREST-RELATED POINTS UP THE INADEQUACIES OF MOST POLICE TRAINING, WHICH CONCENTRATES ON ARREST FUNCTIONS. THUS, SOCIAL SCIENTISTS CAN BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMS IN SUCH AREAS AS INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS. RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION ARE ALSO POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT AREAS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTANTS. THE SOCIAL SCIENTIST'S BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH SKILLS CAN BE VALUABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT IN DESIGNING AND CONDUCTING NECESSARY PROGRAM EVALUATION RESEARCH. ANOTHER POSSIBLE ROLE IS ADMINISTRATIVE CONSULTATION; I.E., ANY ARRANGEMENT IN WHICH THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WORKS WITH A COMMAND LEVEL POLICE ADMINISTRATOR ON A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES AND IN A CONTINUING MANNER. FINALLY, SOCIAL SCIENCE CONSULTANTS CAN BE USED TO LEAD A VARIETY OF SENSITIVITY TRAINING GROUPS, ENCOUNTER GROUPS, RAP SESSIONS, GROUP THERAPY, OR OTHER GROUP EXPERIENCES. THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL HAS A PROBLEM GAINING ACCEPTANCE, BUT HIS SKILLS CAN BE EXTREMELY USEFUL. (VDA)