NCJ Number
204119
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 33-50
Editor(s)
Chris Eskridge
Date Published
February 2004
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined and ranked stress factors as perceived by police officers during an era of decreasing crime.
Abstract
Literature has been extensive on stress relative to the inherent hazards of police work and increasing crime rates. However, literature has lacked in providing a comparative evaluation of police officer stress during periods of varying crime rates, specifically in the modern era where the crime rate has been decreasing. This study examined how police officers perceived stress sources and the extent to which stressors were experienced in conjunction with select personal and job characteristics during an era of significantly declining crime rates. Any significant variations in stressors would suggest the need to revise training and/or counseling approaches. The study sample consisted of 1,022 responding police officers from a representative range of job tenure, rank, gender, race, work shift, and assignment areas within the Boston Police Department. The primary information source was a subset of the 1997 Boston Police Officer Survey (BPOS). The study findings provide further evidence of how police officers perceive stress sources and the extent to which stressors are experienced in conjunction with select personal and job characteristics during an era of significantly declining crime rates. The top ranked stressor was concern for a fellow officer being injured or killed and was consistent with similar findings in the literature. It reinforced the frequent perceived potential for crisis situations, during a period of low crime. Other stressors identified included: public criticism, family demands, organizational stressors, career stages, and working the late shift. Overall, the research provides additional clarity on the perceived effects of police stressors during a low-crime era and promotes the value of developing longitudinal measures that can better evaluate variations during higher crime periods within the same area. The research provides evidence of the specific stressors that affect different officers in ways that may be anticipated and addressed in accordance with psychological counseling techniques and organizational factors. References