NCJ Number
171105
Journal
Policing Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (1997) Pages: 555-566
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Literature on police exposure to violence during their work is reviewed, with emphasis on its role as a significant source of occupational stress, the overall pattern of stressors for police, the impacts of violence on police, and coping strategies that increase or reduce the effects of stress.
Abstract
The literature focused largely on Australia and the United States. Results revealed that although violence is a significant stressor for some police, organizational stresses are the major stresses for police. However, aspects of the police organization, culture, and training develop tendencies to react to dangerous situations in ways that impair emotional identification and reaction. In addition, some police appear to lack appropriate problem identification and decision-making skills, thus compounding the risk of developing an ineffective coping response. The consequences of failing to cope with significant stresses are serious and may ultimately be life-threatening. The most important issue is the need to identify and develop appropriate coping strategies in police as a function of daily work rather than waiting for a police officer to experience a major critical incident. The development of mandatory university-based training for police in many states in Australia provides an opportunity both to develop self-management and stress-management skills and to conduct action research programs into police coping methods. 54 references