ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

• NCJ Number: 47968
• Journal: American Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (1977) Pages: 207-215
• Author(s): S BROWN; B R BURKHART; G D KING; R SOLOMON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: V H Winston & Sons, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PART OF A PROGRAM REPORT PRESENTED AT THE SOUTHEASTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CONVENTION, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, 1975

Annotation

QUESTIONNAIRES LISTING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WHICH COULD BE PROVIDED TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE COMPLETED BY 52 POLICE OFFICERS AND 30 MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS. AREAS OF COOPERATION ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE QUESTIONNAIRES LISTED 25 WAYS IN WHICH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MIGHT AID POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE USEFULNESS OF THESE ROLES WAS RANKED BY EXPERIENCED POLICE PERSONNEL FROM SMALL- TO INTERMEDIATED-SIZE TOWNS IN EASTERN ALABAMA AND BY MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS WITH EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNITY AGENCIES. IN GENERAL, THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS SAW THEIR ROLE AS BEING MORE VALUABLE THAN ROLE OF THE POLICE. HOWEVER, THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE FAR MORE POSITIVE TOWARD PROFESSIONAL AID THAN HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED. THE MOST PREFERRED PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICE INVOLVED THE TEACHING OF HUMAN-RELATIONS SKILLS TO OFFICERS AS PART OF AN INSERVICE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. SECOND IN PREFERENCE WAS PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE IN PRESENTING THE POLICE POINT OF VIEW TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS ROLE WAS NOT ENDORSED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THE THIRD-RANKED SERVICE WAS TO HAVE A PSYCHOLOGIST ON CALL FOR POLICE CONSULTATION. AGAIN, THIS WAS NOT ENDORSED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. SINCE NONE OF THE SPECIALISTS EVER HAD BEEN INVOLVED DIRECTLY IN POLICE WORK, THEY PROBABLY DID NOT APPRECIATE THE NECESSITY FOR PROVIDING SERVICES ACCORDING TO NEED RATHER THAN ACCORDING TO PERSONAL CONVENIENCE. RANKED FOURTH BY POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRST BY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WAS DIRECT CRISIS INTERVENTION. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TENDED TO GIVE PREFERENCE TO COUNSELING SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS. POLICE RANKED VOCATIONAL SERVICES HIGH, BUT HAD A PUNITIVE VIEW AND SAW OFFENDER COUNSELING AS CODDLING. ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS WERE STRONGLY DISAPPROVED OF BY POLICE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A COOPERATIVE PROGRAM BEGIN NOT WITH AN ENCOUNTER GROUP, BUT WITH DIRECT SKILLS TRAINING IN AN AREA SUCH AS FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION. SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED WHICH COMPLEMENT POLICE SKILLS, SUCH AS A CRISIS CONSULTATION SERVICE. ALL SERVICES SHOULD HAVE HIGH INPUT FROM POLICE PERSONNEL. THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN THE STUDY AND THE RANKINGS ARE REPRODUCED. (GLR)