NCJ Number
156699
Date Published
1995
Length
331 pages
Annotation
This overview of stress management in law enforcement indicates that police officers encounter various stressors with physiological, psychological, and emotional effects and that appropriate stress management techniques are essential to minimize police occupational stress and modify the stress culture.
Abstract
Sources of police occupational stress relate to personal failure, dangerous situations, police misconduct, supervision, the handling of disturbances, the court system, public and media criticism, special job assignments, and changes in work conditions. Stress management is concerned with identifying how much stress is acceptable, the physiology of stress, and mediating the conflicting demands of law enforcement. Specific stress factors in law enforcement are described, including shift work, dealing with death and severe injury, postshooting trauma, supervision, public relations, testifying in court, and special job assignments such as undercover operations. The effect of stress on female and minority police officers is addressed, as well as stress management in rural police departments. Stress management methods and techniques are detailed that focus on physical and psychological techniques, support systems, the work- family stress connection, the role of police administrators in minimizing police occupational stress, and the need to modify the stress culture through organizational development. Study exercises and questions are included at the end of each chapter. References, tables, and photographs