NCJ Number
55035
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE SOURCES OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR BY POLICE OFFICERS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT'S APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING AND TREATING, THROUGH GROUP THERAPY, OFFICERS WITH A HIGH VIOLENCE POTENTIAL IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
AGGRESSION AND FORCE ARE NOT ABNORMAL REACTIONS BY POLICE BUT RATHER FALL WELL WITHIN WHAT SOCIETY EXPECTS OF THEM. VIOLENCE--THE USE OF MORE FORCE THAN IS REQUIRED--MUST BE VIEWED AS AN EXTENSION OF NORMAL BEHAVIOR IN POLICE WORK. AGGRESSION BECOMES VIOLENT AND HOSTILE WHEN IT IS MIXED WITH HATRED AND FEAR. FOR POLICE, VIOLENCE USUALLY HAS A SITUATIONAL CONTEXT AND IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF AN INTERACTION AMONG THE OFFICER'S PERSONALITY, THE PERSONALITY OF THE PERCEIVED ANTAGONIST, AND THE SITUATION. SOME OFFICERS LEARN TO DEAL CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH THEIR FEELINGS OF HOSTILITY, OTHERS INTERNALIZE THESE FEELINGS, AND STILL OTHERS ACT OUT THE FEELINGS AND BECOME THE OBJECTS OF PUBLIC OUTRAGE. TO DEAL WITH OFFICERS WHO ACT OUT, THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DEVELOPED AN IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT'S EVALUATION UNIT MONITORS EVERY OFFICER'S PERFORMANCE, LOOKING FOR INDICATORS OF VIOLENCE POTENTIAL (CIVILIAN COMPLAINTS, EXCESSIVE USE OF FIREARMS, COMPLAINTS FROM THE OFFICER'S FAMILY, ETC.). OFFICERS WHO SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION. THOSE WHO SHOW NO SIGNS OF MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISORDER ARE PLACED IN GROUP THERAPY, IN WHICH SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY AND PEER INTERACTION ARE USED TO INCREASE INHIBITORS AGAINST AGGRESSIVE ACTING OUT. THE FACTOR THAT CONTRIBUTES THE MOST TO CHANGE AND INSIGHT AMONG GROUP PARTICIPANTS IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT EACH OFFICER HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE THE FIRST VIOLENCE POTENTIAL GROUP WAS FORMED IN 1973, 80 OFFICERS HAVE COMPLETED THERAPY. THE GROUP SESSIONS HAVE PROVED AN EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO LONG-TERM INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT. (LKM)