Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology最新文献

This study explores sexual contact between adults and minors on live internet chat websites like Omegle using the five-point framework of neutralisation to better understand how this behaviour is justified and rationalised by adult participants in such acts. A thematic content analysis was performed based on a sample of 100 requests for advice posted by anonymous users on two open-source platforms from legal professionals. These requests were all from unidentifiable adults. The key themes identified were ‘denial and minimisation of responsibility’, ‘the motivated poster’, ‘awareness of behaviour’, ‘child sexual abuse (CSA)’, and ‘content moderation and censorship’. The results highlight several processes of blame-shifting and neutralisation that are commonly used by adults when describing incidences of sexual contact with minors on Omegle. It enhances our understanding of sexual interactions occurring on live chat platforms, including those that are harmful and illegal, and presents opportunities for proactive intervention and moderation.

Globally, there has been a trend in rising levels of hate crime that scholars have argued is reflective of significant social problems within society. Research into hate crime has typically focused on the police and their subsequent response to this crime type, with many findings reporting that the police are racist, homophobic and Islamophobic, to name but a few. However, existing research seldom captures the insights and experiences of sworn police officers, as much of the data is gathered from third parties. This paper presents the empirical findings from a Delphi study conducted with one police force in Australia, sampling sworn New South Wales (NSW) police officers between October 2020 and October 2021. The findings focus on four overarching areas: defining hate crime, perpetrators of hate crime, victims of hate crime, and responses to hate crime. These themes capture the perspectives of NSW police officers in relation to operational and organisational practice in respect of hate crime. Drawing on a Delphi method, the research outlines police perceptions of the nature of hate crime, as well as capturing how hate crime can be effectively reported, recorded, and responded to. Conclusions and implications are considered. These include the requirement for a clearer definition and targeted education strategies aimed at improving knowledge and understanding relating to hate crime. Future directions include the development of a standardised approach to reporting, recording, and responding to hate crime.

Abstract

The aims sought to identify the sources of stress and coping responses and their relationship to burnout and mental health in Irish police officers and to explore gender differences and differences between those ‘at risk’ or ‘not at risk’ of a stress-related illness. The unpredictable nature of police work, dealing with the public and potential criminals in often trying circumstances and the ever-present risk of danger and trauma, makes police work one of the most stressful of human-service professions. This area is under-researched in Ireland. A survey was administered, in 2019, to 104 full-time Garda members of the An Garda Síochana, measuring organisational and operational stress, coping style and wellbeing. Organisational stress was a stronger predictor of emotional exhaustion and operational stress of depersonalization. Venting, which, in a supportive environment is usually associated with good coping, had an adverse effect on burnout. This suggested a work environment where individuals felt unsupported. Females experienced higher burnout and more adverse mental health. They reported greater organisational stress, and this may relate to real or perceived gender-based barriers. Age had a protective effect, and this suggests there is scope to improve coping through mentoring schemes or other initiatives to cascade good coping.

Abstract

Police officers are exposed to operational stressors while on duty, including child abuse, domestic violence, car crashes, and homicides (Jetelina et al. in JAMA Netw Open 3(10), 2020). Repeated exposure to these stressors is associated with the development of mental illness ((Jetelina et al. in JAMA Netw Open 3(10), 2020). Organizational stressors, including lack of support/validation, demand, job pressure, administrative/organizational pressure, and long working hours, may be an even greater source of stress for police officers (Purba and Demou in BMC Public Health, 2019). Exposure to such organizational stressors can result in psychological distress, burnout, and suicidal ideation (Purba and Demou in BMC Public Health, 2019). However, there is a dearth of research on invalidation and the role it plays in the development and maintenance of mental health outcomes among law enforcement officers. It is unclear how invalidation from supervisors, colleagues, and the general public, moderates the relation between occupational stressors and the development of mental health outcomes. The current study is the first attempt to evaluate whether perceived emotional invalidation moderates the relationship between mental health outcomes and occupational stress. Results could inform our understanding of the role emotional invalidation from supervisors, colleagues, and the general public has on the mental health outcomes of law enforcement officers after experiencing occupational stress.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) report frequent exposures to diverse potentially psychological traumatic events (PPTEs) that can lead to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders. Personality traits may partially inform the substantial mental health challenges reported by serving RCMP. The current study examines associations between HEXACO personality factor and facet-level dimensions and mental health disorders of RCMP cadets starting the Cadet Training Program (CTP). RCMP cadets (n = 772) starting the CTP self-reported sociodemographics, personality, and mental health disorder symptoms. Emotionality was associated with MDD, GAD, and SAD (AORs ranged from 6.23 to 10.22). Extraversion and Agreeableness were inversely associated with MDD, GAD, and SAD (AORs ranged from 0.0159 to 0.43), whereas Openness to Experience was inversely associated with SAD (AOR = 0.36). Several facet-level personality dimensions were associated with mental health disorders. Inconsistent differences were observed between men and women for relationships between personality factors, facets, and positive screenings for mental disorders. The relationship patterns allude to possible risk and resilience factors associated with personality factors and facets. Early training, interventions, and resources tailored to cadet personality factors and facets might reduce risk and bolster mental health resilience.

Through the course of their career, it is expected that police officers are exposed to stressful and emotionally challenging environments, which, combined with well-known organizational and occupational stressors, makes this professional class vulnerable to several psychological and medical conditions. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing intervention programs that seek to minimize the impact of the changing nature of police work within a changing society and promote skills that enable police officers to deal more effectively with the current and future challenges. Therefore, the aim of this review is to systematize resilience training intervention programs and characterize their format, content, and efficacy. For that purpose, we searched four databases for resilience programs delivered to the police. We reached a final sample of 32 articles from a total of 550 published studies. The articles considered were divided into three main groups: mindfulness-based resilience interventions (n = 13), neurobiological-based resilience interventions (n = 13), and other resilience training interventions that did not fit in the previous categories (n = 6). There was much inter-intervention variability, mainly concerning their structure and approach. However, the intervention programs were relatively uniform in the topics covered, such as psychoeducation, police scenario simulation, and debriefing. Nonetheless, most studies found positive outcomes on the variables of interest, predominantly clinical and performance indicators (e.g., stress, anxiety, decision-making). Subsequent research endeavors could aim to determine the most reliable measure outcome measures for resilience variables and intervention efficacy, as alongside identifying pivotal occupational factors crucial to a robust and impactful resilience intervention.

The objective of this manuscript is to explore demographic, legal, and situational considerations on use-of-force decisions. The influence of implicit bias was measured in real time using a police training simulator in an experimental study with university students (n = 115). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four scenarios which varied according to the on-screen actor’s race (e.g., White/Black) and behavior (i.e., compliance/attack). Bivariate and multivariate regression models were used to estimate the effect of implicit bias on the decision to consider and use simulated lethal force. Actor behavior, independent of actor race, most influenced participant responses. These results suggest that simulated police-public interactions offer significant value in the assessment of implicit bias, particularly in the context of use-of-force decisions. Furthermore, absence of bias is inconsistent with current news and social media narratives about the existence of bias in officer decision-making.

The present work explored the independent and joint consequences of multiple factors that prior work indicated were central to suicide risk among a sample of public safety personnel. Of key interest relevant to the experience of suicidal thoughts and behaviors were the roles of sleep disturbance, social support, and agency stigma discouraging discussion of mental health. These risk factors and relevant demographic variables were measured in a nationally representative sample of law enforcement and correctional officers at time 1. Their suicidal thoughts and behaviors were assessed one year later at time 2. Officers who reported sleep disturbances at time 1 were more likely to report suicidal thoughts and behaviors at time 2. Mediation analyses indicated that the effect of sleep on the officers’ suicidal responses was partially accounted for by their lower social support. For officers, sleep disturbances may contribute to loneliness and interfere with social relationships, which has negative mental health consequences. However, social support was only a partial mediator suggesting that sleep disturbances have additional influences on suicidal responses for officers beyond their impact on social support. Perceived stigma from the agency regarding the discussion of psychological problems was also an independent predictor of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The stigma that these officers perceived likely exasperated the suicidal reactions because it may have interfered with their tendency to seek help and benefit from any ongoing treatment. The implications of these findings for treatment and future research building on the present work are discussed.

The 2020 publicized deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have increased social attention to incidents of police use of force in the USA. The spotlight of these events has created a divisive outlook on police tactics. Further, the current political climate has accentuated opposing viewpoints that highlight either the need for police reform or a steadfast stance on law and order. It is widely disputed whether heightened media reporting can influence individuals. This study uses historical posts from the official X, formerly known as Twitter, handles of CNN and Fox News beginning March 25, 2020, and ending November 3, 2020. A content analysis of this sample was conducted to develop thematic messages from each news provider. Results indicate that both news sources use political ideologies to characterize the same reported events. CNN focused specifically on victimology while Fox News emphasized the lawlessness of citizen demonstrations. CNN coverage centers on public demonstrations and the need for criminal justice reform. Alternatively, FOX News coverage characterizes riots and the call for steadfast law enforcement efforts to maintain public safety. The described characteristics share perspectives from the “warrior” and “guardian” roles of police officers.