ACADEMIC COURSE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE FOR POLICE OFFICERS SOME DANGERS OF INTERVENTION BY PROFESSIONALS (FROM ISSUES IN POLICE AND CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY, 1978, BY WILLIAM TAYLOR AND MICHAEL BRASWELL - SEE NCJ-59796)

• NCJ Number: 59802
• Author(s): P C RIVERS; J PIPHER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: University Press of America
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PROGRAM TO GIVE PATROL OFFICERS GREATER APPRECIATION OF THE PROBLEM OF ALCOHOLISM SEEMED TO INCREASE JOB DISSATISFACTION AMONG YOUNGER OFFICERS AND SEVERAL LEFT THE FORCE LATER. REASONS FOR THIS ARE EXPLORED.

Abstract

THE BASIC COURSE FOCUSED ON THE CAUSES OF ALCOHOLISM, INVOLVED VISITS TO ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT FACILITIES, AND ENCOURAGED OFFICERS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS CONCERNING OFFENDERS INVOLVED WITH ALCOHOL. A SIMPLE CONTROL GROUP STUDY SEEMED TO SHOW THAT THE COURSE EFFECTIVELY INCREASED THE POLICE OFFICERS' UNDERSTANDING. HOWEVER, THE EVALUATION DOCUMENT ALSO INCLUDED A MEASURE OF JOB SATISFACTION, AND THE AMOUNT OF JOB SATISFACTION AMONG YOUNGER OFFICERS DROPPED AFTER THE COURSE. POSSIBLY THESE YOUNGER OFFICERS HAD A MORE 'SERVICE ORIENTED' APPROACH BEFORE THE COURSE AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES APPROACH OF THE TRAINING INTENSIFIED THEIR FEELINGS OF FRUSTRATION WITH A STRICT PARAMILITARY POLICE DEPARTMENT. ALSO, THE COURSE WAS HASTILY CONCEIVED AND THE TEACHERS WERE NOT TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THE THE OFFICER'S REAL NEEDS -- HOW TO HANDLE THE ALCOHOLIC, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ALCOHOLIC IS REMANDED FOR TREATMENT. THE VISITS TO TREATMENT FACILITIES WERE CONSIDERED THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PART TO THE COURSE BECAUSE BOTH POLICE AND ALCOHOLISM WORKERS GAINED GREATER UNDERSTANDING. IF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES ARE TO CONTRIBUTE TO POLICE WORK, BOTH GROUPS MUST COMMUNICATE BEFORE ANY PROGRAM IS BEGUN AND ANY UNINTENDED SIDE EFFECTS SHOULD BE NOTED AND FOLLOWED UP. THE DISCUSSION HAS APPENDED REFERENCES. (GLR)