NCJ Number
144864
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 41 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1993) Pages: 131-135
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Police officers should learn an array of effective communications techniques so that they can emphasize the use of nonverbal and verbal communications and avoid the use of force, which can lead to a civil or criminal lawsuit.
Abstract
It is useful to consider the use of force as a form of communication, which exists along a continuum that also includes psychological and verbal forms of control. Training should emphasize the lower levels of the continuum involving sociological, psychological, verbal, strategic, and body language skills. Learning these skills can help officers avoid many physical confrontations and respond in a polished and professional manner. Police agencies that lack a published use-of-force continuum should establish one immediately. Nonverbal communications include the environment, body language, psychological climate, situational history, and environmental redirection. Verbal communication includes voice control, the use of language, meaning, and verbal redirection. Manual communication includes signaling, body restraint, physiology, body manipulation and gravity, striking weapons, other nonlethal weapons, use of lethal force. Professionals should have a selection of options and aim to perform effectively without legal consequences.