NCJ Number
176954
Journal
Law Enforcement Quarterly Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: Winter 1998-99 Pages: 34-37
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Guidelines are offered on how police officers can conduct effective criminal investigations in cross-cultural communities.
Abstract
To be effective, police officers need to interact with people from a variety of cross-cultural immigrant groups. These groups have their own peculiar issues related to law enforcement. Police officers should be able to determine the nationality of a subject so they do not misinterpret the language barrier as lack of response on the part of a victim or a suspect. In addition, police officers should determine a person's origin in order to assess how the individual feels about law enforcement. When a person comes from a country where there is corruption or the person has experienced trauma, he or she generally feels very good about being in the United States. If the person experiences trauma or becomes a crime victim, the response will usually be based on his or her beliefs about law enforcement. Not being aware of the process of police investigations can create a high level of stress for victims. The best way to maintain victim cooperation throughout an investigation is to explain how the investigation will be conducted, and the victim's frame of mind should be evaluated at every step. 6 photographs