NCJ Number
38487
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIRD IN A THREE PART FILM SERIES ON POLICE MARRIAGE PROBLEMS, 'SOCIAL ISSUES' EXAMINES THE POLICE FAMILY IN RELATION TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF WHICH IT IS A PART - FRIENDS, RELATIVES, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
Abstract
POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE ALARMING INCIDENCE OF MARITAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS A GROUP. THE POLICE MARRIAGE CONSISTS OF THREE INTERRELATED FILMS WHICH COLLECTIVELY SPAN THE MAJOR SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS FACING THE OFFICER AND HIS FAMILY IN MODERN SOCIETY. THE FIRST FILM, PERSONAL ISSUES (NCJ38485), FOCUSES ATTENTION ON THE OFFICER'S MARRIAGE ITSELF, DRAWING INTO THE OPEN SUCH CRITICAL MARITAL ISSUES AS THE IMPACT OF THE JOB ON SEXUAL HARMONY, COMMUNICATION, SENSITIVITY, TRUST AND SHARED INTERESTS. THE PROBLEMS OF THE POLICE WIFE'S ATTEMPT TO ADAPT TO HER HUSBAND'S WORK AND ITS UNUSUAL PRESSURES WHILE FORMING HER OWN IDENTITY IS EXPLORED ALONG WITH MANY OF HER SPECIAL CONCERNS (FOR INSTANCE, DEALING WITH THE REALITY OF DAILY DANGER, THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER WOMEN TO HER HUSBAND, THE COMPETITION REPRESENTED BY THE JOB AND THE OFTEN INTENSE FRIENDSHIP OF HER HUSBAND'S BROTHER OFFICERS). THE SECOND, FAMILY ISSUES (NCJ-38486), GOES ON TO CONSIDER SOME OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS AND PRESSURES ENCOUNTERED BY THE OFFICER AND HIS CHILDREN AS A RESULT OF HIS WORK. INCLUDED ARE THE PROBLEM OF HIS FREQUENT ABSENCE FROM HOME DURING CRITICAL TIMES IN HIS CHILDREN'S LIVES, THE EMOTIONAL BARRIERS TO ESTABLISHING AN INTIMATE AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN, AND THE SPECIAL FEARS AND CONCERNS AN OFFICER OFTEN DEVELOPS ABOUT HIS CHILDREN AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE NATURE OF HIS WORK. THE PROBLEMS OF ARBITRARINESS AND AUTHORITARIANISM AT HOME, AND OF UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR CHILDREN ARE CONSIDERED IN LIGHT OF THE UNIQUE PEER PRESSURES ENCOUNTERED BY THE CHILDREN OF POLICE OFFICERS. THE FINAL FILM, SOCIAL ISSUES (NCJ-38487), SEEKS TO RELATE THE OFFICER, HIS WIFE, AND HIS CHILDREN TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF WHICH THEY ARE A PART BY CONSIDERING SOME OF THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS THEY OFTEN FACE IN DEALING WITH FRIENDS, RELATIVES, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. TYPICAL SOURCES OF CONFLICT IN DEALING WITH OTHERS IN INFORMAL SOCIAL SETTINGS ARE EXPLORED; AS WELL AS VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH AN OFFICER'S WORK CAN 'CONTAMINATE' SUCH INTERACTIONS. ALSO CONSIDERED ARE OFF-DUTY DEMANDS AND EXPECTATIONS BY OTHERS THAT ARISE FROM THE NATURE OF THE OFFICER'S WORK ROLE. THE ENTIRE SERIES IS INTENDED IN PARTICULAR FOR USE WITH BOTH PRE-SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE OFFICERS, THEIR WIVES, AND THEIR CHILDREN. A BRIEF DISCUSSION GUIDE IS INCLUDED WITH EACH FILM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) (SNI ABSTRACT)...PO