Effective Communication Paper Final
Effective Communication Paper
Adam Maillho
CJA/304
May 18. 2015
Professor Dominick Casciotta Jr.
Effective Communication
Communication is a process involving several steps; the goal is to transfer an idea between two or more people for the primary purpose of exchanging information. Communicating is essentially a mental exercise that an individual in law enforcement needs to be proficient in sending and receiving. Communication in criminal justice organizations entails verbal and non-verbal, within the agency as well as outside in the community. Both forms of communication are critical to a well-functioning law enforcement agency.
Verbal communication relies on language and a person’s emotion to send the desired message to other people. “It starts when officers greet one another before roll call and continues through roll call and out onto the streets” (Wallace & Roberson 2009). Officers must know how to communicate with people in the community, other officers, and their superiors. Important components of verbal communication include the word usage or the content of the communication. An officer of the law needs to communicate with a victim, suspect, or another person on the level of that person. Language or education can hamper the understanding between an officer and a member of the community. Word usage, redundancy or repeating words from the officer will help a person receive the entire message if he or she is only half paying attention or do not understand some of the words. Also, if redundancy occurs while using radios, the officer may make the message clearer because of static or other interference.
Nonverbal communication entails written communication as well as body languages such as eye contact, posture, facial expressions, and jerky movements. Police reports are an important written communication because prosecutors use them when issuing criminal complaints. Officers reread them to refresh their memory when testifying in court because the court
Adam Maillho
CJA/304
May 18. 2015
Professor Dominick Casciotta Jr.
Effective Communication
Communication is a process involving several steps; the goal is to transfer an idea between two or more people for the primary purpose of exchanging information. Communicating is essentially a mental exercise that an individual in law enforcement needs to be proficient in sending and receiving. Communication in criminal justice organizations entails verbal and non-verbal, within the agency as well as outside in the community. Both forms of communication are critical to a well-functioning law enforcement agency.
Verbal communication relies on language and a person’s emotion to send the desired message to other people. “It starts when officers greet one another before roll call and continues through roll call and out onto the streets” (Wallace & Roberson 2009). Officers must know how to communicate with people in the community, other officers, and their superiors. Important components of verbal communication include the word usage or the content of the communication. An officer of the law needs to communicate with a victim, suspect, or another person on the level of that person. Language or education can hamper the understanding between an officer and a member of the community. Word usage, redundancy or repeating words from the officer will help a person receive the entire message if he or she is only half paying attention or do not understand some of the words. Also, if redundancy occurs while using radios, the officer may make the message clearer because of static or other interference.
Nonverbal communication entails written communication as well as body languages such as eye contact, posture, facial expressions, and jerky movements. Police reports are an important written communication because prosecutors use them when issuing criminal complaints. Officers reread them to refresh their memory when testifying in court because the court
References: Wallace, H., & Roberson, C. (2009). Written and Interpersonal Communication: Methods for Law Enforcement (4th ed.) Upper Saddle River New Jersey. Pearson Education, Inc. .