Effective Communication in Criminal Justice Settings

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Public Announcement to the Press
Testifying in Court
Communicating with peers and inmates in a correctional facility
Communicating with peers and inmates in a juvenile correctional facility
Reference List

Introduction

Communication is the process of sharing ideas, messages, and information between or among people. Communication happens in a particular place and in a specific time. It can be in the form of writing, talking, nonverbal, visual, or electronic in nature. Communication is essential in criminal justice settings. All stakeholders in the process of administering criminal justice require effective communication skills in delivering their services. This paper describes how the use of verbal and nonverbal communication by police officers affects contact in various settings.

Public Announcement to the Press

Police officers that are involved in administration of criminal justice are occasionally required to address members of the press. In such instances, a certain degree of communication expertise is required. According to Livers (2009, p.74), a police officer is therefore required to follow communication principles such as being accurate, concise, clear, and complete. Police officers announce various occurrences and progress in the process of handling criminals and criminal activities. For example, the press may seek information about the arrest of a criminal. It may seek information about the process of investigations on certain criminal and criminal activities. Besides, it may want to know about the day-to-day activities in prisons. In addition, the fourth estate may demand information about a criminal or criminals who run out of prison or correction facilities.

Whenever, a police officer is addressing the press, he or she should select his or her words wisely. McCombs (2010, p.44) argues that it is important for police officers to prepare their messages to confirm their accuracy before talking to the press. In a media setting, ‘what breeds leads’. According to Livers (2009, p.75), errors in communication from an authority such as police officers can lead to a great damage. For instance, if a police officer announces that a wanted criminal has been arrested and is in a certain correction facility, people may feel reprieved and mindless about their security.

However, if the criminal had broken out of prison at the time the police was announcing the unlawful act, people may feel terrorized on learning from other sources that the criminal is loose. The officer is likely to be blamed for misinforming the public. This may attract punishment or even dismissal from duty. Accuracy is important in criminology sector. The police officer should also be clear. In fact, Livers (2009, p.74) reveals that clear information gives little or no room for exaggeration and misinterpretation. For example, if the police officer talks to the press about ideas that he or she is not sure about, press agents may guess or pose worrying queries to the public. The officer should be clear about how many inmates disappeared from prison, how many were shot dead, how many were injured, and how many are still in the correction facility.

Any guesswork gives a room for misinterpretation and confusion. The officer should also package information in a way that it is easy to decode and understand. For example, the use of criminology jargon when addressing the press on how citizens should report any information about a loose criminal may not succeed because the target audience may not be able to decode the message. It is also important for the police officer to give complete information during question time. The members of the pres will often ask questions after every press briefing. In most of the instances, journalists follow certain stories. Therefore, they may even have more information concerning a certain occurrence in relation to the police officer. It is important for the police offer to carry out proper investigations about a certain inmate or prison occurrence before addressing the press.

Testifying in Court

Police officers are also supposed to testify in court occasionally. In many occasions, the police will take part in investigations, arrest, and/or guard criminals. It is therefore crucial for police officers to learn the essentials of good communication when addressing the courts of law. Police officers should know that communication in a court of law is binding. During such cases, there should be no errors, half-truths, allegations, and/or misinformation. In some instances, police officers have found themselves behind bars for misinforming the court about criminals and criminal activities. Choice of words is important. The police officer should understand the meaning of the words he or she uses in court. Any gaps and/or double speaking will result in misinformation and hence erratic ruling by the judges. The non-verbal cues such as facial expressions that the police officer uses also communicate the situation to the judges. It is also imperative for the police officer to document his or her evidence against the criminal for future reference.

Proper documentation ensures that the police officer is not involved in double-speaking cases. Rudes, Lerch, and Taxman (2011, p.467) reveal how police officers should also listen well to ensure that they capture every word that the judges, lawyers, and the alleged criminal utter. Good listening skills are important in communication. The stakeholders in the case should also understand the level of language used in courts of law. Another essential skill in a court situation is confidence. Judges and witnesses will normally assess body language and the nonverbal cues that the officers use. Confidence adds to the affirmation that what the officer is reporting to the court is truthful. They should avoid words such as ‘I think’, ‘may be’, ‘perhaps’, and/or ‘I guess’. Such words indicate that the speaker is not sure and that following his or her evidence will be misleading. Non-verbal cues are also useful in courts. The officer should therefore respect the court’s proceeding by adhering to the communication regulations of the court.

Communication in a court situation involves persuasive and public speaking skills. In this situation, the police officer has to convince the court that the alleged criminal actually committed the crime. The officer must therefore use strong enthymemes and correlations to prove his or her case. It is also important for the officer to be audible and convincing using facts and data. Illustrations using gestures and hands movement may also make the message more binding. Use of repetition is also essential when persuading a group or an individual about a certain idea. The police officer should also repeatedly prove what he or she witnessed during the arrest, transportation, and guarding of the alleged criminal.

Communicating with peers and inmates in a correctional facility

Communication with peers and inmates will also require proper communication strategies. Police officers have to work with their colleagues towards the achievement of their goals. Dyadic and interpersonal communication skills are therefore crucial. Police officers work in pairs or in groups. When working in pairs, interpersonal skills are essential. Officers should be able decode messages sent by their fellow police offices in a dyad. In such dyads, there is less confusion since officers can easily elaborate issues and point to one another. In most cases, this communication is done face-to-face. It happens instantly. Rudes, Lerch, and Taxman (2011, p.467) observe that police officers must know how to begin an interaction and even how to make clear points that their colleagues cannot confuse. Police officers should also be sensitive when uttering words or using certain nonverbal cues towards their partners.

When conversing with the inmates, police officers also require good communication skills. McCombs (2010, p.44) observes that police officers should package information in a way that the inmates can decode. The language of communication should be easy to decode. The use of jargons makes communication difficult. The tone of communication should be humble and accommodative. Such communication enables police officers in charge of the inmates to access important information from them. Good communication skills make the inmates feel loved and appreciated regardless of their past. The police officers also need to use persuasive words to influence the inmates to change their behavior. It is only through good persuasion skills that police officers can influence the inmates to change their manners. The officers use communication skills to convince other officers and the inmates that their views are important.

Good communication skills are also important in leadership. Officers should not be shy to convince their colleagues about certain ideas that they believe. Rudes, Lerch, and Taxman (2011, p.467) assert that, when dealing with a group of inmates, it is important to observe communication group dynamics. For example, group consensus makes many inmates lose their way. Sometimes, inmates will just agree with what the rest of the group upholds. For example, if a few inmates are for the idea of breaking out of prison, some of them are not for the idea that they are trapped within the mess. The officer should be able to communicate and to persuade the inmates to be independent in decision-making. Disagreements may also increase in groups. However, they are easy to deal with through accurate and clear communication. Police officers dealing with criminals can create understanding between inmates and among themselves through open communication.

Communicating with peers and inmates in a juvenile correctional facility

In a juvenile setting, police officers have to tailor their communication to fit the environment of child offenders. When packaging information, officers must understand the level of understanding of the audience. Juvenile offenders are majorly minors and the language of communication adopted should appeal to their needs. The officers should therefore use easy-to-understand words. The inmates should also be persuaded to change from their evil ways. Officers have to use persuasive words and skills to convince young offenders that obedience to rule of law is the way to go. Persuasion can be done orally where officers talk face-to-face with individuals and groups about the negative effects of crime.

The officer should be able to convince offenders to change their ways. Persuading young people takes constant repetition and reminder. McCombs (2010, p.45) argues that police officers should also listen well to juveniles. Their expressed needs and reasoning should be evaluated well before issuing any response. Proper understanding is important when dealing with young offenders. However, in most cases, police officers are said to harass young delinquents especially girls. McCombs (2010, p.44) asserts that unclear communication between police officers and inmates leads to confusion and fear. Child offenders may fear officers who use very harsh tones when communicating to them. Scorning and reprimanding of the young offenders may end up making them hardier.

Children are also good in copying and aping what adults do. Since violence is cathartic, use of violent and harsh communication also teaches young offenders to be violent. As police officers communicate with each other in the presence of young offenders, they should use respectful words. Communication between officers should enhance respect and honor. The officers should be considerate in their choice of words. The officer should also control communication among the inmates. In most cases, juvenile offenders have been said to repeat their behavior soon after getting out of prison. Others are unable to cope with the community after they complete their jail term. It is recommended that the officers enhance good interaction skills between and/or among inmates. Officers should also persuade them to be good and to change their behavior.

Convincing a group of inmates using words and gestures requires persistent communication. McCombs (2010, p.44) argues that officers should use compelling and credible statements to pull juveniles from negative mindsets. Communication should enhance interaction and a free environment. According to Livers (2009, p.74), in a free environment, offenders can ask questions while the police officers respond. Understanding of the level of understanding that peers and inmates have is important in packaging information. The purpose of communication is to create mutual understanding. With good communication, the officer will always be understood as he or she intended. Proper audience analysis should be done before the police officer packages information for juvenile offenders.

Reference List

Livers, L. (2009). Communication and Coordination Make the Difference. Corrections Today, 71(4), 74-75.

McCombs, J. (2010). Newcomer Offers Insight on Careers in Corrections. Corrections Today, 72(5), 44-48.

Rudes, S., Lerch, J., & Taxman, S. (2011). Implementing a Reentry Framework at a Correctional Facility: Challenges to the Culture. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 50(8), 467-491.

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