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Occupational Stress in Law Enforcement & Intervention Strategies

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Occupational Stress in Law Enforcement & Intervention Strategies
Occupational Stress in Law Enforcement & Intervention Strategies

Stress in law enforcement is complex. Stressors vary by individual and because of that combatting stress is law enforcement is not an easy task. Broad strokes and blanket programs are used in an effort to reach the greatest number of employees with strategies designed to prevent and reduce stress in the field of law enforcement. I believe that a more individualized approach is required to have the greatest impact on officers working in this field.

The occupation of a police officer is commonly referred to as one of the most stressful occupations. Causes of stress for police officers can be linked to the organizational structure and the demands of the profession to include shift work, overtime, and years of service. The rigid nature of the organization has been referred to as one of the primary sources of stress for law enforcement. In addition to the stress of the organizational structure, police encounter the threat of violent criminals and disturbing crime scenes as a part of routine daily possibilities.

Potential causes of stress for correctional staff are similar to the stress that police officers endure. Stress is derived from internal and external sources to include, prison/jail organizational structure, nature of work-supervision of the inmate population, overtime, shift work, length of time on the job, privacy/safety concerns, threats of inmate violence/actual inmate violence, inmate demands/manipulations, co-workers, specific post or assignments, poor public image, and low pay.

Correctional officers and police officers had the highest rates of non-fatal violent incidents at work between 1990-1995 (Finn, p., 2001). Research regarding causes of stress for law enforcement was inconsistent when attempting to determine the highest rates of stress.

Areas of concern for both correctional and police officers that experience work-related stress span from


References: Finn, P. (2001). Addressing Correctional Officer Stress: Programs and Strategies. Criminal Justice Media, Inc 214386062/fulltext/ 136F9663B05382C356E/ 3?accountid=36616 on May 28, 2012 Kureczka, A Bulletin. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/socialsciences/docview/204132441/ fulltextPDF/136F9D8BC523F17E9DF/2?accountid=36616 on May 28, 2012 Feemster, S. (2010). The Forensic Examiner. Addressing the Urgent Need for Multi- Dimensional Training in Law Enforcement Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/ SocialSciences/docview/859010103/fulltextPDF/136FB22E6C16A280637/4?accountid= 36616 on May 28, 2012 sciences/docview/214563577/136FB3A66E950711643/2?accountid=36616 on May 28, 2012 Jaramillo, F., Nixon, R. & Sams, D. (2004). The Effect of Law Enforcement Stress on Organizational Commitment docview /211301458/ fulltextPDF/136FB495CC464AAE192/14?accountid=36616 on May 28, 2012 McCarty, W., Zhao, J. & Garland, B., (2007). Occupational Stress and Burnout between Male and Female Police Officers Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/socialsciences/ docview/211277163/fulltextPDF/136FBFDCC4976A43D80/1?accountid=36616 on May 28, 2012
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