U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Disciplinary Process - Supervisory Role - Training Key Number 298

NCJ Number
73086
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This training brochure describes the police supervisor's role in the disciplinary process for police; this role includes motivating personnel, counseling, taking or recommending disciplinary action, and initiating commendatory actions when appropriate.
Abstract
The disciplinary process must be balanced between management's need to control police conduct and the need to encourage goal-directed behavior among officers. Causes of job dissatisfaction include intradepartmental factors such as low pay, poor supervisory practices, poor equipment, and personnel favoritism. Other causes include external working conditions such as community hostility, and personal conflict related to unusual hours, or social isolation. Police supervisors may not be able to control many of these factors, but can attend to certain needs to promote job satisfaction. These needs include physiological needs such as the need for meals as well as safety needs can be met by strengthening the bands of loyalty among police personnel; other needs include ego needs and the need for self-actualization. A police supervisor can inspire positive motivation of officers by treating all subordinates fairly and consistently, by offering on-the-job training where needed, by developing personal relationships, and giving relevant information that is prompt and accurate. Other steps include recognizing that rumors often stem from lack of information admitting mistakes or poor judgment, delegating authority, and instilling loyalty to and concern for the welfare of officers. Supervisory counseling can avert problems before they occur by opening the door for grievance processing and discovery of areas in which an officer can improve before problems become critical. Disciplinary measures include summary punishment, usually limited to such practices as excusing the officer from duty for a day without pay. Any officer receiving such punishment has a right to a hearing. In carrying out the disciplinary function, the supervisor must be legal, be reasonable, be consistent, and be timely. A discussion guide and questions and answers are provided.