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Reducing Stress: An Organization-Centered Approach

NCJ Number
171210
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 66 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1997) Pages: 20-26
Author(s)
P Finn
Date Published
1997
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the importance of police organizational policies and procedures as both a factor in producing and relieving unnecessary and debilitating stress in police officers.
Abstract
Most police stress programs and consulting mental health practitioners focus primarily, if not exclusively, on preventing and treating stress among individual officers; however, this approach fails to address the underlying organizational problems that are the basis for much of the stress experienced by officers. A growing number of agencies have found that even modest modifications in organizational structure can lead to enhanced morale and productivity among line officers. Police administrators across the country have implemented significant organizational changes as a way of reducing officer stress. The changes generally affect supervisory style, field training officer programs, critical-incident counseling, command support after critical incidents, shift work, and job assignments. This article provides examples of what some police agencies have done in each of these areas to help relieve officer stress produced by unnecessarily burdensome organizational style and procedures. 8 notes