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Need for a Police Psychological Counselor

NCJ Number
90275
Author(s)
C T Baber; G W Marple
Date Published
1975
Length
32 pages
Annotation
Every police agency in the United States should provide psychological counseling to police officers and their families.
Abstract
The large police agencies should have an inhouse service, while smaller agencies should share the expense of this service with adjoining agencies. Currently, few administrators recognize the need for such a program, and relatively few programs are now available to police officers and their spouses. However, the rates of suicide, divorce, physical illness, and frustration among law enforcement personnel are among the highest of all vocations in the United States. Frustrations caused by the job or family problems lowers the productivity of police officers. One hundred and four police officers were questioned about their need or desire for agency-funded counseling. Over three-fifths reported that they would seek help from a counselor and that a counselor could reduce home stress through family participation. Three-quarters of the officers perceived their jobs as having more stress than other vocations, while one-fourth felt that their jobs and other vocations were equally stressful. None felt that their jobs were less stressful than other vocations. The study instrument, notes, and 11 references are provided.

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