Mitigating the Emotional Impact of Stress on Law Enforcement Personnel

• NCJ Number: 254828
• Author(s): Olivia Johnson; Tina Jaeckle
• Date Published: April 2018
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2016-VI-BX-K003
• Agencies: BJA-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description; Presentation
• Award: VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Training and Technical Assistance

Annotation

After noting that stress is an inevitable experience of law enforcement officers in the course of performing their job tasks, this article first identifies some common types of stress experienced by officers, notes potential consequences of ignoring or failing to manage stress constructively, and suggests effective actions officers can take to reduce the impact of stress.

Abstract

In concluding comments, the article emphasizes the importance of developing a police culture that gives priority to the recognition of stress as an inevitable component of law enforcement work and the practice of dealing with stress in a constructive manner facilitated and supported by occupational education exercises, supervisory guidance, and acceptance and support from fellow officers. This will require training in the academy, post-academy training reinforcement and case studies, and supervisory priority for stress management. 47 references