May 9
Stress Management in Criminal Justice Executive Summary –
Topic Selection with Research Questions
Gretchen Weller
School of Helms, Liberty University
Officers are the most essential resources towards an organization’s success due to the
officer’s attitudes, behaviors, and performance. Therefore, effective leadership, management,
and supervision are crucial to the preservation of the health of officers. Sahoo and Sahoo (2019)
discuss how research and scholars emphasize organizational justice as the basic insight towards
attitudes, behaviors, and performance of officers. Lack of ability to successfully manage stress
has its most severe draw backs for officers in the line of duty. Police work frequently positions
officers in situations where it is necessary to respond quickly and in a coordinated effort to make
accurate decisions and judgement calls under pressure and the scrutiny of others (Burke, 2016).
Ineffective mental and emotions responses to stress can drastically impede the abilities to
perform work functions appropriately. Therefore, it is vital that officers expand their training on
how to analyze, manage, and resolve conflict situations. This is true even if the officer holds the
title of mediator, negotiator, or supervisor, officers need the know-how on how to keep calm,
communicate, conduct himself, and actively listen and respect all involved parties while adhering
to policies and methods of conflict (Agastra, 2018). “When he had washed their feet and put on
his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them. ‘Do you understand what I have done
to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you
an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:12-15, ESV).
Effectively managing conflict will influence the cooperation and trust, creating a positive
work environment d relationships. Conflict can be beneficial force that creates the chance to an a
promote shared ideas and values, however, not properly addressing or containing conflict can
turn into a destructive force and is necessary to strengthen the value of relationships within the
organization (Sahoo & Sahoo, 2019). In order to accomplish this, some suggested strategies of
management are to examine the workplace, believe in the mission and values of the organization,
and influence effective communication ( ers, 1990). Burke (2016) suggests areas of focus Ay
while addressing management and communication:
1. Feedback and supervision to involve frequent contact with supervisors to provide
more feedback on officer’s performance.
2. Training of supervisors on how to effectively coach and mentor officers.
3. Keep officers challenged while feeling valued and appreciated.
4. Provide information and assist officer who show intent on promoting or special
assignment.
5. Reduce workload, if necessary, and focus on use of support staff and development of
officer’s skills.
6. Allow officers more autonomy with less micro-managing.
7. Reward officers with better assignments or simple acknowledgement of
accomplishments.
