User:Mppawlowski2/sandbox/PoliceCommunication

Law enforcement communication is all the channels of communication between law enforcement officials, victims of crime, suspects, and the public. It encompasses the effective communication techniques that are employed as well as the different types of communication between each group. This includes internal communication between offers, communication between law enforcement agencies and the public, communication with suspects and witnesses of crime, and communication with victims of crime. There are many forms of communication that law enforcement agencies and officials use. Some are internal between officers or within the agency, and some are external such as when dealing with witnesses or suspects.

History of Police Communication

Since its inception, law enforcement has always struggled with ways to communicate between officers, agencies, and the public. Advances in technology have aided in the effort to remedy this issue, but it has still proven a problem, especially in dire situations. Law enforcement officers from different agencies and jurisdictions had no way of communicating with each other and messages were being misconstrued.

Before technological innovations such as the telegraph in 1835 and radio transmitter made it easier and faster to send messages, information was shared slowly because word of mouth was the only available option. Telephones became widely adopted and used by police agencies by the end of the 1800’s, now allowing officers to communicate with a central dispatch.

By the 1920’s, the first wireless communication transfer was completed and then radio transmission started to become more widely used. The Federal Radio Commission (FRC) controlled the airwaves and had set up guidelines for how the airwaves would be used by law enforcement and by 1940, handheld radio’s started becoming the norm for police officers as they wore them on their belts allowing for the fast and easy spreading of messages.

After the high demand for bandwidth to link hundred of law enforcement users forced agencies to have a smaller and smaller frequencies, digital technology was developed to help increase the flow of information that could not be shared over the radio.

Types

Communication between officers

Ten-codes

Ten-codes, or ten-signals, are short concise codes that officers use to convey quick but important information to each other. The codes represent common phrases that are often used by law enforcement officers when engaging in radio transmission. The codes were first developed in 1937-1940 and have been widely used and expanded upon since then. However, in 2006, the Federal government suggested that plain conversation should be used since not all law enforcement agencies were adopting the codes into practice. There were also instances where messages were being miscommunicated because some of the codes could have several meanings and therefore be misconstrued. This was causing communication across jurisdictions and agencies to be be affected. Under certain circumstances, such as Hurricane Katrina and the September 11 attacks, using plain language was the preferred and encouraged mode of communication.

Law enforcement jargon

Law enforcement jargon refers to the system of codes, abbreviations, acronyms, and slag used to communicate quick descriptions of people, places, property, and situations. An example of this would be to use the letters WMJ to describe that the suspect is a white, male, juvenile. There are many more acronyms and abbreviations that are used for a wide variety of situations. For further information, visit the law enforcement jargon page.

Communication with the public

Social Media

The public's opinion of law enforcement and the relationship they share with each other is very important. The public's response to the actions of their law enforcement could be positive or negative and ultimately the police want to have the citizens on their side so it is important that law enforcement are able to communicate effectively to foster a positive relationship. Police agencies need to establish legitimacy in order to operate effectively so that encourages public compliance with the law and law enforcement officials. Legitimacy is a social arrangement that leads people to believe that certain things are right and just.

Social media is a quick and easy way to spread information and messages to the masses. Law enforcement agencies have taken it and used it as a valuable resource to receive tips and feedback from the public as well as a platform to share information and updates.

Many police districts or law enforcement agencies for different townships throughout the country have taken to social media such platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. It is used as a way to update the township’s civilians on important information and happenings around the district. It is also a way to share quick warnings about potential dangers, crimes, or even just traffic reports to the general public.

Law enforcement social media is a quick and easy way for police agencies to build a relationship with their constituents that allows for feedback and responses to their messages. The public's opinion of their police is very important and social media is an easy way for officials to get responses from the citizens they serve. While they are used for important business information, they are also used in a fun and humorous way to show the human side of the police force. Viral dancing a lip-syncing videos have become common as well as using memes and jokes to relay information.

Communication with suspects of crime

Miranda rights

The Miranda warning is one of the most important communication messages between law enforcement officers and criminal suspects. Most commonly referred to as the Miranda Rights, this is the statement that law enforcement officer will give to a criminal suspect prior to interrogation. It ensures that the suspect knows of their rights and what they are entitled to as a citizen prior to questioning so as to prevent self-incrimination.

These rights came from the 1996 Supreme Court case of Miranda v. Arizona where the Supreme Court held that it is a violation of the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to not inform a suspect of these rights. If the Miranda warning is not stated prior to interrogation, whatever is said by the suspect cannot be used as evidence in a trial.

Interrogation

Interrogation, or questioning, is a type of information that is commonly used by law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies when dealing with criminal suspects and witnesses in investigations.

There are many different communication tactics that are used in criminal interrogations. There are many different techniques that are employed in interrogations in order to try to get the correct information or admission of guilt from a suspect or witness. Some of these tactics include deception, suggestibility, torture, and good-cop/bad-cop techniques.

Communication with victims of crime

Communicating with victims of crime is often hard for law enforcement officers due to them usually having to deliver bad or unwanted news. It is one of the most important aspects of the job because it deals with the public and depending on the engagement, can lead to a positive or negative view of the police. In order to help aid officers in communicating with victims of crime or their families, a list of the seven critical needs of victims was created in order to help law enforcement be able to understand and better engage with victims. The seven needs are:

1. Safety
2. Support
3. Information
4. Access
5. Continuity
6. Voice
7. Justice

Victimization of a crime can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and therefore have detrimental effects on an individuals mental health. In order to adequately meet the needs of victims, police officers are taught these seven needs in training to help effectively communicate with the public in a respectful and empathetic way.