Community Policing Ch 6

the Communication process involves a sender, a message, a channel, a receiver and sometimes feedback.

(channel - sender encodes the message in words - spoken or written- and transmit it by phone, texting, fax, letter, in person, or another way)


involves transferring thoughts from one person's mind to another's. the people involved, the accuracy of the message in expressing the sender's thoughts, and channel used all affect communication.

important characteristics include : age, education, gender, values, emotional involvement, self-esteem, and language skills. 

language barriers and cultural barriers

because of the image they convey, their position of authority, and the nature of their work.

some of the barriers include: lack of time, use of police jargon (police slang) , lack of feedback, and failure to listen

Vocab: Jargon - the technical language of a profession (or slang)

• the dilemma regarding the immigration issue is 
• whether police can build trusting Partnerships with immigrant communities if they are also to gather intelligence and enforce immigration law

it is critical to recognize prejudices and stereotypes to avoid discrimination.

• Prejudice - is an attitude
• Discrimination - is a behavior. (acting on a prejudice

example of Discrimination: treating certain groups with preferentially... persons of equal stature may be treated unequally.

Frequently include: mobility impairment, vision impairment, hearing impairment, impairment as a result of epilepsy, and mental or emotional impairment.

An Epileptic seizure may be mistaken for a Drug- or alcohol- induced stupor because the person may have incoherent speech and a glassy-eyed stare and may be wandering aimlessly

People with AD may wander or become lost, engage in inappropriate sexual behavior, lose impulse control, shoplift, falsely accuse others, appear intoxicated, drive erratically, or become victims of crime. 

Many symptoms of AD and intoxication are identical: Confusion and Disorientation; problems with short term memory, language, sight, and coordination; combativeness and extreme reactions; and loss of contact with reality.

those who are emotionally/behaviorally disturbed,

have specific learning disabilities, Attention Deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD),

those that have behavior problems resulting from prenatal exposure to drugs, alcohol, or HIV -  (drug babies),

because they are a major source of common crime information known to law enforcement

involves a sender, a message, a channel, a receiver, and sometimes, feedback

includes everything other than the actual words spoken in a message, such as tone, pitch, and pacing

the study of body movement or body language. 

is used to an extent that law enforcement officers can tell wen a person is lying, or about to become aggressive or flee.

the technical language of a professional

professional slang

the preference for one's own way of life over all others.

example: people are naturally attracted to others who are similar to themselves because the feel less uncertain about how similar people will respond to them and more certain about the likelihood that similar people will agree with them

Occurs when a society takes in or assimilates various other cultures to become a "melting pot" - also called acculturation

-over time diverse cultures from various origins merge, and become similar, formerly distinct cultures blend into what is known as the American Culture-

one of three theories on the consequence of two or more cultures inhabiting the same geographic area.

Occurs when a society takes in or assimilates various other cultures to become a "melting pot" - also called assimilation

-over time diverse cultures from various origins merge, and become similar, formerly distinct cultures blend into what is known as the American Culture-

one of three theories on the consequence of two or more cultures inhabiting the same geographic area.

a prejudice or belief that inhibits objectivity; can evolve into hate

prejudice - a negative judgement not based on fact; irrational preconceived negative opinion.

assuming all people within a specific group are the same, lacking individuality

A form of discrimination that singles out people of racial or ethnic groups because of a belief that these groups are more likely than other to commit certain types of crimes. Race-based enforcement is illegal

Includes inadequate house, education, and jobs and a resentment of those who control the social system

Legislation signed in 1990 that guarantees that persons with disabilities will have equal access to any public facilities available to persons without disabilities 

Results when a person has a temporary breakdown in coping skills; not the same as mental illness.

a progressive, irreversible, and incurable brain disease with no known cause that affects four million elderly Americans; the classic symptom is memory loss

Emotionally/Behaviorally Disturbed


Children who exhibit behavior such as: aggressive or impulsive behavior, severely withdrawn, anxious behavior, pervasive unhappiness, depression, wide mood swings etc...

A common disruptive behavior disorder characterized by heightened motor activity (fidgeting and squirming), short attention span, distractibility, impulsiveness, and lack of self-control.

Children who were exposed to cocaine while in the womb

they may exhibit social, emotional and cognitive problems

the leading known cause of mental retardation in the western world;

effects include: impulsivity, inability to predict consequences, judgment in daily life, poor communication skills, high levels of activity, distractibility, and frustration and despression

a persistent re-experiencing of a traumatic event through intrusive memories, dreams, and a variety of anxiety-related symptoms