Communication in Criminal Justice Settings Paper

There are different forms of communication, as we go through our everyday process we use different forms of communication all day long withier we are aware of it or not. Within those forms there are verbal and nonverbal communications, and in the criminal justice field there are defiantly times you should use these two forms of communication. Non-verbal communication, also known as body language according to research it states that only about 10% of communication involves the actual words people say, but 30% of communication is the way in which people say those words, called voice intonation.

All the rest of our communication, about 60%, is done nonverbally. You can use your non-verbal skills such as active listening, understanding body language, and detecting deception. For instance a person’s body language is called cues.

A person can sometimes communicate without even speaking by using their body; you can tell by the way a person walks/movement whether the person is happy, sad or even mad.

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Also when a person is being nonverbal they use their facial expressions and behaviors that communicate with other independent of words. In the criminal justice field you non-verbal communication is very important. This form of communication would be considered your best friend no matter what it is you are doing, wither it may be talking to a witness, out on patrol, or integrating a criminal. Verbal communications involves conveying thoughts or ideas. When it comes to verbal communication you are going to want to be aware of three components Speech, Language, and Conversation.

Speech is the most progressive component in verbal communication. Language is the complex component of verbal communication.

Conversation is the most important component of verbal communication.

There are many barriers; they may include physical, emotional, and semantic barriers. Emotional barriers may include police officers having low self-esteem or another form of depression. Officers with low self-esteem questions themselves/ lacks self-confidence and even fears being put down or even ridiculed by former officers. The physical barriers can also develop a form of a breakdown in communication. Some physical barriers messages can’t be transmitted and that can be caused by faulty equipment. An example a defunct radio transmitter a way officer communicates with one another in which they can’t because the transmitters are not working. Semantics involve the selection of words you choose to aid you with your communication. If the wrong word is chosen obviously, the communication will not be as effective and the entire message can be misread. Ineffective listening also plays its role in hindering the communication process.

If an individual is not fully engaged in the speaker perhaps because the topic does not interest them, , or development of your own biases or set opinions on what is being said have been established in which you with a closed mind, this can lend to ruining the communication between you and the sender. To develop strategies to overcome the barriers that occur as a police officer you must first understand the barriers. You must see the barrier just as you would any other obstacle how can you get around or through certain barriers/obstacle. Once you understand different types of barriers and how they come about is how you as an officer develop strategy to overcome the different types of barriers. In summary you need to develop all these key components of communication in order to better yourself and to enhance your career.

Each of these component will allow you to perform your job the best as possible, wither it may be used to testify in court, questioning a witness/criminal, talking to your supervisor, etc. These components of communication that we use on a daily bases are key essentials and a must need in this field in order to survive. Without communication both verbal and non-verbal there will be no success. You will not be able to effectively do your job wither it may be communicating to you peers, to suspects, lawyers or judges. Everything we do revolve around proper communication, it is the key and essential part of the criminal justice process.

References
CJ Communications in the USA, Module 1 (2nd ed.)
CJ Communications in the USA, Module 3 (2nd ed.)
CJ Communications in the USA, Module 8 (2nd ed.)