Effective Communication in Criminal Justice

Dr. Robert E. Grubb, Jr., retired as Sergeant, Roanoke City Police Department in 1991. He has personal experience with the information covered in the proposed text. As part of his training opportunities, Dr. Grubb engages in discussions with current agency personnel to ascertain their needs with regards to communication skills development. So, he is continually seeking and receiving data that supports the use of this type of text in both educational and training facilities. He was the criminal justice program coordinator at Cumberland University, criminal justice program director at Columbia State Community College, and an award-winning associate professor at Marshall University where he served as the department chair, graduate director, and internship director. He is currently pursuing an additional degree in Information Systems with an emphasis in digital security at Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. K. Virginia Hemby, is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) and a Certified Online Instructor (COI) and has taught Business Communication at the university level for the past 22 years. She worked as a legal secretary for 10 years prior to earning her doctorate. Dr. Hemby's areas of specialization are Business Communication; Professional Meeting, Event, Exhibition, and Convention (MEEC) Management; Training and Development; and Office/Administrative Management. She is currently a professor of marketing at Middle Tennessee State University and Director of Raiders' Closet, a nonprofit project established to provide professional attire to MTSU students' in need to be used for interviews for post-graduation jobs. Students are allowed to keep any suit and accessories secured from Raiders' Closet and at no cost to them. Dr. Hemby created Raiders' Closet in 2012 in response to students' comments that they were unable to afford to purchase suits to wear for interviews. She was honored by MTSU as the recipient of the 2016-2017 Public Service Award for her work with Raiders' Closet.

Preface Acknowledgments PART I: THE BASICS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 1: Communication: Words Are Not Enough What Is Communication? Communication Styles Types of Communication Flow of Communication Barriers to Communication Overcoming Communication Barriers Communication Across Generations Definitions and Characteristics of Generations Internal Communication Across Generations Barriers to Successful Communication Between and Among Generations Addressing the Barriers and Meeting Generational Communication Needs Baby Boomers in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Generation Xers in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice The Millennial Generation in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Leaders in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Suggestions for Bridging the Communication Generation Gap With External Groups Chapter 2: Think Before You Speak: The Verbal Component Verbal Communication: The Oral Component Listening The Listening Process Types of Ineffective Listeners Barriers to Listening Guidelines for Effective Listening Criminal Justice Professionals and Verbal Communication Responding Verbal Communication: The Written Component Writing Techniques: Choosing the Right Words Developing and Writing Effective Sentences and Paragraphs Law Enforcement Professionals and Verbal Communication Reporting Testifying Verbal Communication: The Video Component Media Relations and Law Enforcement: The History Law Enforcement Professionals: Responding to the Media Chapter 3: Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Nonverbal Communication The Functions of Nonverbal Communication Kinesics: The Science of Body Language Paralinguistics: The Voice Proxemics: Space and Objects Haptics: Touch Interpreting Nonverbal Body Language in Criminal Justice Professions Body Movements Proxemics: Space and Objects Facial Color Facial Expressions Paralanguage (The Voice) Limitations and Exceptions to Nonverbal Communication Checklist for Improving Your Nonverbal Communication PART II: PREPARING FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 4: Grammar: A Lesson in the Basics Parts of Speech Nouns Pronouns Verbs Adjectives and Adverbs Prepositions Conjunctions Parts of the Sentence Sentence Errors Sentence Fragments, Run-On Sentences, and Parallel Structure Punctuation Period, Question Mark, and Exclamation Point Comma Semicolon Colon Frequently Confused Words Most Frequently Confused Words Abbreviations Versus Full Words Titles and Ranks Degrees and Certifications Time, Days, and Months Acronyms and Familiar Initials Address Abbreviations State Abbreviations Capitalization Spelling Errors Checklist for Improving Your Use of a Computer Spell-Checker Fifty Most Commonly Misspelled Words Chapter 5: Preparing to Speak: Presentations and Visual Aids Purposes of Speeches Impromptu Style Extemporaneous Style Manuscript Style Memorized Style Guidelines for an Effective Oral Presentation Your Purpose Your Audience or Listeners Organizing Your Presentation The Perception of the Speaker The Speaker's Voice The Parts of an Oral Presentation or Speech Using Visuals in Your Presentation Types of Visual Aids Designing Visual Aids Points to Remember in Using Visual Aids Effectively Overcoming Barriers to Effective Presentations Checklist for Preparing and Organizing Oral Presentations Getting Ready to Speak Organizing the Introduction Organizing the Body Organizing the Conclusion Designing Visual Aids Developing Electronic Presentations Prior to Your Presentation The Presentation Televised or Recorded Presentations (News Reports, Presentations, and Updates) Nonverbal Messages PART III: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL SPHERE Chapter 6: Written Communication: An Agency's Lifeline Writing Principles for Report Development Words Sentences Paragraphs Topic Sentences Transitions Consistency Report Writing in Criminal Justice Reports in Law Enforcement Reports in Corrections Reports in Private Security Field Notes and Note Taking Guidelines for the Note-Taking Process Maintenance of Records: Field Notes, Reports, Interviews, and Evidence Records Management Systems Life Cycle of Records Chapter 7: Interviewing and Interrogating: Witnesses and Suspects The Interview Process Interviewing Interrogating Preparing for an Interview or Interrogation The Setting Interview and Interrogation Questions Legal Issues Terminating the Interview or Interrogation Chapter 8: The Court System: Preparing for and Testifying in Court The Courtroom Setting The Participants in the Criminal Courtroom Drama Judge Jury Attorneys Witness Defendant The Participants in the Civil Courtroom Drama The Grand Jury The Criminal Trial The Law Enforcement Officer's Role in the Trial Process Preparing to Testify The Corrections Officer's Role in the Trial Process The Private Security Officer's Role in the Trial Process The Officer's Appearance in Court Testifying Chapter 9: Technology and Communication: A New Frontier Technology and Today's Criminal Justice Agency The Intranet (Organizational Network) Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) Department or Bureau Computers Electronic Mail (E-Mail) Texting Technology in the Courtroom and in Corrections New Technologies in the Courtroom New Technologies in Corrections Mobile Device Apps Law Enforcement Apps Corrections Apps Private Security Apps Social Media: Criminal Justice's Newest Weapon Writing for Social Media Bulletin Boards Listservs Electronic Journals Law Enforcement and the Internet Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Cybersecurity Cybercrime Chapter 10: Conflict Resolution and Other Special Forms of Communication Conflict Needs Perceptions Power Values Feelings and Emotions Conflict Resolution Conflict Resolution in Criminal Justice The Negotiation Team Hostage and Nonhostage Situations Correctional Facilities and Hostage Situations Hostage Negotiation Equipment Communication: The Small-Group or Team Process Small-Group Communication Effective Small-Group Characteristics Number of Members Cohesion Task Commitment Group Rules Group Consensus Preparation Role Requirements Leadership Functions Group Interaction Limitations and Strengths of Small Groups Limitations Strengths Cultures and Groups Individualism Individual Assertiveness Equality Progress and Change Uncertainty and Risk Informality PART IV: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH DIFFERENT POPULATIONS Chapter 11: Communication With Diverse Populations: Ethnic/Cultural Groups and Children and Youth Characteristics of Culture Dimensions of Culture Context Time Orientation Power Distance Individualism Versus Collectivism Communication Style How We View Ourselves Criminal Justice Agencies: Communicating With Diverse Groups Law Enforcement and Immigrant Cultures Law Enforcement and Minority Cultures Enhancing Communication in Multicultural Communities Children and Youth Definition of Youth Interviewing and Interrogating Juvenile Suspects Interviewing Juvenile Victims and Witnesses Gangs Gang Awareness Identification Gang Recruitment of Youth Early Involvement Signs Signs of Actual Gang Membership Communicating With Gang Members Chapter 12: Communication With Special Groups: Cognitive, Physiological, Psychological, and Emotional Disabilities Law Enforcement and the ADA Corrections and the ADA Juvenile Justice Private Security and the ADA Categories, Definitions, and Explanations Cognitive (Intellectual/Developmental) Disabilities Physiological or Physical Disabilities Psychological Disabilities Interacting With People With Disabilities Addressing the Individual and Not the Disability First Steps Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities Service Dogs and Disabilities Checklist for Interaction With Individuals With Disabilities Endnotes Index About the Authors

"Comprehensive text on the significance of all aspects of communication in the criminal justice field." -- Katherine J. Ely "This text provides students and instructors with a detailed examination of communication in the criminal justice system. Specific issues confronting criminal justice practitioners in their daily activities, including interactions with the public, are explored. The text demonstrates appropriate methods of communication and provides direction for overcoming difficulties in the communication process." -- Brooke Miller, Ph.D. "I would certainly describe this book as a must have as an addition to any course that has a writing component. The information contained thus far is necessary for students of criminology...will aid students in formal writing as well as those going into the criminal justice field" -- Dianne Berger-Hill, MAS "This text provides faculty teaching justice studies communications courses with a practical approach to both foundational issues necessary for all communications courses, as well as the sections specific to the justice studies field." -- Dr. James C. Brown, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice "To be quite honest, I was excited about the ideas I had while previewing the text. I would strongly encourage colleagues to consider using this in the construction of a course focused on "Writing in the Discipline". I think there is great potential for students (and instructors) to have fun writing while not realizing that they are actually learning valuable information." -- Lauren M. Barrow, Ph.D.